The Portland daily press., 1891-06-02
uNIvERSALISrs IN COUNCIL.
Meeting Of the Convention at Con-
gross Square Church.
Eloquent Address by Rev. Or. Rex
ford Last Evening.

The Maine Universalist Convention begins
It's annual session in the Congress Square
church in this city today and will continue
Wednesday and Thursday. The convention
Is composed of all ordained Universallst
clergymen residing in the state, duly admit
ted to its fellowship and actively engaged in
the work Of the ministry. unless disabled by
age or sickness of the officers of the copven-
ton; of the trustees of Westbrook Semina-
ry; of three lay delegates from each parish,
In its fellowship and one additional delegate
from every parish of so or more families
The First Universalist Parish of Portland,
Congress Square,. has extended to the state
convention cordial invitation to accept its
Inequalities at the annual meeting. Enter
tainment will be provided for all members
of the convention and for their wives or hus-
bands, and as far as possible for friends
who may attend. This will be today's pro.
gramme:-
10 a. M, organization. 1890 a. m,
ADDRESS OF welcome by c. S. Fobes of Portland.
IL am, sermon by Rev. 1. Towsley of Bddeford.
p. M, occasional sermon Rev. James Vincent
OF Calais. p. M. communion sevice, conduct
ed by Rev. Henry Blanchard, ID. D., of Portland.
p: m business reports OF executive committees
and treasurer.
The preliminary session of the convention
was held at Congress Square church last
evening. The services began with prayer by
the pastor, Rev. DR.. Blanchard, followed by
the anthem "The Lord Is King" sung by
the choir. and responsive reading by the pas
tor and congregation. Rev. c. E. Angel read
selections from the scriptures. Prayer was
offered by Rev. c. E. Angel, the choir
sang the hymn 'God Is Love-" and then
Rev. Dr. Rexford preached very able ser
mon from the text Colossians q 10. "Cbris-
tian Interpretation" being the central
thought. Except the branches abide in the
vine they PERISH" and except Christianity
abide in the eternal, it vanishes. We may
judge for ourselves whether it be an allied
power with the Almighty or a natural pow.
er. The bloom of the flower explains the
blind root in the earth. Christianity ex-
plains everything below it; everything that
has been. Christianity tells us that every
thing that belongs to this great organic
structure has some value, and it must be
taken on trust The summer absorbs the
spring, autumn absorbs both summer and
spring; the man absorbs the child. Chris
tianity does not repudiate business. When
God made the hands. 1t became physiologi-
cal suggestion that men should hold some
thing in them-that men sho Id have con-
tact with the world. 1t is not religion to
get away from the world. and civil law
black veil: Every man ought to have what
he calls his business and should be closely
related to his business. The man who has
no business in this world has no business in
tbs soortd' Christianity in its fullness
brings God to man. aud lifts man up to God.
Every individual should take himself on
trust and believe in himself. Every faculty
we possess is capable of good use The
speaker then gave advice to the young men
Oh tne audience, That when they arrive at the
heart and take an uncorrnpted heart. That
is the idea of Christian marrIage-an undi-
vided heart. Marriage is divine Institution.
An old bachelor is q breach in nature. 1t is
shah be keptup. There should be an INTEL
lectual element in the home. We see men
who can't afford to take good magazines.
They will smoke up" Popular Science"in one
month and chew down the North American
Review the next month. He dearly loved
some ministers who ust the weed, but he
abhOrred their practices. He acknowledged
that he didn't know the price of feathers
which the ladies wear on their bonnets, but
he thought one feather less and two books
more would improve lady's head.
Christianity then says, "build home,
make 1t beautiful, refined and the abode of
peace and love-" The speaker thought that
going to church in the morning was sufficient
In advgncing this idea, said he, 1 may cross
somebody's opinions. One good sermon is
enough to listen to-two poor ones are too
much. After that the man should take his
family. If in the summer, to the fields or fol-
ests. On stormy Sundays and in the winter
season the libraries and museums should be
open. People tell us that religion is drawing
its last breath, but religion is stronger today
than ever before, because 1t is more rational
and more natural.
The hymn From all that dwell below the
Skies" was sung by the choir, and Rev. DR..
ReXford cd tho b eaiStion.