The Portland daily press., 1888-03-01
lock then gave historical sketch Of the
Free church, of which the substance Is given;
HIaTORIcAI sKErcu

IL was continued with occasional services
| Of worship in the hall which was kindly
offered free Of rent by its ownr, Capt. A;
| j. Morgan. until 1872 When IL dWndied ana
at length disbanded.
After an interval Of years the school was
re-OrganiZed in 1877 and continued f0r year
and half, assisted by the Y. M. z. A., OF
Portland and others, but the field was then
abandoned as before, for lack Of means and
workers. During all this period the morals
Of the "COrner" had not been reported the
best intemperance and disregard OF the Sab
bath had been prevalent, and the destltu-
tion Of the people, as regards eyangelleal IN
structi0n was yielding its legitimate fruits.
These conditions were constant invitation
to renewed Christian effort coming
now to the more recent movement which
has eliminated in the erection OF this neat
edifee we find that the first service was con-
Quoted by Rev. G.. A. Marsh OF Woodford.s
Congregational church, Oct. II, 1888, attend
ed by IS persons. A prayer meeting iolloW-
ed, which became permanent as weli as tne
Sunday School which Immediately followed,
largely through the aid Of individuals from
W0OdfOrd's and members OF the churcn OF
Friends. Religious interest soon developed,
conversions occurred, and 1t was Thought
best to organize a church. Accordingly an
ecclesiastical council of the nelghboring
churches was called on the 10th of February,
1886, which, after thorough investigation
voted TO proceed to organize Congrega-
ti0nal church. The same was effected on
that date, with q members. l.. II. Halloek,
moderator; Z. NJ. Cousins, scribe; address
by w. IL. Fem, ID. ID. Eighteen were re-
eeived ION confession Of faith, and nine by
letter from other churches.
Preaching has been held during the
months Of summer by evangelical pastors OF
Portland and vicinity, and the good work
has continued with growing interest and
fruitfulness until the present time. Finding
the hall when they had wOrshipped too
strait for them, a movement toward securing
house of worship was started In the fall Oh
1887, after much preliminary discussion.
Toward its erection, the Congregational
churches of Portland contributed $780, and
some small donations were received from
other sources. The entire cost Of the enter
prise as it now stands has been $500; the
last $500, of which comes from the American
CONGREGATIONAL Union which holds first
mortgage on the property, thus securing the
property permanently for the end designed
by its donors. All bills are paid and the
church is now to be dedicated into God and
his worship free OF debt as every glIt 10
Him should ever be.
A hymn written by Elizabeth Converse
Durgin was sung.
Rev. A. III. Wright then preached the de-
dicatory sermon from the text Psalm xxxvII,
5. The following is an abstract:
REV. MIR. wRIGHT's SERMON.
Not inappropriately is the sacred name
Zion applied to our local sanctuaries.
Originally the name Of tine strongest place
of heather power in Canaan 1t was. after
King David's time, the name OF the strong
hold of the Hebrew faith. 1t followed the
Ark Of Israel to the temple Of Moriah, and
became the poetic and prophetic name OF
Jerusalem, as the city Of God. In Psalm
and prophecy it is used over and over again
to designate the church of God. 1t Is EN-
ployed in our text to represent POLITICALLY the
sacred city as the place Of Gods sanctuary.
Ac fafh orov birth n the QhurQh
organization, so did organization begets the
sanctuary. The church cannot secure its
highest privileges, nor fulfill its sacred OBJ
legations without sanctuary. Cathedrals
are not a necessity, but sanctuary homes are.
The rude altar was such tosAbraham prlmi-
tive religion had no imposing temple. The
church edifce is such to the Christian com
munitY. The sactuaTy as the dwelling place
Of the church is silent and potent witness
for God, and place Of spiritual nurture for
his people.
