The Portland daily press., 1886-06-28
PULPIT AND PLATFORM.


etS
First Epistle to the Corinthians, xiii, 8,
"Love never faileth; but whether there be
prophecies they shall fail; whether there
be tongues they shall cease; whether there
be knowledge it shall vanish away" The
central idea Of the sermon was the eyerlast-
ing power of heavenly sympathy. To under
stand what man says it is necessary that
we should know what kind of man he is.
This is especially true of Paul, the great lib
eral apostle. Paul wasn't the kind of man
to disparage reason in the name of empty
headed sentimentalism, but he was pervaded
throughout with true humanity. His soul
had the very perfume and aroma of reason,
but he thought love grander, and more en-
during than prophecy or knowledge 1t is a
grand privilege to possess great endowments,
but there are men of fine gifts and power
who have no knowledge, or idea, of using
them for any other persons good than their
own. They have no more soul than corpora
tions possess 1t is a far greater blessing to
possess that moral sensibility that can enter
into the feelings Of others. Isn't this su-
premacy OF love verified in every day eXpe-
rience? The products of mems hearts have
an undying life that is denied to the products
of their intellect. Mems hearts have but one
language and that is universal one, but his
intellect many tongues that are not under
but not freshet to a freshet. 1t is the sym
pathetic in this world that is never forgot
ten, and is as fresh in our minds today as it
was to those of thousands of years ago.
The poets dreams of all ages are always
with us. Who can ever forget the parting of
Hector and Andromeda? The heart tales of
the old Greek tragedies keep step with those
of the Bible in our memories. They klndle
a light that never is extinguished. Know
ledge is ever vanishing. but the self-sacrifcing
.-f1 1,
are humanity on fire with Gods SPIRIT like
Moses bush that burned but never was con-
sumed. Abraham's science is out of date,
but the deep human path0s of the Bible re-
mains undiminished. deep calls to deep
and heart to heart The lament of David
over Jonathan, the Psalms of David that in
themselves are grand cathedral were quo
ted as Illustrations. st. PauPS real power
was through mems hearts. His theology was
not as important as men think for Probably
of all the apostles, on account of this very
sympathy, st. John best understood Christ.
ability; they had great influence upon the
world and dc now, but st. Paul was superior
to them. Simeon taught that men should be
governed by the head, but Paul taught men
to listen to the heart Depth of feeling is
thought to be incompatible with strength of
intellect by many. People talk of "cold
facts as if the mind is in its best state when
reduced to poverty and subsisting on cold
ylctualS BY mere intellect we cannot move
others and we cannot move ourselves much.
We want it driven into us that the soul is
superior to the intellect; that the understand
ing speaks a provincial, while the soul speaks
a universal language. Ii we had nine senses,
and two of them were superior in every re-
spect to the others, they might revolutionize
our knowledge but they couldn't change our
love in one particular. This humanity, this
love, is more than provincial dogmas or evan
escent religions. Let us be fond of publicans
and sinners; let us, like Paul, try and be He
brews or lsraeliteS or whatever may be,
quette, if by so doing we can bring these sin
ners to Christ. God will be with us and if
before his judgment throne there should be
a contradictory voice it shall be silent, for
that nobler voice shall be heard, saying,
"their sins that are many are forgiven for
they loved much,' and Paul shall say, II told
you when | was stoned and scorned, when in
hunger and thirst in Hastings often, in cold
and nakedness, love never faileth.
CHURCH OF THE MESSIAH.
The morning hour was set apart for the
children. Flowers in rich and varied pro-
fusion were arranged about the altar and ON
the platform and sides, while a very hand
some memento was hung in front of the al
tar in remembrance of Miss Annie Laechler.
Cages of birds were suspended from the gas
jets on both sides of the church, and amid
the singing of the birds and the music of the
organ the children, who had congregated i'll
the vestry, marched in and took seats in the
body Of the church accompanied by their
teachers, and, under the leadership of Mr..
p. H. Whitenouse, sang several pieces dur
ing the services appropriate to Children's
day.
NJ +br a
children from the words chosen from Isaiah,
ga. 81 will give children to the princes and
babes shall rule over them" The child ex-
erts great influence over those who are old
er. Children require much attention and
they attract attention wherever they are.
When small they rule us in the home and
they hold sway in more ways than one.
Children in this country are not born prime
eS nor have they chance of becoming kings
portant places. In this land of ours to be-
come useful citizens is greater than in most
cases to be kings or princes. Their atten-
ton was called to the fact that they could
not long remain children. They were grow
ing up very fast. In a little while the boy
grow to womanhood. There was much for
them to do as they were growing up. The
following points were named and illustrated
and enforced in a variety of ways:
obedience. Obey parents and God.
2-Attention. Be attentive, observing.
3-Punctuality. Be on time
Method. Have way of doing things.
Accuracy. Do what you do do well.
6-Industry. Keep busy, be in earnest
and sincere
Acquire knowledge. Learn from those
older than you are. Acquire all you can by
experience.
S-Work and play. Play is extertion for
merely pleasure. To work is to be so en-
ployed as to produce results to accomplish
something.
ed with the truth. Like Christ, who was
friend of little children, as your teacher,
helper, pattern and guide, and become like
him in all things good and true.
Following the sermon seven children were
brought to the altar and christened with ap-
propriate ceremonies by the pastor.
The concert in the evening given by the
Sunday school drew full house and gave
satisfaction; all those taking part aquitted
themselves well.
FIRST BAPTIST ANNIVERSARY.
The exercises commemorative of the sixty
ninth anniversary of the First Baptist Sun
day School were successfully held last even
ing The church presented cheerful ap-
pearance. An evergreen arch studded with
nineteen gold stars formed the chief part of
the decorations, and was emblematic of the
nineteen pupils who have united with the
church during the pastyear. Undert this was
placed floral bible of daisies and scarlet
fuchias bearing the words "Our Guide" A
gilt motto, ''For the Masters crown" extend
ed across the platform. Two shields at the
right and left bore the dates 1917 and 1885,
The exercises were very attractive. The solo
by Miss Emma Cobb was finely rendered, as
was also that of Miss Sterling. The super
intendent's report brought out the fact that
there are three hundred and twenty members
of the school. The average Sunday attend
ance has been 1871. The total receipts for the
year have been $327.40, of which $410O have
been expended for foreign missions. There
have been three deaths during the year, Mrs.
E. b. Doyen, Miss Gertrude Foye, and Mrs.
Geo. Hartford.
A solo by Burmese girl, Ma. Mhyah by
name, sung in the Burmese tongue, was eX-
ceedingly curious. Addresses were made by
Rev. Nj. Dunn and the pastor, Rev. DR..
Small. Mr.. A. B. Hall sang a meritorious
solo.
PINE STREET CHURCH.
The young ladies of the Sunday school
under the charge of Mr.. Fred Mitchell, had
decorated Pine st. Methodist Church with a
wealth of fragrant flowers in honor of
CbiIdran,s Dov -Tha wall az the raar of the