The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-02-14
TWENTY-FIVE PROFITABLE YEARS.
A Memorable Anniversary of the
Congress Square Church.
Addresses by Rev. Or. e. @. BoIles
and Rev. w. z. Gibbs.
ParishIonefs and Pastors Exchange
Greetings In the Evening.

The exercises in celebration of the 18th
anniversary Of the dedication of Congress
Square church yesterday afternoon were ex
trelnely interesting. The day was fine, and
large numbers of the old and young parish
toner's gathered to listen to the eloquent ad
dresses of their former pastors. No attempt
at decoration was made other than a few
handsome plants and flowers on either side
OF the altar, but there was an air of pride
and solemnity pervading the occasion, which
of itself was decidedly impressive. When
the organ voluntary was rendered in open.
ing, nearly every pew was occupied. The
pastor, Rev. Henry Blanchard, then began
the exercises with pleasing and. impressive
sentences of invocation. After the singing
In an admirable manner by the choir Of an
anthem, the 107th psalm was read respon-
sively by Rev. Fl. E. Gilchrist and the con-
gregation.
The pastor then earnestly prayed for the
welfare of the society, the protection Of the
three ministers of the parish then gathered
in the church, and for the guidance Of cler-
gymen and people in the future.
Rev. o. F. Stafford, d. D.. then gave out a
hymn, in the singing of which the congrega-
tion united
Mr.. Philip F. Turner, clerk of the parish,
delivered an address on "What the Records
Tell Us Of the Dedication" which had the
closest attention, all the facts and figures
presented being of momentous interest to
the church.
Mr.. Turner's paper may be found on the
second page.
In introducing Rev. w. E. Gibbs the pas
tor said that he was pastor there for nearly
one half of the twenty-five years they were
then celebrating. He did not Ineed to read
the records of the parish concerning him.
In the memories of his people the records of
his work were deeply cut, and many a man
and woman in the city of Portland blessss
God for his ministration. But personally
their memories 60 back beyond the twenty
i've years to the days when, in 1855, they
both entered Tufts College, and though they
have been separated largely in territory
since, still their hearts have beat together,
and especially now will they do SO since
they have been pastors of the same church,
and only those wLo have been pastors can
understand the dearness of the ties which
unite such men. 1t was, therefore, with great
pleasure that he introduced Rev. W. E.
Gibbs, who spoke as follows:
REV. W. E. GIBBs's ADDRESS
l hardly know how to begin after such an
introduction, so much has been comprehend
ed withln few words. The years of service
which we passed together here rush rapidly
through my mind, and many things occur to
me that would like to say II this were a lit
occasion for them to be said ; but life Is made
up largely OF memories and anticipati0ns,
and we have always to discount them both
ere we get at the realities of things. Our
memories are treacherous.. and sometimes
show in brighter c0lors the days and things
of the past than they would bear; while our
anticipatioDs are rosy with hopes which are
not TO be fulfilled 1t seems, and which conse-
quently need not be dwelt upon because of
the possible failures which may atterd them.
either our memories or our anticipation for
the more bold, commonplace talk and things
of every DAY. We would not lose either the
JOY which appeTtains to the thoughts of other
days, nor would we lay aside the gladness
with which our hopes are filled as we look
forward.
My term of service here began In fear: l
dreaded to follow one whose reputation as
brilliant preacher had become so great In
pared to take up that kind of work. never
was much Of preacher; | don't know that
l ever hoped to be; but did think saw
to be done which was within the
sphere OF my ability, and am sure that SO
far as the power in me lay have endeavor-
ed to do what work has been assigned me.
The twelve years of my stay were made very
delightful to me by reason of the cordial
Willingness with which l was assisted by
those who were members of the parish. This
city to me is the most beautiful city ever
dwelt in. and the people who were associated
with me in the service here were people who
have always held large place in my love,
and think that the recipr0cEtion Of that
affection made the service which l was
called to do easier; and while as look back
l. see many things that were left undone
that might have been done had your pastor
had brighter wit or a more abundant
wisdom, still am glad that we have labored
together. l am glad to be afforded the op-
portunity to stand here in the old familiar
place, and though so many familiar faces
are not here, and so many that are un-
familiar are, to feel returning tie of the re-
awakened love. and to know that nothing in
this earth can ever sever them who have
been brought into such intimate relations as
il was l. y privilege to dwell in with you.
But we want to remember that the work of
the church is never done; it is always doing;
ed by those who have passed from the stage
of active effort into some other way of life,
whatever may have been left und0ne by
them, 1t is useless for us either to enter into
any great praise of their endeavor, or into
any limitations of their want. We are here.
the living representatives of faith whose
fullness of joy we have known
and whose completeness Of purpose we
cannot overpass.
We are here the living representatives Of a
thought, whose wide embrace takes within
its grasp the world, offers to the human soul
the blessed love Of the eternal, and seeks to
make each soul so fit a dwelling place for
the abiding of that 1--we that from that soul
shall come the fuller life in every utterance
The Christian church is like the heart In the
body; If it be full Of love with the impulse
which belongs to it, 1t sends into every street
and way of the community in which it stands
something OF the strength which imparts
grace and power to all; and If there be in
this place an influence for good which shall
abide, 1t is that which comes out from the
Christian life which enables men and women
to work together like brothers and sisters, to
forget all petty differences of opinion, and to
feel that there is warm and quick desire
within to do Gods will, and so to labor for
His sake and in His name that out from the
effort which shall spring from such desire,
righteousness shall make its effect felt every
where.
1t is of little avail that we adorn the church
with paintings and with beauty, II there be
not within that church beauty OF charac-
ter expressed which shall be significant OF
larger things than those which greet the eye.
1t is comparatively unimportant that we
shall acquire to ourselves increase OF social
power, ii there be not also within Jus great
desire to increase social purity as well. 1t
is of little avail that there be largeness OF
resources, if there be not the spirit which
shall prompt us to use those resources to the
best ends; and IL snch spirit be here as
shall reach out beyond ourselves and make
the community about us feel the grace and
goodness of God as 1t finds utterance in our
own life, the best ad0rnment that church
can have, the warmest praise that God can
ask and the sweetest life that man
can know, is here. We want that
and the world wants it. This Is the
day of practical religious life, and every
church withio the borders Of our denomina-
tion must feel the impulse to enter upon the
practice of Christian virtues, that 1t may
make itself right influence for good In the
community in which it stands, We must
not be satisfied simply to gather together and
praise each other for the work which has
been accomplished, kindly and wholesome
and sweet as such praise may seem, yet IL Is
not sufficient to answer all our needs.
| honor with exceeding reverence and
with great joy and love those whose names
iave been read, whose work was centered In
this building. | rejoice with exceeding
gladness that it was my privilege to know
many of them, and to labor with them In the
fuIthering of the purpose for which the
church was built. l congratulate you upon
the record of the past and upon the outlook
for the future rejoice with you IN the
prosperity of the present, and trust that in
this prosperity you yourselves snail ieel