The Portland daily press., 1891-04-17
FAST DAY IN THE CHURCHES.
Addresses by Rev. Messrs. whitman
and Wright.


There were only two addresses delivered
in Portland churches yesterday, one by Mr..
Whitman at the State street church, where
the evangelical societies united in a service,
and the other by Mr.. Wright at the st.
Lawrence street.
State Street.
Inc Union services at the State street
were well attended and were very interest
Ing. Seven of the prominent evangelical
clergymen of the city Rev. Drs. Dalton, Fem
omaii and Clymer and Revs. d. M. Pratt, F.
L. Bayley and B. l.. Whitman sat In the
pulpit and took part in the service. After
Scripture reading by Rev. DIR. Dalton and
prayer by DR.. Clymer and Mr.. Pratt the ad-
dress of the occasion was delivered by Rev.
MI whitman of the Free street Baptist
church. The address was in no sense aser-
mon 1t being as Mr. Whitman said, perhaps
more profitable at times to look at matters
In rather unusual way. Mr.. Whitman
said in substance:
Let US at this time, set apart by executive
authority for meditation and prayer, CON
slider the tendency Of the times. We shall
think discover that this age Is first OF all a
materlaiistic age. This spirit of materialism
about us everywhere, ON the lecture platform,
in the magazine, and the newspapers of the
day. There Is the plain materialist who
teaches that this life is all there is. that the
bodily temple Is the only temple there is and
that death ends all. There is also the
materialist more numerous perhaps than the
first who while not confiHing the duration of
all things to this life yet lives as though
there were no hereafter. He contents him
self with living n e
sixth chapter of Matthew and laying up
much treasure on earth, without thought
OF a possible Heaven. The speaker then re-
ferring TO the Accommodations of wealth in
least more noticeable of late years said that
he did not blame all men for becoming rich.
1t was divine gift to some men as preach
| Ing the gospel is to others. and man ought
| to do what he is best fitted to do. The evil
OF great wealth the speaker said comes In
taking what Heaven meant simply for an in
termediate means for an ultimate end, and
In stunning the better part of life by an abb
nomal devotion to that means. A third
phrase OF this materialistic tendency is seen
There are various kinds of Socialism, good
and bad, that are more or less prevalent but
| that which is c0mmoneSt, best illustrates the
tendency. The Socialist that we know best
cries out for an equal division of the material
things OF the world, property, lands, houses
cattle and goods and looks out for the
present alone. Then too life is most
materialistic In some quarters in that the
bodily comfort for the time being is the only
thing sought after. He then spoke of classes
OF prevailing sins against morality, chastity
and temperance all of which minister to this
same materialism, and which almost seem
to be on the increase.
The second great tendency of the day is an
ethical tendency. tendency to study the
doctrine of the duty of man to man. This is
perhaps, not directly on the surface, but il
can be discovered as the bottom force that is
working. There Is a growing tendency to
STUDY tne rights OF man and to apply the sec
as field this can be seen In the domains OF
politics, OF economics, and of philanthropy.
Tnere Is growing tendency toward
equalizing the condition of mankind and
it must surely continue to a successful
issue. There are some glazing in-consis-
tencies still existing, especially In the
held OF economics. 1t Is proved by figures
that there is money enough in this country
in the aggregate to give all men $1,000
apiece al round; Yet we see men rolling up
their millions while other men are starving.
II do not say" said the speaker, shat this
Is altogether wrong. know there are men
who deserve to be rich, and know that there
| are men who certainly deserve to be poor, so
TINS seeming injustice may not be all injus-
tice after all" 1t is worth something to know
that profound scholars are at work on this
problem and that they will in time find a
solution of it.
The third great tendency of TIL times is a
general and practical religious movement of
the whole people that shows itself in de-
mand for higher type of Christian charac-
| ter In the churches, and efforts for larger
spiritual life in future. This tendency is
further shown In the marked general growth
| of Christians and in the increased efforts In
favor OF still further growth.
Inc conclusion drawn from this survey of
the held was that we are In the midst Of:
conflict, but one in which we have every
reason. 70 hope for success if we continue the
struggle, remembering that every point
gained is gained forever. There are great
| questions clamoring for settlement, but, said
the speaker, we can safely trust that If we do
our pest 81, gay BY day all will be well in the
pear IN mind the words of the Mohammedan,
tnat Tour things can never be recalled-the
spoken word, the spent arrow, our past life
and our lost opportunities. Bearing this in
mind, let us make the mcst of our oppor-
| tunities.
The music was furnished by the Portland
Singers Society composed of some thirty
members from the choirs of the First Parish
| High Street. Congress Square. Williston, ST.
Stephens. Free Street Baptist, First Baptist,
Swedenborgian and Pine Street churches,
under the conductorship of Mr.. Harvey S.
Murray, with Mr.. Rankin. organist. AL
though the choir had but one rehearsal on
Friday evening last, prior to the public per-
nance, yesterday, they rendered the pro-
gramme, published in yesterdays PRESS,
finely. Not only was there an excellent
volume of voice but it was ably handled and
| gave the music in finished and artistic
manner. The organ Accomplishments were ex
cellent. In the number 1.-THE Stars in
Heaven" the trio by the Misses. Brown,
andLong and Mr.. Stockbridge, with full
| chorus was admirable.
St. Lawrence Street Church.
A service was held at this church at ii a.
n.. to accommodate those who could not at
tend the union service at State Street church.
Rev. Mr.. Wright conducted the service,
reading the 18th chapter of Hosea's prophesy
and drawing solemn lesson for our times
from the Prophets words at the 9th verse:
What have any more to do with idols"
He said there were four contemporaneonu
prophets in Judah and Israel in the days of
Hosea, and they all lifted up their voices in
trumpet tones to warn the nation that idol
airy and unbelief were the source of its i'm
pending doom. Israel revealed its unbelef
in God by its favorite policy of forming for
eign alliances for its safety, now trusting
in Assyria's power, and new in Egypt's
horsemen, while trust and hope in Jehovah
were abandoned This was Israel's sin and
peril, forgetting and forsaking God, while
formerly they worshipped Him, trusting in
secular forces and worldly powers and mis
trusting the might of Jehovah.
This is the peril that ever confronts the
church Of God. How far is it the sin of our
day? Are secular forces NOR our depend
ence than spiritual power? Are we looking
for the coming Of Chrlst's kingdom, more to
education. to moral culture, to political pro-
gress and reformatory movements, than to
those divine influences, and means which are
ordained and bestowed for creating and up-
building spiritual manhood and womanhood?
This Is practical question for the times we
live 1t. 1t Is question for Fast day medita-
ton.
Secular forces are aiming to make man in
tellectual, moral and well conditioned. Can
they be relied on to make men spiritual and
holy? There are those who object to apy
partition of forces into secular and religion.
and claim that all goodness isChristian good.
ness; all virtue is Christian virture; ali BRO.
gress Is Christian progress. In their view