The Portland daily press., 1891-10-02
THE DoINGS OF THE EpWORTH LEAGUE
A Revised Constitution Adopted AZ
Ter an Amin ated Debate.
Opinions Of the Convention Express
ed In Resolutions.
Hon. 7. q. Reed and Rev. Amory >.
Haines Among the Speakers.

League Convention. Rev. Mr.. Haven in
voked the divine blessing. Brief devotional
exercises were led by Rev. o. E. Thayer Of
Lewiston.
The department OF Christian work was
opened by Rev. w. S. Smlthers Of Vermont.
The speaker said that this department must
be kept at the front. and looked upon as the
very heart. the very core OF league work.
Energy, activity and earnsstness are needed
In this line of work. The league shall be
means OF spreading revival power over the
land. Mr. Smithers had charge OF the ques-
tlon-box connected with this department.
The department Of mercy and help was
next considered by Rev. f. w. Upham. who
thought that 1t very properly came under the
department Of Christian work, and he was
ready to suggest. at the proper time aud
place, that the name OF ths frst department
chat Of Christian work., be changed to soma.
other name, as every department ought to be
Included In one whole under the caption Of
"ChristIan Work" A questlon-5ox was ably
conducted by Mr.. Upham.
Prayer was offered y Rev. Mr.. Humph-
ries Of Massachusetts,, aud the congregation
sang the hymn "a charge to keep have"
The Rev. DIR. Townsend Of B)stln,
preached very able sermo On from E,clesias-
tes, liz: "The words Of the preacher. the
son of David, King Of Jerusalem. Vanity
OF vanities, saith the preacher, all Is vanity"
Solomon is presented to US as a man Of var
led and contradictory attalnments, subject
to fits of pleasantnsss. fit' of refinement and
fits OF grossness. fits for study and fits for
idleness. Early In his life he had fit for
knowledge, and In his search for knowledge,
he drank his fill. His wisdom excelled that
OF any other man OF science and letters, and
his originality eQualled his wisdom. Vast
was his knowledge. but 1t only brought him
vexati0n OF spirit, and he said that he that
increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.
And now does some one say that Solomon
misjudged In these matters-that knowledge
Is great thing? The more one studies the
more one agrees with tho prophet that
knowledge gotten for its own sakeis not such
a wonderful thing after all. Find out all
you can and this ocean of knowledge rolls
on unexplored. Mere knowledge does not
make happiness. There must be higher
motive in all our studies. Solomon's cry Of
vanity has an echo In more souls than one.
Finding that knowledge did not make hap
piness Solomon tried the rounds Of worldly
pleasure-first innocent amusement and then
paths of iniqulty. With palaces AMI vine
yards and gold and silver, 1t all began to pail
ALI WAS VANITY anu NtAdtlOu Vi SplItLs uo
devoted himself to the art Of enjoyment. and
demonstrated great truth that this world
cannot satisfy human soul.
Is SolOmon's life exceptional, his state
ments exaggerated?
II this world Is the human destiny life Is a
stupendous farce and hardly worth living
The greatest things, knowledge and possess
sion Of this worlds goods will not satisfy the
human SOUL
The downfall OF Solomon was depleted In
a very vivid manner. when he had no larger
the wisdom OF sage, and when he brought
down the anger of Heaven on him because Of
his SINS Sin Is terrible thing In the sight
Of Heaven, and terrible agony for the soul
when 1t awakes from its slumber Solomon
becomes penitent and his penitence is ex-
into the house of mourning than Of fcasting.
Sorrow Is better than laughter" The per-
son who Is seeking happiness In worldly
pleasure should take this lesson to heaIt
mon: Let us hear the conclusion Of the
whole matter. Fear God and keep his COM
mandments, for this Is the whole duty Of
man.
The Lords supper was presided over by
the presiding Elder, Rev, w. S. Jones, as
sisted by some of the visiting pastors.
