The Portland daily press., 1890-02-03
PULPIT AND PLATFORM.
CHURCH OF THE MESSIAH.

At the Church of the Messiah last evening
Rev. George L. Perrin, the Universalist Mis-
sionary elect TO Japan, presented the reasons
for the establishment of this the frs. foreign
mission of the Universalist church. He said
that although at first he was not heartily in
favor of the project after studying the con-
dition Of things aud the field of labor he had
become thoroughly converted. From con-
versation with citizens Of japan, he felt that
the doctrines Of the Universalist church,
proclaiming as they do the universal father
hood of God and the brotherhood Of man
would be peculiarly acceptable to the Japan
ese. Since the revolution in 1868 which
broke up the old exclusiveness Of the nation
the Japanese have had practically no real re-
ligion. Relics of old Buddhism, old Confu-
cianism, and other old time religions remain;
but there Is no real national religion, and
the field is thus open to Christianity, Not
the kind of Christianity, the speaker thought
that teaches untold damnation to those un-
fortunate Japanese who happened to die be-
fore the missionaries came; but one of the
liberal beliefs.
For this, and to do his share toward DEM
onstrating this, he broke up all Of his pleas
ant relations and proposed to sail away to an
unknown land. AT the close of the address
liberal subscription was received for the
mission.
HEAVEN AS A PLACE.
Yesterday afternoon Rev. N. T. Whitaker
preached powerful sermon upon Heaven"
the text being Hebrews XI: l6 This is a
topic that is always full of interest with
thoughtful minds. We have all lost friends
and relatives. Where are they? Shall we
ever see them again? Does death end all?
If man die shall he live again? First the
preacher gave the ideas which Brahmanism,
and other religions, had concerning the sub.
ject, and then said that recently about one
third of the clergymen of Portland had given
to the press their ideas respecting Heaven as
a place. AS students of the world 1t is fair
to say that they represent impartially and
properly the teachings of the Christian
church of today. The statements can be
easily grouped under three headings: first
non-committal; second, heaven is not place !;
third, heaven is place as well as a state,
and the names of ministers were given and
their printed views quoted under each head
ing. The rest of them teach that Heaven Is
place, without attempting to defJe its To-
cation. There were some so preachers who
| did not give their ideas to the press. The
majority of them hold, however, that Heaven
| first, because Christ refers 10 Heaven as a
| place under circumstances that cannot admit
| of mythical Interpretation. The apostles and
| gospel writers refer to Heaven as place
and reason supports the belief.
wILLIsToN CHURCH.
| Nine years ago, at the home of Rev. +. E
Clark. then pastor Of the Williston church oI
this city, was organized the first Young Peo.
ple's Society of Christian Endeavor. and
yesterday was observed as Christian Endea
vor day throughout the country, and last
evening at Williston church Rev. Ralph w
Brokaw, one Of the trustees of the United
Society, ably spoke concerning the move
ment. lie said that he would rather hav'
been the originator CT the Christian Endeayo
idea than to have been the President OF the
United States, since the man that has grea
deal to do with the shaping of affairs Is the
man who has the handling of young people;
He desired to congratulate that church anC
the city of Portland, that the former pastor
of Williston was the originator OF the move
| ment He then spoke about the young peo
pie for the times, his address being OF deeI
| interest,