The Portland daily press., 1894-11-20

possible for the true Chrstlan W i've Ia
ease or die in peace without strelchihs
out to realize the ideal OF the klhguoli
of God held out by Christ. MORE All"
more are the ministers moving TO the
attainment of social reform.
Courage of high sort is required
for this government Opposition from
within and without will confront the
minister. He must face great powers oi
viciousness and ignorance in great cltles.
We have see what one devoted mans couio
do in a great city. that had become
Babylon of iniquity. We have seen now
he began alone, how he fought the DEAD
ly foes alone until he gathered apouS
him an army of workers, and how hnai-
ly he has gloTiously triumphed. cap
plause) There is no such power on
earth, no force as invincible, as one man.
honest, determined and devoted to his
cause with answering loyalty. Ana
If one man is such power, what might
the whole body of Christianssdo?
In one of the crowded NewYork wards
before election, Tammany orator was
addressing an audience, pouring upon
DR.. Parkhurst unreportable billingsgate.
Presently, during pause, voice from
the lower end of the hall was heard to
say:
"Ah, Bill, he is a slayer"
And even in that slum the sentiment
was applauded.
DR.. Moxom closed with an earnest ap
peal to all Christian ministers to initiate
DR.. Parkhurst in standing firmly, gent
~, with Christ-like spirit in favor OF
the right and truth, without regard to
whom it may effect
At the conclusion of DR.. Moxom's adj
dress, DR.. Jenkins, the president of the
club, expressed his appreciation OF the
speakers address. He said that DR..
Parkhurst had been invited to address
the club, and would probably come to
Portland during the winter and deliver
an address before.the club. (Applause).
Rev. DR.. Fem was next called ion, and
spoke wisely and entertainingly OF the
| relation of the average minister to So
cial reform. Courage was not SO much
! required as wisdom, by the minister who
| would reform society. DR.. ParHhurst
| was an exceptional man, who had met
gloriously an exceptional duty. Every
Clergyman could not do the same, and if
| he should try it would be in danger OF
becoming an agitator and disturber IN
| the community instead of a messenger OF
peace and righteousness.
Rev. E. P. Wilson after felicitous OPP
ening, went to the Scriptures for light
on the question OF duty. He recalled
| that in all His teachings Christ never
] spoke of sanitary science, although the
! sanitation of the cities of Judea was
very bad. Although there was much
| drunkenness, Christ preached no tenn
| perance sermons. And when they came
| to Him with quarrel about land His
| reply.was: "Who made me judge and
divider among your" 1t would seem as
| though Christ meant to keep truth in
! the germ and let it work outward from
| the individual to society. Paul also did
| the same thing. Corinth was city
much worse than New York, even under
| Tammany. 1t reeked in corruption, but
| RAUL cApICSSly SudtON ohaI NiaNh AAS o-@AAiS
among them he intended to preach only
Christ and Him crucifed. I believe
that the average minister can..do nothing
! better than to follow the example of
| Christ and Paul, and stick to the gospel.
DR.. Parkhurst has done a great work
in way that entitled him to be likened
to the old prophets; but DR.. Parkhurst
was an exceptional man.
DR.. Jenkins, president of the club, fol-
low ed, wittily recalling that Paul.in his
epistles attacked very directly some of
the public failings of the people. Con-
| tinuing, DR.. jenkins dwelt upon the
great obstacle which certain IRON bound
social ideas place in the way of the min
ster. There was, for instance, pride,
| which was one of the greatest STUN bling
blocks to spiritual regeneration. We say
much about intemperance here. in..Maine,
| but pride is worse for the soul than that
| even. Where drunkenness kills thou
sands. pride kills tens of thousands.
|