The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-04-20
PULPIT AND PLATFORM.
ST. PAUL's CHURCH

rector of st. PauPs Episcopal church, held
his first services in that capacity yesterday.
There were no especial demonstrations in
honor OF the event, although the members of
the parish quite generally. as well as several
from other churches were present at both
services. Mr.. Ottman is a young man, a
vigorous writer and a pleasing speaker and
much good is expected of him.
at the morning service he took as his text,
John XIV, 15-"Henceforth . / have
called you friends" Mr.. Ottman said:
There is nothing on earth more sacred than
true friendship and there is nothing more
rare. When we recall the multiplicity of
traits and virtues necessary for its conti-
nuance, long-suffering, kindness, absence OF
envy, ability to overlook failings, courage to
decide when deciding is needed. and the
many other needed factors, we are lead to
wonder how there can be any true and last
ing friendship and to study them with in
terest when we find them. He then told the
story suggested by the text. How Jesus
had been with his disciples, preaching and
teaching and travelling for three years. and
as yet they had been little more than mere
servants and companions. But on this oc-
casion he announced that henceforth they
should be his friends, sharing his every
hope and fear and being members all of the
same body. Nobly, said the speaker, did the
disciples fulfill the requirements Of the bono
OF friendship. For its sake they endured
imprisonment and persecution, and (supreme
test Of friendship for ''greater love than this
hath no man, that he lay down his life for
his friend,') some of them suffered death for
His sake. This fifteenth chapter Of John,
SAID the speaker. has application to a far
wider class than the disciples to whom the
message was spoken. The word comes to all
OF us. Henceforth If we will we shall be
Christs friends and the sharers in all that is
HIS. In return for this priceless friendship
we are asked to obey his commands, and
these are not hard. We are not all similarly
endowed. and the commands given us will
not be those that are beyond our powers.
Some Of us are placed in large fields and are
commanded to gather large harvests. Others
are commanded to follow along and share
the golden heads that escape the reapers, but
the reward in both cases is the same, the
priceless friendship of Jesus.
In conclusion Mr.. Ottman referring to
himself spoke few words to the parish
asking for the earnest help of all for the
carrying on of his work, and bespeaking
patience with any possible short comings
meant TO do all for the best and only fell
short OF their expectatiOns,i If he did. because
OF his newness to the field
FIRST PARISH CHURCH.
AT the First Parish yesterday the venerable
DIR. Andrew Preston Peabody OF Harvard
College officiated at both morning and eve
ming services. preaching interesting sermons
on both occasions. For his morning discourse
the text was found in Paups epistle to the
PHILIPPIANS ill, 20-"For our conversation is
in heaven; from where also we look for our
Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ" DR.. Pea
body first explained that the proper render
Ing of the word conversation should be citi-
zenship, but that King James in his foolish
ness. objecting to the application of the term
citizen to any other than his own subjects.
this awkward synonym was substituted. He
drew a parallel between our citizenship in
heaven and our citizenship on the earth saw
ing that the former was In progress now as
much as the latter. He said that we are
citizens Of Portland and of Maine to each of
which communities we owed something, and
at the same time we are citizens of the
United States. Our citizenship in heaven
bears the same relation to our lives as our
citizenship in the United States does to that
OF our cities and states. As many young
men will at the call Of the United States
spring to arms and give their lives IL neces-
sary In her service, so must we do In our
citizenship Of heaven. Our citizenship is
not alone after we pass away from this
earth, we are not to so live that we may be
good citizens of heaven hereafter; but now
and all the time Our citizenship Is as much
thing Of today as 1t Is of any time, and the
duties which we owe by reason of that citi-
zenship are required Of us now and today
and every day.
A feature Of the morning service was the
charming rendering of the solo Consider
the Lilies by Mrs. Fellows. to the superb ac-
compartment by Mr.. Kotzschmar.
wILLIsToN CHURCH.
The pastor, Rev. Dwight NJ. Pratt, preach
ed in the morniug very interesting dis
course on the duty Of the church Of the pres
ent day. He showed that methods of reach
ing men are not the same as they were
generation ago, and are multiplied In num-
Der. Now the latent power of the church
must be aroused to WORK, each man and
woman, In the department nearest to them
the text being found In 1st Corinthians, xii, 20.
As one OF the avenues through which peo-
pie are to be uplifted and drawn nearer to
God, Mr.. Pratt mentioned sacred music,
which found fitting illustration in the eve
ming service, when several fine selections
were rendered. The programme contained
nothing finer than the anthem Hast thou
not known" enhanced by splendid organ
accompaniment.
PINE STREET CHURCH.
An old fashioned love fesst was held at
Pine street church Sunday morning. Chest
nut street and Congress street churches
united with the Pine street church. These
love feasts are held quarterly, and are oc-
casions Of great interest and profit to the
churches. Rev. j. NJ. Frost, Rev. D. b. Ran
dali, Rev. III. +. Patterson, Rev. j. K. Bud
den were present and took part in the SER
vices.
100 persons gave a testimony of their fail,
and hope in Christ. The congregation made
a generous offering for the benefit Of the
superanuated preachers.
The Sunday school concert last evening
was largely attended and was great sue
cess.