The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1885-04-25

Fast Day was bright bat the wind was
strong from the south and took great dea
from the warmth of this gunbeams. People en-
ioyed the day going into the country, attend
ing the base ball and polo games, the theatre
and other amusements.
At the union service in Plymouth Church.
the Rev. Mr.. Hallcck of Williston Church
preached from Deut. v:2s-"Oh that there
were such heart in them, that they would
fesE me and keep all my commandments al
ways, that il might be we'll with them and
with their children forever" The problem of
o nstioR's career, the preacher said, has two
elements-opportunity and character. The
geographical situation Of the American people
and the time in which we live offer magnif-
cent opportunity. The freedom Of our political
institutions may be blessing or q curse A
strong moral character is required to deal with
the vices which tend to impede or ruin our
career. And a State can be Christian only SO
far rs its citizens are Christians. The man is
the unit. Personal character is the basis of
national virtue Every man rules one citizen
and is answerable for him. Every home CON
tains the elements of the nation that is to be.
Multiply single specimens of pure manhood
and womanhood and the peoples .goyernment
must grow pure.
At the First Parish Church, Rev. DIR. Hill
presched on the ethics OF buying and selling,
from the text, "a faithful man skall abound
with blessings, but he that maketh haste to
be rich shall rot be innocent--ProV. xxviii:20."
The Doctor summed up as follows: The indi-
vidual freedom which resists all good influ-
ences and persists in selishness, folly and
crime, is an essential element of manhood.
Without that freedom man loses his capacity
for virtue and for happiness; but with it he
must have power to sin, aud therefore be liable
to suffer punishment. The counterpoise to
sro Nff {,@l -
not wholly contained IN the attraction toward
society. Our course of duty to the community,
and to the race, is not always strong enough
to overcome the selfishness of the heart. There
IS centre OF greater power, whose attraction
manifests itself in the sense OF the omnis-
eience and justice of God. Never lin the history
Of the human race, have simply ethical teach
ings been effective in reform of public NOR
ais. The most effective agent, in the reforma-
ton of manners, has always been the revival
of simpler, purer, more spiritual and more
religious faith. Tho history of the Grecian
and Roman civilization shows th1t culture
and refinement will not prevent crime. The
same lesson has been repeated for us, more
than once, in the history of modern European
states When religion degenerates into the
profession OF creed, or the performance
of rites, or into indifference and doubt then
morals rapidly sink into selhshness and sensu-
ality. The first duty which lover of his
country owes to her, Is to ba faithful to his
nlsuest uublSs 20 STouI ana TO tn0 christian
church. Ihe saving efficacy of Christian faith
lies not in the light which it ponrs either upon
theology, Or upon ethical doctrine, but IN its
making real to us the presence of an all-sseing
witness and judge who is indeed all-loving,
but who is also Just and holy. No man is safe
| from the power of temptation except the man
VINO has been led into flial intercourse with
| God. 1t is not ethical light which is needed,
| so much as it ia ethical feeling; motives to
| stimulate men into following the light. The
| only enduring and permanent motive, which
aud in general, love toward persons. Paai
says it was the love of Christ which CON
strained him and led him to his gigantic and
fruitful labors; John sets forth the love of
| God in much the same manner; and, from the
| days OF those great Apostles, to the present
| hour, it is these strong religious affections
| which alone lead o man to seek, and to obtain
| the omnipotent aid Of the Spirit Of God in his
] endeaVor to hold fast his integrity