The services in the afternoon opened with
singing the hymn Thou God Of power, thou
God Of love-" Rev. Mr.. Herrck read seIec-
ti0ns from the Scriptures and offered prayer.
The chorus sang the hymn "I'll be there"
The department OF literary work was
opened by Rev. G. S. Bakelet of Portsmouth,
N. H., who presented a very pleasing pic
ture of an average Epworth league and the
advance it made In literary work. The
speaker believed where wisdom Is possible,
ignorance Is SIM" The department Of en-
tertainment was next taken up by Rev. G. 5.
Buffers OF Massachusetts,, who thought that
this was not the least OF the departments.
This department reaches from the church
doors to heaven itself. Good enter tain
ments are educators.
Rev. Fred II. Knight. considered the de-
partment OF Correspondence and finance. He
would like to impress upon every league
the necessity of having a good secretary.
Unless secretaries respond promptly IL Is
hard for the general secretary 70 make out
reports. The President introduced Rev. I'll.
Z. Wood. who presented the greetings OF the
Free Baptist Association which was In
session at Plymouth church.
Remarks by Mr.. Reed.
The appearance Of Speaker Reed evoked
great enthusiasm. Mr.. Reed said: Mr..
President: 1 am with you this afternnon
unexpectedly. but hope it may be provi-
dentially. 1t gives me great pleasure to say
a word Of cheer to this audience. Those
who believe as do In great moral questions
must have tender feeling for the Metho-
dist church OF the North, the church militant
that has done so much for the cause of pro-
gress. for human liberty and human equality.
l am sure that active as has been the church
In times past, can promise far greater ac-
tivity by the young men and young women
who will act together for church progress.
One OF the great influences is their banding
together and being willing to work together.
am glad for my part that women and men
are reassociated together in this great work.
The PARTICIPATION Of woman Is an influence
we cannot afford to let go or decrease. l bid
you God speed In the good work.
Rev. ID. b. Randall was introduced as the
oldest Methodist present, and announced his
desire to join the Epw0rth League, as he was
as young at heart as ever.
The committee on the constitution presen-
ted their report through the chairman, Rev,
Mr. Spencer, which caused quite c0ntr0-
yersy The constitution was rewritten and
was objected to by some on the ground that
too little time had been taken for its revis-
ion, and as the old one was found to be
faulty so such haste must necessarily make
this one as faulty. Quite an excited debate
took place. Mr.. Spencer thought that as he
had been awake all night thinking about II,
quite enough time had been spent on the
constitution. Ou being told by one OF the
brothers that he said he was new at the bus
mess, Mr. Spencer said he didn't say so. He
wasn't new at the business but accustomed
TO IL. de was willing to eat his head OF II
The President sustained Mr.. Spencer and
the constitution was adopted as amended, or
rather as rewritten.
The following officers were elected for the
ensuing year:
President-Rey. w. Haven OF Boston.
vice observation-disclosures 5. Everett of Port
ianu, 3. L. Dawson OF Lawrence, MRS. X. L.
Bruce OF Springfield. VT. Mrs o. w. Scott OF
Norwich, Conn.,
Mass.
Treasurer-w. II. Flanders Of Newton, Mass.
The Resolutions.
Among the resolutions reported by the
committee and adopted were these:
Resolved, That In recognition Of the warm aud
cordial Christian hospitality manifested by the
social session of the Epworth League of Portland
~ providing for our entertainment, convenience
ana enjoyment, we express our grateful apprecta-
Ion and pray for the gracious outp0urlng OF the
noly Spirit upon the several Leagues TO qua lily
tnem Tor the highest aud m Jst successful work In
the Masters cause.
whereas OF all the evils that impede the pro-
gress OF Christianity In our age the alcoholic sys-
TEN TEN uprooted and Derpetrated by the drink habit
ana the drink traffic, Is the uaapproachable chief,
whereas, Any movement against the liquor
system tnat Is worthy Of Christian support must
rest upon abstinence and prohibition.
whereas, The utter annihilalion OF the saloon
10 Tue dominant moral and civil duty of this age.