The Portland daily press., 1885-02-16
Pulpit AND PLATFoRm.
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH.

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH.
In the morning Rev. DR.. Small preached
from the text in Luke IL, 9. 'Ask, and it
shall be given you" Tho theme OF the SER
mon was,-The greateet conceivable good on
the easiest terms. We see men about us, in
all departments OF life, making earnest effort
for some good; and we all feel that the greater
good calls for the greater labor to secure it;
and that the highest good justly claims our
supreme effort. In the case before us the
highest conceivable good is offered on the
easiest possible terms. Many have sought and
obtained what they thought to be good, but
which proved to be only curse 1t is only
when the intellect and heart are brought into
harmony with ChFists will that man can at
tain the highest good; and nothing but Christie
love and pardon can meet the supreme want of
the soul in this world, or open to it the bound
less bliss of heaven in the world to come. On
what terms is all this secured? 1t cannot be
bought Infinite riches arranged the blessing;
and infinite mercy has Fixed the terms. Not
suffering, or service, gold can purchase it; it
is freely given for the asking. We sre to ask
Tor, and take, what God is ready to give. This
great gift of God is sonshp in his family; and
paniments of obedience aud holiness; for with
out these we should fail of the most valuable
part OF the gift. Love, service, sacrifice are
indispensable requirements in the preparation
for this sonship; and prayer-asking is the sim
pie but blessed condition upon which we re-
ceive this greatest blessing. Is there any ex-
cuse for neglecting this good?
In the evening DR.. Small gave the first of a
series OF lectures on the life of Daniel. the gen.
erai subject being, "True greatness as seen in
Daniel and his Thraa Eriande
The special subject last evening was
Daniei's Boyhood, or the Foundation of True
Greatness. The text was from Dan. l. g.
Daniel purposed in his heart that he would
not defile himself with the portion of the
kings meat, nor with the wine which he
drank
This resolution indicated one of the secrets
OF Daniels remarkable character. We have
considered the character of several distin-
gaished kings In oar Sunday school lessons,b but
they all had some great fault: but here we
have character almost faultless. How did
he form it. At the time of this text Daniel
was IN the great city of Babylon brought a
captive from the land once given to Gods peo-
pie, but now possessed by their enemies Row
came this event to occur? 1t was through the
fidelity of the people. Israel had forsaken
God and fallen into drunkenness and folly, and
He gave them into the hands OF their enemies
But the Babylonian king took some of the
noblest youths to his own capital, for he knew
they were the noblest in the world. In this
company we're the boys-Daniel and his three
friends. sThese were to be trained for the roy
al service and to be fed from the kings table.
1t was here that Daniel purposed to abstain
from eating the kings food. Many things
would dissuade him from this purpose. He
need not have such Ecruples; he might enjoy
himself. 1t was very dangerous to him and
his friends-it would stand In the way OF their
Trxl 0Fad t-.nk ~.
What led him to do it? It was matter of
conscience in the smallest things. These boys
came from homes of good parental training. A
mothers prayers followe them 1t was also
religious principle. The Mosaic law forbade
the eating OF such food as came to the kings
table, and wine had cost his nation their
country. He would avoid the first step in
drunkenness. Again. he knew that to do
wrong was not the best way to gain the re-
spect OF those who would deride their scruples.
They were perfectly polite and courteous in
their refusal. SO the officer favored them.
Their enemies will honor the consistent and
courageous servants Of God. Though many go
In the wrong way, yet let us be among those
who are found faithful in little things decid-
ed for God and the right and God will bless
and prosper US.
The lecture was exceedingly interesting, and
was illustrated by several views oa canvas
from scenes and events in the life OF Daniel.
The whole course promises to be of great in
terest, and special profit to the young ia giving
them clear view OF the principles essential to
the formation of noble and manly characters.
The next lecture in the course will be given
next Sunday evening.
MISSIONARY CONCERT AT PINE STREET CHURCH.
The announcement that Sunday School
missionary concert would be held at Pine
street church last evening drew large audi
ence, An excellent programme was faithfully
carried out as follows: After introductory
singing and prayer the pastor in brief rsnar5s
introduced Mrs. B. NJ. Eastman, president Of
the local Woman's Foreign Missionary Society
who addressed the audience on "Woman in
Methodist Mission Fields. Until 1869 moth
ing has been done By the Methodist women FOR
their sisters in heathendom. Then an organi-
cation was effected by a few women in Boston.
1t was don9 that the women Of the heath
en- zenanas, who, because Of the peculiar Gus
toms OF heathendom are inaccessible to the
male missionary may be reached. The work
OF the medical women IN mission fields has
been specially effective. India was first en-
tered, then China, to whom two ladies have
gone from this State, Miss Yates and Mics DR..
Trask.
The work was begun in Japan in 1872. The
society has just sent a missionary to Corea
Work has also been begun in Mexico Africa,
Italy, Bulgaria and South America. But if
any one says We have work enough at home, it
Is true, and four years ago Woman's Home
Missionary Society was formed.
The contributions the first year amounted to
Va 1856 and for the last year $143, 1914; to-
tai contributions 81, 1862, ,6l8.04 An illustrated
paper has been established which will go into
the homes of the izenanas as a silent teacher.
The whole number of missionaiie ies sent ont
in IN. nf whom tharQ ara uo ;y, Ge1d
80 assistants, 1873 Bible women, 39l orphans
supported, 10 day schools and 55 teachers. This
individual church undertook some years ago
the support OF a zenaDs reader, and so far has
done H. Quite number of new subscribers
was obtained, and the meeting was quite q
success.
This excellent address of Mrs. Eastman was
followed by singing by a quartette, when a
number OF brief speeches and readings, with
singing interspersed were rendered as follows:
Good Morning, by Ethel Lombard; The Morn
ing Cometh. by Annie Brackett On the Other
Side, By Millis Saver; Work, Faith Money,
and Salvation, by Mary e. Winter; Missionary
Palm, by Louie B. Morris; The Children's
Thomas and jennie BSram; The Little Chill
dren, by Edna Snow; What Mamie Did, by
Grace Chase; The Little Builders, BY Matte
Snow; Recitation, by Harold Eaetman; Only
Little Child by Mamie Snow; Thanksgiving, by
Alice Eastman; Lines by Mabel Morris; The
Masters Call to Women, by Maud Van Blar-
com; Christ at the Treasury, by Carrie Eatt-
man; Missionary Music, by Florence Wood
bury.
GOSPEL MISSION.
Last evening the Mission was crowded and
many were turned away for want of room.
The services were OF very interesting charac-
ter and after the usual prayer aud testimony
exercises, ,Rev.S F. Pearson preached from Luke
XIX and drew very instructive lesson from
the account of Zaccheus, the convicted sinner,
and as result number asked for the prayers
of the workers. Very many stayed for the
after-meetiDg which was held until shout 10
o'clock.
NOTES,
Rev. Fl. @. Munson delivered a temperance