The Portland daily press., 1884-05-12

FREE lsTREET cHURcH-REy. J. M'wH1NNIE's
LAST SERMON.

|
sermon which the Rev. James McWhinnie
was to preach prior to his entering upon his
chosen field of labor in Massachusetts,. The
text was taken from l Cor, Sd chapter, and
clause OF the 21st verse. "For all things are
| yours" An abstract of it is as follows:
The different preachers which the Corinthi-
ans mad, had separated them into clioues and
parties' So at the beginning of Christian his
Tory, tue Apostle places his hand on strife and
sectarianism in the church, and seeks to cor
rect ana enlarge its view of the Christian COM
monweaith. Now, as then, it often happens
that we are brought into some narrow defile
where we can see no sign of sky on either
hand, and thus with Moses il becomes necsssa-
| ~ to ascend some Mount Pisgah, where we
| may view the landscape DER" The meaning
first, is, the ministry 10 yours, whether Paul oc
Apoitos, or Cephas. Some of the church at
| that day liked the strong logic of Paul some
| the graceful eloquence of Apollos. some the
| energetic and impulsive talk of Peter, and SO it
had sunk into Darrowness of view and sell
nshness OF feeling that was entirely unchis-
e.an. ie was God-giVeD, and has this one espe-
clal purpose, TO minister to the development
OF Christian holiness and the life of the church
LIS ONCE is one OF comfort and blessing TO such
| as listen to the truth. The duty of the minis
| try IS also to build up the church in the truths
| OF Christ, to place the living stones upon the
| foundation which the great Master-bniIder
has laid, that they may contribute to the
strength aud symmetry of the structure in
which they stand. There is no cessation in
MS building nor stopping in his work. The
| church is Gods light-house the light from
which, streaming DER the sea OF life is to
GUIDE men into the port of Christ's redemp-
uon. The minister in his sermons ia TO urge
upon MS hearers the duty of repentance and
returning TO the Master, work greater, after
| all, IMAM the building up of the church The
| proper man for such position is to be sought
| OF the Lord, carefully, wisely, prsyerfully, and
ne VIII hear that prayer, as it is in direct line
with the interest of His kingdom. But this
| thought makes us look behind the ministry,
and far beyond all human agencies, to the
Holy Spirit, given to the church, Ministers
may come and go, but the Spirit abides for
ever, TO encourage, aid and guide Compared
with HIS influence all else is nothing 1t was
better that Moses should not remain with tho
| Disciples on the Mount of TRANSPORTATION. for
| his going meant the coming of Jesus who was
| to abide with us forever.
The word is yours. The apostle saw the
lsitn which he was preaching was destined to
| overleaP The bounds of Palestine and spread
| over all nations; he knew the ingathering of
the first converts to be the wayelets of tho
coming tide which was to lave every shore and
touch every land. So he wished to remind the
Corinthians of the greatness of their faith
we are to remember that the church o. Christ
10 IN the world not fo- any particular COM
munlty. There ls Rorn-out motto which is
often used as cloak for covetousness; the
only truth IN it comes out when we read it,
CHARITY begins at homie" Shaving at home.
II only eyaporates. During the past nine
years more than 1923 900 has gone forth from
this church beyond its own maintenance to
the world. Though every member of the
cnurch should pass away. these kindred
streams OF blessing shall never de-
Life is yours. Because the Christian is
pilgrim here he is not to lead an unhappy,
shsdowy, sorrowfnl kind of life. No man SO
wei as the Christian can enjoy the beautiful
ana Joyous things OF the world He sees in
mem the thoughts of God in all their beauty;
God's thoughts are to him thoughts of peace
ana not OF evil, infinitely more beautiful he
cause he connects them with his Heavenly
Father. All the fair things in mans existence
are yours; t5e friendships and joys of life are
enlarged and sweetened, and become stronger
ana eternal. The love of God fills life with
the best aspirations, and makesit welcome
every service we can render; it enables us to
triumph over the difficulties of life, while it
puts In our Lands a branch of sweetness to
turn the bitter waters of Marah into some
| thing clean and pure.
