The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-11-03
PULPIT ANo PLATFORM
CHESTNUT sREEr cHuncu.

he was Of the same craft, be abode with
them and wrought; for By their occupation
they were tentmakers."
DR.. Whitaker, In opening, reviewed the
life of 81. Paul. who. though a weaver Of
the coarse hair cloth used In those days
for tent coverings and rugs, was a refined
and cultured gentleman, with nothing mean
or narrow about him. 1t was an Old Rab-
binical saying that II a father does not teach
his son trade, he does the same thing as to
teach him to be a thief 1t would be a very
good plan and a great benefit. II fathers Of
our day would only adopt the old Jewish
custom. Failure In business comes TO many
after years Of honest toll Il Is then too
late to learn a trade, and dependence som6-
times perfectly appalling. always more or
less humiliating, follows. Every son should
be trained to some handicraft; then such
misfOrtunes could scarcely entail want.
There Is a mischievouS idea In certain
classes that manual labor is less honorable
than mental. IL is the spirit carried into
the employment which elevates or degrades
1t. 1t Is just as creditable to cultivate prop
erly corn. or shovel sand, or mould anchors,
as II is to CLERK In a store or count money In
bank. Sine the days Of Adam, men
trained In a"ual labor have been among
the most hOnored Of our race. Christ's life
stamped dignity upon honest toll, and this
was one sense in which he was the great ex-
emplar OF mankind. The very best way
that man can prove his profession hOnora.
bly, Is TO illustrate In hi own private and
public life It's alliance with that which Is
noble and Christltke in Christian integrity.
When a man uses Gods day for his own
purnoses, In Sunday excursions, reading the
Sunday newspapers, In friendly visitations,
he r0bs God of his time and breaks the Com
mandments, just as surely as does the clerk
who takes piece OF brOadclOth without the
permission Of his employer and uses It for
man rob God OF his time and yet remain
gentleman? Two hundred and fifty thou
sand wage workers, who are spending every
Sabbath In exhausting toll, are a crying pro-
test against custom that Is steadily advanc-
ing, and II not checked will ere long compel
the tOiling wage-wOrker t. labor seven days
in his week for six days wages. without any
outlet or concession to mental or physical
strain or care. He urged young men never
to buy or read the Sunday newspaper. 1t
seculariZes the Sabbath and robs them Of the
best opportunities In their life for spiritual
development and service. It robs God OF
time which he declares belongs to him and
violates the commandments. II also trains
boys to grow up In reckless earelessness re-
spectlng Gods holy time. and every man
who buys Sunday newspaper, or reads one,
sanctions or helps to perpetuate this
enrsions on the Sabbath. for as
citizens you want to retain our civil aud
religious liberties, and thereby one Of the
cOrner-st0nes OF our nations strength Is
weakened. The temple Of American liberty
stands upon four corner stones-the family,
the church. the Bible and the Sabbath,
which ara mutually dependent upon each
other. Without the sanction Of the church
without the teachings Of the Bible. or the
Qnf0road nf tho a0araH Eahharh "a
family Is dem0ralzed.
Character makes the man, and the noblest.
most beautiful and gentle men are those
whose character Is built upon an exDerlmen-
hne broadclOth, aristocratic airs, do not win
Tor one the title which Longfellow describes
as "the grand old man."
5 Whatever your toll. be true gentleman.
and then your life will be happy, Virtuous
and influential for good, your depa rture
from this life will be victorious, your name
will inspire others to noble living. and men
VIII say Of you. The world grew better because
he lived In 1t. and heaven must be richer be
cause he has gone to 1t.
wILLIsToN CHURCH.
AS the Rev. Dwight NJ. Pratt, the pastor
elect, stepped upon the platform OF Willis
ton church yesterday, which had been taste
fully decorated by the ladies OF the Young
Peoples Society. he was greeted by large
and attentive audience. Mr.. Pratt Is a gen.
tleman apparently yet on the bright side Of
forty, and a very pleasing speaker. After
the singing, as response. Sweetslr's beauti-
full hymu-chant "While we lowly bow before
Thee" by the choir of the church, the
preacher announced as his text the 10th
verse of the first chapter of Romans, and
hao Htrua a.4gsx
by the bedside of we'll known teacher, In
what was thought to be his mortal illness.
Looking up, the patient said, My dear
young friend. you have been summoned to
preach the gospel. will give you a text
from which to preach. 1 am not ashamed
of the gospel Of Christ, for 1t is the power
Of God unto salvation to every one that be-
lieveth.'" But times have changed since
Paul made this bold assertion. Then he
stood almost alone, yet possessed Of heroic
faith and courage. These were born Of ex
perience. Paul saw their power in history,
and that in three centuries the gospel would
permeate the empire. He recognized his
place in the transmission Of the power Of
the gospel to the world.
The preacher devoted the closing portion
OF his discourse to an earnest setting forth
that the supreme question of the hour should
be the transmission Of this power to the
world, and an appeal to the church tN unite
| with him in this glorious work.
| CONGRESS STREET E. CHURCH.
Prec ding the morning sacrament one was
baptized and IS united with the church.
Especial preparation for work by the Holy
| Spirit" was the theme OF the afternoon SER
vice by the pastor, Rev. j. NJ. Frost The
sermon was powerful and very appropriate
In view Of the special meetings to be- held in
this church, commencing next Sabbath, and
continuing afternoon and evening during
that week, conducted by Rev. II. b. Mcbride
and wife Of Brooklyn, N. z, so widely
known and highly esteemed as successful re-
vivalists.
Monday afternoon and evening the mem
bers of this church will vote upon the ques-
tlon oil admitting women as lay delegates to
the general conference.
Special meetings will be held every eve
ming during the coming week.
NEW JERUSALEM CHURCH.
Those who were at the vesper service at
the New Jerusalem church last evening had
great treat. Miss Alice Carle was there
and sang two solos exqulsitely. The dis
course by Rev. Percy Billings on Tine way
Of Salvation; individual, social aud nation
al" was the best he has hitherto given. 1t
was eloquent, forcible and clear, and was at
tentlyely listened to and much appreciated
by the large audience. Space prevents our
giving even an outline Of the discourse,
which was so full Of solid thought that a
few words would give a very inadequate
idea Of it. Suffice 1t to say that Mr.. Billings
seems to be thOrough-golng socialist Of the
peaceful sort, who Is deslrous Of seeing men
and women live for the community, educate,
care for, and help the individual In every
possible way.
mysterious Wound.
Friday morning Fred f. Jellson. 81 year.