The Portland daily press., 1894-06-18
FIRE AND SIN.
Rev. Matt S. Hughes Compares Them in
His Sermon to the Veteran Firemen

Nearly one hundred in number, and
led by Mr.. Henry Fox, the Veteran Fire
menkmarched to Chsthunt Street church
yesterday morning, to listen to sermon
by Rev. Matt s. Hughes, prepared espec-
tally for them.
After preliminary exercises, including
prayer, by Rev. Mr.. Luce, eminently
suitable for the occasion, Rev. Mr..
Hughes announced his text as the 10th
verse of the 9th chapter of Romans,
which is: "Know ye not that to whom
ye yield yourselves servants to obey.
his servants We are whom ye obey"
lie was glad to give his hearty en-
dorsement to the custom of the Veteran
Firemen of attending church in body
once year. He hoped that the time
would come when firemen would have
release from duty one day in the week,
and that day Sunday. There are 1000 OF
5000 members in the New England Asso-
citation. Portland has about 400 mem
bers. 1t was organized Novem Der. 81,
1881. There have been ten deaths since
oAA~AA' AASAO oiO pOuW OCu lUO VI 1UO
members in the beneficiary department.
He suffered from an embarrassment
of riches in commanding what to say to
the firemen. There was so much to say
he would be brief because of the heat
of the day, bnt that didn't bother him
SO much as it might, because he was
addressing firemen. He traced an an
alogy between the work of fremen and
Christian ministers. Sin is spoken oil
in the Bible as devouring fire. 1t is
these distinctive element in the moral,
as fire is in the physical, world. 1t is
the first duty of Christian firemen to
hasten to the work of extinguishing the
fire OF sin whenever it occurs. He
ought not to sit down and discuss how
the fire caught. Would mem bers of the
fire department sit still, after an alarm
OF ire, and debate as to how 1T started
or whether it started at all? No. They
would rush to the rescue.
The fire of sin is here In the palpable
presence of it's glare, the first duty is
to rush to the rescue. The firemen must
|
looks at the fire traps IN Portland. He
must tremble sometimes at the thought
of it. Probably there is not an absolute
~ fire proof building in the city. though
we are better off than twenty years ago
just so the Christian firemen realize the
possibilities of good and of evil in hu
| man souls. Therefore, preach not only
the Gospel of salvation. but the Gospe
of prevention. There should be more
preventive precautions against fire il
this city. You, as fremen, believe il
prevention of fire; we, as clergymen be
lieve in prevention of sin. He dwelt up
the effect of strong drink that burns thu
lining from mans stomach, the Goa
from his back, the food from his family
the good from his character-yes, ant
even burns his immortal soul.
Mr.. Hughes continued, with. his usua
vividness. TO compare the spreading Of
material fires, with the fires of sin. Per.
haps the young man thinks that thu
fire of sin burns brightly and pleasant
| ly and he will let it burn and bark il
its warmth for few years and then pu
| it out. But when the time comes b,
can't put it out. The fires of sin ge
| beyond control more easily and immedi
ately than the material fires, and they
even burn themselves out. This is blu
portion of Mr.. Hughes pertinent ser
| mon to the Veteran Firemen, everyon,
| of whom must have listened to it will
| the keenest interest to the end.