The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-02-27

III even OF an enemy. lie c0ulu IoIDedI
the censorious word, and suffer the most
grievous wrong in silence. Another
trait which has found beautiful NANTES
tatlons in his daily life was sympathy for
the oppressed and the suffering. His
Christian heart was never happier, never
more in its native element, than when he
was serving the cause of the needy or the
helpless.
He was a man hard to impose upon
by false pretense or unworthy appeal,
but one whose sympathies were quickly
and keenly aroused by the cry of genuine
| distress. He loved to serve the poor and
the outcast, and this made him the eff
cient, valuable servant of the city ON the
board of overseers to the poor, and kept
him willingly is that office for at least
| fifteen years. The duties of the office
were congenial to his nature. This also
| explains, in part, the deep interest he
| took in the work of the Provident Assoc
| citation of which he was member and
| his delight in ministering on Sundays, to
the Reform School boys, and the prison
ers in the county jail. To both of these
| institutions he was for many years prac-
| tically a missionary Preaching the gos-
pei of divine love to the poor, and visit
ing III person the prisoners cell. In Dea.
Burgess estimation this was not lowly,
but lofty work, This man will long be
remembered and honored in our city as a
Christian philanthrophist, who amid the
engrossing cares of large business, and
while sustaining many responsible rela-
lions to other public interests, yet found
time to minister by personal efforts, to
the necessities of the unfortunate and
vicious classes.
1t is of course expected that, in this
place and presence. where our friend
has been known chiefly as a Christian
worker, should speak of his religious
life and influence. That life had it's in
ception in one of the most remarkable
religious revivals of recent times. In the
preaching in Boston at the Park Street
church. Among the multitude VINO
thronged to hear this eminent revivalist,
was Henry Fl. Burgess, who was then the
head clerk of a Boston drug firm, and
young man of "a years. Under the fer
vent appeals of DR.. Finney he was con-,
verified. and from that day began his ac-
tive Christian life. During those first
two years of his religious life in Boston,
he gave himself to practical Christian
work. At that time Rev. Elijah Kellogg
was in charge of the Boston seaman's
Bethel, and young Burgess devoted
much of his spare time to the assistance
of this honored pastor with whom was
begun an enduring friendship.
Providence has in recent years brought
these men often together, and the
younger man has lovingly borne the bur-
dens of his aged friend. Perhaps no
man on earth has been more loved by
Elijah Kellogg than the subject OF our
memorial words.
1t was in every way fortunate cir
substance that Mr., Burgess's religious
life was begun in the white heat of re-
vivalssWe believe that it impaired to him
that intensely evangelistic spirit which
hasscharacterized his whole religious life.
1t is well known that the great religious
awakening in our land in the years 1878
was in large measure promoted by lay
effort. One of the chief instrumental
ties was the MONDAY prayer meeting.
In one of DR.. Flnney's prayer meetings
in that winter of 1857 a gentleman rose
and said: II am from Omaha in Ne
braska. On my journey east found
continuous prayer meeting all the way, -
prayer meeting 1000 miles in extent"
It was estimated that during one week
of that winter $4,000 persons were con-
verted. The church was reused to
prayer, and the windows of heaven were
opened upon these Northern States, The
gracious and glorious result was. tits
said, 100000 conversions in these
years of revival. The blessing came
upon this city, and nearly 200 more came
into our Congregational churches as
converts than in any subsequent decade
of years.
Spiritually born in such season Mr..
Burgess was imbued with the revival
spirit, and it may be said, without fear
Of Icontradicticn or dissent, that in the
revivals which have visited this church
during its existence, Mr.. Burgess has
been more than any other man, pastors
not accepted, the human instrumentality
Very glad am to improve this opportr-
nifty to bear my public testimony to the
pre-eminent influence of our departed
brother upon the spiritual life and work
of this church.
When Henry H. Burgess entered the
ST. Lawrence street church "a years ago
nearly, he found it young, struggling,
church a little more than one year old,
and he found himself among asomewhat
remarkable group of Christians. In their
poverty and weakness they had just 4
built tabneracle and organized
church. They had toiled hard and sac
rificed much, but were full of hope and
courage.
They were in the midst of their hard
est struggle when Mr.. Burgess threw
himself among them for service, with
the characteristic ardor and energy of
his young manhood. How often have I
heard him speak of those early days of
our church history and remark, IF I
were a younger pan would attempt |
this or that enterprise Mr.. Burgess
came very quickly to the front as a work
er in the church and in the city. He was
not the man ever to lag behind others, !
nor did he need any pushing. Within
one years time he was on the standing |
committee of the church; the next year
he was its chairman; one year later he |
was the church scribe; two years after |
he was vice superintendent of the Sun
day school, and in 1867 he was it's super
intendent.
Meanwhile he had plunged into the |
Bethel Sunday school work, carrying |
with him band of enthusiastic helpers |
to that field. From 1854 to 1859 his name |
was on the Bethel rolls as church |
member, but all the while he continued |
his labors in the St. Lawrence st. Sun