The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-12-03
The GREAT NEED oF TODAY.
Is Christiike Character on Fire With En-
thusiasm.

The was largely attended meeting of
the Portland Local Union of the Society
of Christian Endeavor at the Second
Parish church last evening. Rev. Mr.
Bean, president Of the local union, pre-
sided, and Rev. W. S. Ayers offered
prayer. After service of prayer, Rev.
John S. Lowden, pastor Of the First Free
Baptist church of Boston was introduced
and deliy cred an address on the subject
of 1.-The Lords Call for Enthusiasm. :"
He is somewhat rapid speaker, and held
the attention of the audience from first
to last. He spoke of men who have won
fame by their devotion to an idea, and
instanced General Neal Dow and George
L. Angel. What we need is to get back
to Gods idea of the Importance of the
salvation OF the individual soul. 1t is
not enough that a sinner is convinced of
sin, and is anxious to lead q better life,
there is the element of personal relation
ship to Christ that must be insisted on
There is need of the element of personal
relationship of devoted men and women
to this work. There are commanders who
can inspire men with feeling of per-
sonal devotion to them. Napoleon was
such man. The French officer who
said to the surgeon Who was probing his
wound, Probe little further and you'll
find the Emperor" meant that his love
for his chief was on his very heart.
Christ everywhere dwe,t on the necessity
of the personal relationship of the be-
lever to himself. Men need to feel more
and more the nee essity of SO living as to
glorify Jesus Christ. A woman nursed
back to health and strength wounded
boy, and years after he resuced her from
a burning building. s'I'd saved herr he
said, 'sor have died with her, for she
didn't pass me by when was hurt ''And
so we need more and more to feel that
for the enthusiasm Of young people all
over the country, and we want to heed
his call. When Fort Sumpter was fired
on, and President Lincoln called for
volunteers the entire North was arou sed.
Love of country led mon to brave the
uS'iAs5oAS " NoA' OAiIioo Is CdllluS IOf you
and for me now, and his call should be
responded to more freely and joyfully
than was the call of President Lincoln
in war times.
We want to remember that desire for
the salvation Of souls is an indication of
the indwelling Of the Holy Spirit, and
the presence of the Holy Spirit in mind
and heart is mighty power. A real
Christlike enthusiasm has its seat in
personality, and personality is power.
What the man is, not what creed he be-
lieyes in, is the measure of his power.
The greatest force is not in the storm,
mighty though the hurricane may be,
but the rays of the sun in the spring that
cause the flowers to spring up. Christ
like character en- fir Q with Christian en-
thusiasm is the need of the hour Evan
gelization is the watchword of the latter
part Of this wonderful century. In con-
clusion the speaker dwelt on the import
ance of the movement, and spoke of it's
remarkable and rapid growth throughout
the world. AT thu cies : his address he
was freely applauded s5Y. Mr.. Bean
then spoke briefly Of his continued in
terest in the movement, and in the ma me
of the Portland Local Union thanked Mr..
Lowden for his instructive address.
Coronation was sung, and the benedic-
tion was pronounced by Mr.. Lowden.