The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-12-14
CHRISTIAN WORKERS MEET.
Rev, A. III. Wright Gives Review of
Good Work in Portland.

List of Some of Those Who Are Taking
Part-Exercises of Forenoon, Afternoon
and Evening.
At $50 Thursday morning the con-
vention of the Christian Workers at the
Payson Memorial church was called to
order, the first of series of SIX day
meetings
The services opened with prayer by
Rev. David Allen Reed of Springfield,
Mass, followed by Rev. F. M. Lamb of
Kennebunkport Me. During the devo-
tional exercises, prayers were offered for
the Christian work throughout the
world and for the success of the conven-
ton.
Brief addresses were made by the pas
tors of the local chur ches, and by prom
inent local business men and religious
an, and the speakers are from all the
walks of life, but all are fairly i'm
pressed with the fact. that this is year
of religious enthusiasm.
The first speaker was Mr.J. r. Libby,
chairman of the local committee, who
welcomed to the city the visiting dele
gates, and extended to them his hearty
cooperation in thu great work. 1.-The
work of this convention is great deal
like the driving of a wedge the narrow
edge first. I feel that it is the duty of
Christians to m eet and to stimulate an
interest in the Christian work which we
represent. If there is any cause in which
a man should be interested it is the sal
walton OF the lost. The man who fails to
90 out into the world and to see what is
to seed, and the same can be said of the
Christian who fails to attend religious
gatherings.
The fields of labor are very extensive,
and we must endeavor to enlarge our
selves to cover them There are those
who inhabit the wharves. sand the sluns,
and we should not neglect the wealthy
and the business men, for they need the
salvation that the poor man needs. 1
think that too often we forget the bust
ness man. Wherever you go, try to
enlarge the. fieldso your operations; work
for the salvation of.both the high and
the lowly."
The next speaker was Rev. Thomas S.
Samson, secretary of the local commit
tee. and pastor of the Free street Baptist
church. Mr.. Samson said in part: at
seems.to me that Mr.. Libby has struck
the nerve of this convention. I come to
you not az a representative of the pas
tors sent to voice their sentiments, but
I believe that the pastors and the people
of Portland are with you in the extern
sion of the Christian work. This senti-
ment is not confined to Portland, not
to the state, but it extends to the utter
most parts of the country, and England
is feeling the pulse of religious revival.
There is strong religious excitement
throughout the world.
1 believe that there are in Portland to-
day rich and influential men who must
be reached in some manner by the word
of God. We must feel the divine spirit
from tire pulpit to the pew, and l feel
quite sure that the Holy Ghost is with
us now."
Rev. Dwight M. Pratt. pastor of the
Williston Congregational church was
the next speaker. In brief. Mr.. Pratt
said that the same power that ruled over
chaos ia with us now, and he can equal
ly as we'll increase the power of the
Christians and glorifyu the works Of God
as he could in the days of old. The same
spirit that sent Florence Nightingale to
the plague-stricken hospitals; that sent
General Booth into the slums of London;
that sent Jerry McAuley into the depths
list, into the world, and raised up that
great speaker Spurgeon and controlled
Phillips Brooks and sent him to5preach
to the wealthy of Boston, is with us now.
The same power that sent these men in
to these various lines of work is being
felt today.
Edmund T.Garland, general secretary
of the M. C. A., praised the revival of
the work, and extended the cooperation
of the young men of the country.
Rev. C.E. Cate, pastor, of the Free Bap-
list church, followed with a few hearty
words of approval. He said that some
of the best work in the world has been
done with poor material, and we must
not despise the lowest worker in the
cause of God. The greatest service that
could be rendered us would be to put
us in closer communication with God.
Rev. Matt S. Hughes was called upon to
speak in the place of Rev. George D.
Lindsay, who was absent. Mr.. Hughes
termed the calling for man without
previous notice "sanctified audacity,"
but felt that it was his duty to say a
word in this cause He said he had, at
times, felt jealous CT the great work
that is being done by the Salvation
Army and her missions throughout the
country. 1t is great thing to lift up the
fallen, but it is greater thing to keep
a man from falling; and that is the
work that the churches are doing today.
n.o Sc tho uork of SaIvation ond tho