The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-10-22
HOME MISSION DAY.
Eloquent Speakers Address Portland
C0ngregatiOnalists.

COngregatiOnalists.
Large Union Meeting at State Street
Church Last Evening--Dr. Choate
Speaks on the Mission of Congrega
tionalism-Rey. Mr.. Puddefoot Tells of
the Great Mission Fie1d-Rev. E. M.
Cousens Illustrates the Maine Field.
Yesterday was home mission day with
the Congregational churches of.Portland,
and number OF prominent and eloquent
speakers connected with the general or
ganization of the society were assigned
to Congregational pulpits. These RS
signments were as follows, in the fore.
noon; At Williston, Rev.C. W. Shelton
of New York; at State street, Rev. WASH
ington Choate, DID,, of New York;
at High street, Rev. VIC. Puddefoot of
Boston; at the Second Parish, Mrs. H s.
Caswell of New York; at the West, Rev.
J.E. Adams, D. D.. of Bangor: at st.
Lawrence street, Rev. e. M. Cousens of
this city. Mrs. Caswell was assigned to
the woman's meeting at the State
street church in the afternoon, and Rev.
MIR. Shelton gave stereopticon lecture
at the Second Parish in. the evening.
The union meeting at State street
church in the evening was very large
gathering, filing all the seats, both on
the floor and in the galleries. The pas
tor, Dr.Jenkins, conducted the service,
introducing the speakers. Over the pull
pit hung a large map of the United
States, for the use of the speakers In
illustrating the extent Of the home mis-
sion field.
Rev. DR.. Choate of New York spoke
first. "Some Reasons why the Republic
May Endure" Is the somewhat startling
title of an article by the President OF
Harvard in the current number of the
Forum magazine. The eminent author
reviews the republics of the past, which
have been preserved neither by the art
of Greece. the power of Rome. nor the
commerce of Venice. Even religious
fervor cannot preserve a nation, as is
shown by the history of the Hebrew race
and by the experiences Of the Moslem
faith, which has been unable to preserve
the Arabic. civilization. Today, Germany
England and the United States are, in
President Elliott's opinion, the three
nations which display the most national
vigor In these nations there are SO
many religious faiths that liberation
must be the rule and in this the learned
author finds strong reason for national
perpetuity. But DR.. Choate thought
that there was something more than
mere religious liberation in this aspect
Of the question. This was the broad
catholiciity which existed side by side
with the deep-seated convictions of
righr, duty and obligations to God and
fellow man. The Congregationalism
which we loved has this broad Catholic
ity, but our fidelity to the trust which
is laid upon us, our consciousness of
duty, is the main hope upon which our
future relies. The Congregational form
of Christianity was, in the speaker
opinion, best adapted to the needs. of this
nation. Congregationa1ism stands for a
regenerated character, but also in being
true to the history ana traditions of a
well developed manhood, upon which
the safety OF, the nation rests. Congre-
gationalism means the ability for self
government, aud never was it's mission
palmer than at this time.
REV. w. g.. PUDDEFOOT
began his address by complimenting the
splendid audience before him. In many
places it seemed to him that the old
prophecy that seven women shall lay
hold of one man" was coming true. But
this could not be Aaid of the audience be-
fore him. Mr.. Puddefoot descrl bed
graphically the rapid development of
civilization in the West. Where once
he had slept in cabin wi th bears COM
ing to the back door and wolves howl
ing in the distance, was now a miracle
in stone, greater than that of Cheops. a
magnificent stone state house. built
within the appropriation, with soldiers
monuments and other works of art.
This civilization, developing so fast.
W as showing itself entirely capable OF
apsor bling all the heterogeneous elements
which immigration brings to our shores.
The way, in which Mr.. Puddefoot set
forth this cheering fact was at once very
entertaining and entirely inimitable
He had, not long ago, picked up by &C.
cident an old paper Of 1910, in which a
French writer had described the exodus
of Germans of the Palatinate who were
coming to America OH "the strength OF
lying prospectusesn and would soon ere.
ate in America a German body that
would ultimately result in German ma.
ton when the American Union should
break, up. ~ should like to pick that
old writer up and shake him out OF his
shroud and show him this great Ameri.
can nation" said the speaker, who
then went on to desert be geographically
the great fusion Of races that has gone
on in the West.
] In the last twenty years, thirteen
millions of people have come to our shores
from Europe. Six millions of these
speak the English tongue, four and a