The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-04-27

PULPIT AND PLATFORM
ST. LAWRENCE STREET.


Rev. William Carruthers, Of Holyoke,
Mass. preached yesterday morning In st.
Lawrence street church. on Personal Re-
sponsiblllty." He said 1t Is natural that
those who are seeking common end should
seek 1t by common help, through the social
element. Organization Is necessary and in
evitabie. but II Is beset with peTils. There
Is danger OF ones losing bis sense Of perso.
nal responsibility when he comes to men,
persnip In an organization, Just as some men
lose their consciences when they enter Joint
stock companies. The influence Of the gos-
pei has been greatly hlndered because organ
ic Christianity has so largely taken the place
OF personal Christianity. The :church did
most when they knew least about formal or
ganization. The religion Of Christ is a re-
ligion OF personal pronouns, all Of them In
the singular number. Its keynote Is, FOL
low thou Me-" Ii call in the aid Of organ
ization. 1t Is not to lessen my own work. but
to give 1t greater breadth and power. Mr..
Carruthers said he did not advocate personal
effort at the expense Of true union. in which
all the members are under the spell of one
and the same idea, and are all inspired by
one and the same spirit, as were the French
soldiers la NapoleOn's armies. To follow
Napoleon was for each man, whether officer
or private, to follow the leadership Of his
own Idea, ambition and will. "A :living
unit Is the thing desired; every fractional
part Of that unit sharing In the work, and in
one has any right thought concerning an or
ganization save as he thinks of Ii as made
up OF individualities. each of them adding
something to the effectiveness Of the whole
body. 1t Is much to have few members so
Interested in their organization that their
personal service Is cheerfully placed at it,
disp0sal, but to rest content with this Is aOt
possible. 1t Is condition of things for
whose ending there Is a passionate longing
In the heart OF every pastor. The unused
power Of personal service in our churches is
Immense. Why am | in the organization II
not for service ?-service which Is as .indi-
vidual as that OF every sun-ray which Is has
tening to make Gods summer break out of
heaven tor us. Every drop Of rain may say,
helped to make the shower. Every flake Of
snow which fell last winter could say. l
helped to form the white covering which
was as garment OF beauty to the frozen
earth when there was neither grass blade
nor flower for its adorning. Eve.y leaf may
say. helped to make the foliage OF the for
est. When the Christian church, of which
am member, grows into largeness and be-
comes mantfed with the beauty and glory Of
increasing usefulness, what joy to be able
to say, helped to make 1t what 1t is; my
little gift Of service Is in the fullness Of that
great ministry of blessing. God has made
each OF us to be something; to have real
place and do a real work in the great fields
OF Christian service Ii fill not my place,
it will forever remain fulfilled. II do not
my work. 1t will forever remain undone.
Shall practically deny my personal respon.
sibility and lessen by so much the power and
efficiency OF the church? cannot, l will
not do that. | am but as one ray Of the
summer sunlight. but Christ would miss me. me-
l am but as one drop Of the summer rain,
but Christ would miss me. am but as one
leaf In the summer foliage, but Christ would
miss me. L am less than the least Of all
these. VINO are doing the work to which, out
OF very love for Christ, they have pledged
themselves, but His heart would be sorely
grieyed IL. within the light which Is shining
out from His church, he failed to discover the
one little ray OF my personal fidelity.
WEST END CHURCH.
AT meeting Of the Ecclesiastical Council.
which was held at the West CONGREGATIONAL
church. last Wednesday, to dis
miss the pastor. Rev. s. X. Perkins. these
resolutions were adopted
Reviewing the action Of our brother. Rev.
S.k. Perkins, In resigDing the pastorate of
this church, and the action Of the church
ana parish In connection Herewith, this
council Is reluctantly compelled TO concur
IN tneir mutual decision. We take this step
with personal sorrow, In view of the large
piace wnlcn our brother has filed In the es-
tsem and affections Of this people, Of the en-,
tlre community, and of his ministerial
We record our high appreciation Of the
personal worth and the faithful service ot
the retiring pastor, and commend him as a
devoted and efficient minister OF Chrlst,
holding the truth in its simplicity, preacnins
1t with power and adorning IL Dya eOhsist-
We deeply sympathlze with this church In
THAR loss and pray that upon them and the
retiring pastor the richest blessings OF hea-
ven may abide.
Rev. Mr.. Perkins preached his farewell
sermon yesterday.
SECOND PARISH CHURCH.
The choir Of the Second Parish that has
for so many years delighted the attendants
at divine service, gave its.farewell selections
at the vesper service yesterday. The pro-
gramme. published in Saturdays PREss.
was beautifully rendered to very large and
delighted congregation.