/ Shall speak of some of the essential con-
ditions of a powerful sanctuary. From the
text we derive the idea that the sanctuary Is
designed to be the birthplace of souls, "Of
Zion it shall be said, this man and that man
was LOrn in her"
The first Christian Sanctuary was the up
per room in Jerusalem from which went
forth the power that converted thousands OF
Jews. 1t was the Holy Ghost, not in Peter
alone, but in the church. The power that
shook the place, shook all believing hearts.
1.-The first condition Of soul saving power
is the sanctuary in that the church therein
offer spiritual worship to God. Spiritual
worship is distinct not from forms and eere-
monies, but from Journalism. The formali-
ties and proprieties of public worship de-
mand serious attention, but the greater need
is to cultivate the spirit of worship. Spirit
begets form, not form the spirit.
The one thing to be feared in our day Is
unspirtual worship. Artistically considered
the service may be well-nigh perfect and yet
be barren of power Spiritual worship Is
prostration of the human spirit before God
1t is the alteration Of the soul. Praise,
when heartfelt, Is the noblest form of wOr-
ship. SuppiicatiOn hon0rs God. Petition IS
indirect worship. To plead for mercy exalts
the munifcence Of God.
Intercessory prayer Is most acceptable
worship for it seeks TO fulfill the Divine will.
Such are some of the spiritual elements OF
worship. The offering of these sacrifices by
the congregation heartily and statedly Will
empower the sanctuary.
Spiritual worship will provide for itself
means of support, as we'll as forms of SER
vice. The liberal hand must go with the de-
vout heart. Spiritual worship VIII prove Its
genuineness at this point.
1.-THE second condition is the constant
and diligent use Of the sanctuary for reli-
gious edifcation. Religious life demands
appropriate exercises. These are found in
the sanctuary. 1t is the Christian college
for the culture Of the soul. Preaching IS the
main ldclOI Ol spiritual CuAuNdtAVh OAt NV
the only factor. The sanctuary service mas
an educational value. They go from Strength
to strength, every one Of them 9ppeareth be-
fore God The psalmist realized the edifea-
tion Of the sanctury, so.b6 exelaims, "A day
in thy courts is better than a thousand
That would be- an exceptionally vigorous
church, Y,-ore all worshipped for edihca-
ton
-LiI.-A third condition of powerful sane
tnry is that it be sustained as centre oil po-
sition and aggressive Christian effort.
The church is not the end OF its own or
ganization. 1t should seek to save souls
rather than to build up itself. The sanctua-
ry is the drill place for service, the workshop
Of the church. But much OF the work must
be done without itself, In its community
An aggressive spirit is the condition Of sue
cess In church work.
IV.-Finally, an essential condition OF
powerful sanctuary Is unity. Not OF unity
Of opinion, or of sameneSs of theological
views, but, first OF all, oneness In spirit,
with aim and effort.
Don't fear heresy so much as unbelief;
don't be alarmed at speculative theories,
which conflict with your views, but let want
of conservation and brotherly love frlghten
you all. Strive together to realize these sim
pie, reasonable conditions Of success, and so
shall you live and grow in your sanctuary,
and make it a benetcent power in this COM
munity. So it shall be said, this man and
that man was born in her." so "the highest
himself shall establish you" and give you
name to live.
Rev. F. T. Bayley offered the dedicatory
prayer, and after singing the following state
ment was made by the building committee
through its chairman w. 7. Jordan;
BUILDING REPORT
Cost of land, S7OO; total house and furni-
ture, $685. Besides $500, q gift from the
Portland churches, the following acknowl-
edgements were made to gifts from Congre-
gatiOnal churches
New Gloucester
First Congregational. Brunswick. 41.56
GOfldnn. sss.s.s.ss. oO.OO
ScarbOrO ......s..... .........s.... zOOO
Bangor. ..................s.-s..ss ll.yV
Augusta. .ss-ssss..s...s.ss iSsoo
WaterVllle. s.........s....s 1000
Central Church. Bangor. $500
lOtdl. > Af@sVo
also from Cumberland Conference S25.
I,.....rl-r mara mazda hv Rav DIR Small of