Inlngs presentare yours Many one looks
forward with hope to the future happy in be-
ing able to forget the present in the thought of
the good time coming. Yet we should not for
get that the present affords as opportunities
OF usefulness and service ia the work of God
anu tnae Dy making use of them they pre-
sent themselves we secure the future. We
are IN world where God is and one with him
is always majority.
The future is yours. 1t belongs to us be-
cause God is in it,and faith is the glass through
which It is dmly revealed. After this life,
afterlts care, and toll aud struggle aud sin
we are coming to it and it is coming to us.
Few years at the most before shall come the
rest that belongs to the people of God Already
It's air blows upon some brows to take awav
long.
All things are ours There is nothings be-
urn oro ooh as- a. I,s.
In a present and eternal redemption. All that
can be urged upon His followers is to look to
Him alone, that they may receive His blessing
and trust In His goodness and care.
sIxTY-sEvENTH ANNIVERSARY.
Yesterday afternoon the Sunday School of
the Second Parish observed the close of anoth-
er OF its years of phianthropic work. The ex-
ercises were held in the auditorium, which
was well filled. The decorations of flowers
and evergreen about the pulpit, were not Law
ISL but tasty. The topic Of the afternoon was
indicated by the Scriptural selection on the
wall in the rear of the desk, -Laborers togeth.
or with God" The exercises consisted of the
usual variety. The superintendent reported
the receipts of cash, $49665: membersbip
55O; largest attendance, 387; smallest, 161; av-
erage, 80; officers and teachers 81: scholars
received INTO the church, 8; shares taken in
Rev. Mr.. Hallock, in his address, said it
gave him great joy to bring salutatiens from
the youngest Sunday School in the city to the
Oldest. You have lived long enough to have
some OF the JOY OF the harvest as we'll as the
sowing. The work of the teacher was then re-
fefred TO, and beautifully illustrated by the
work OF the farmer. 1t is one of the most try
ing things one can do to teach Sunday school
class, and yet IL is one of the best things You
are pastor, and your class is little parish
Inc SEED Is good. DQt do tho oct nod IL
must be scattered. This was illustrated by the
seed found 10 the hand of the Egyptian mum
my, four Thousand years old. The Gospel in
our hearts should be scattered abroad.
Mr.. Daniels spoke in familiar vein, of the
power of little things, enforced by simple IL
lustrations. The great results have happened
Dy every one taking his place and doing his
part.
CITY HALL.
Last evening, Rev. DIR. A. K. P. Small re-
peated his Fast Day sermon on "Public Senti-
ment," at City Hall, by the request Of large
number Of our best citizens The platform
was filled with leading business and profess
sional men, and a very large audience of ladies
and gentlemen were gathered in the auditori-
um and galleries. III. M. Hart, ESQ, presi-
dent Of the Law and Order League, presided,
and the League was largely represented by its
members.
Excellent music was furnished by the Free
street choir the Scripture lesson was read by
Rev. Asa Dalton, of st. Stephens church and
prayer offered by Rev. Henry Blanchard, of
Congress Square church. Rev. DR.. small
then delivered his sermon.-an abstract of
which has been published in the PRESS on a
previous occasion. It was noble and effect
i've effort, dealing pointedly and thoroughly
with those matters which agitate the public
mind, and at the close DR. Small was warmly
congratulated,
STATE STREET.
Rev. A. +. Skeele, of Augusta, preached in
exchange with the pastor, taking for his text
part of the 14th verse of the 9Th chapter of III
Corinthians. "For the love of Christ con-
sraineth u.s."
The love OF Christ was presented as the most
powerful motive aud help in all Christian &C.
tiyity, and to be effective must be mutual with
Christ and those who would be his faithful dis
ciDles. Only those who respond to Christs
love come under its saving power and help.
The Apostle Paul was one ia whom the con-
straining power of Christ's love was most per-
fectly shown. His earnest devotion and zeal
in his work was only quickened and made