The Portland daily press., 1895-03-13

How One Can Be Christian Hotel Keep
err, Groccryman or Commercial TRAY
elIer-Meetings at 2, 3 and . d. N
To-day.
The scene in City Hall last evenin,
was very unusual, and even extraordin
airy. The doors were advertised to bt
opened at o'clock. In twenty minutes
after that time the hall was overfiowine
with one of the largest audiences evel
seen within it's walls. The use of the
voices. lessened somewhat the seating
| capacity of the hall, but any diminution
of the number on this account was
more than made up for by the great
number who stood up. An apparently
endless stream was still pouring in
through the main entrance when the
| chorus struck up for the first time.
| The arrangements for seating and car.
| ing for this trem endous audience were
| under charge of Grand Usher William K.
| Neal, who had under him a corps of
about An hundred volunteer ushers, fur
nished by the various churches. A staff
usher had charge of each aisle, directing
several assistants, and the galleries were
divided off with similar care. The duty
of the ushers does not end with the seat
ing of the audience. The end of every
fifth or sixth settee is reserved for one of
the male ushers. Ii addition. there are
posted in the middle portions of the
lines of settees, women ushers. 1t is the
duty of these to assist the male ushers in
overlooking the portions of the audi
overlooking of the audience is for the
purpose of noting such individuals as
seem to be favorably impressed with the
preaching, and OF inviting them TO re-
main to the second meeting in Reception
Hall, which follows the large meeting.
The ushers wore white badges, and per-
form their duties very quietly and effic-
iently.
An Indication Of what the City Hall
m Getting would be was furnished by the
afternoon gathering at High street
church. The hour of 8 p. m. is not ia
vorable for large attendance on a
week day, but for three-quarters of an
hour Kew B. Fay Mills preached to an
audience that filled the church.
The first portion of last nights meet
ing uai devoted largely to singing.
Rev. Mr. Lindsay presided, and intro
duced Rev DR.. Fem to make the op-
ening prayer. DIR. Fem asked the great
est outponrings of the Divine Spirit ever
witnessed in Portland.
The singing was of the OLD familiar
tunes of the Gospel Hymns, Nos.ss land
g.
| Rev. Mr.. Mills began his remarks with
reading from Matthew, 5th chapter, be-
ginning with verse 13: eye are the salt
Of the earth," etc.
Mr.. Hi ills then sang "Who will follow
Jesus theref" Mr.. Hills sits at small
cabinet organ at the foot of the stage,
and facing the audience sings in an I'M
usually fine tenor voice that will play
leading part in the coming meetings.
The audience joined in the choruses last
evening.
| NIL MILD llIdCS Iuc LHat
the afternoon meetings had been very
successful, the lecture roo at High
street church being crowded at the p.
m. woman's meeting, and a large gen
erai audience at the 3 p. m. meeting in
the church itself. The meetings for to-
day are to be at the same hours: At p.
NJ, woman's meeting at High street yes.
try; ut p. NJ, general meeting at High
street church; and at p. m, meeting
at City Hail.
| Mr.. Mills took for his text last evening,
portion OF the 47th verse of the 18th
chapter of Matthew, What do We more
than others?" The religion of Jesus
Christ if it did not make US bette1
men in our business and social relations,
| if it did not shine in our lives, was not
really present i'll US. There were some
people of pure lives and good works who
were not Christians. Some might ask
why such did not fulfill their whole
duty. But you might hang real grapes
on an artificial vino and deceive the most
experienced gardener. But such grapes
| WOulu UO lIUltl llkE tuOSS hanging
on the natural vine. Ii you rob Chris
tian of his character, you have to teal
out his heart-strinGs; while such is not
the case with the un-Christian possessol
of few of the Christian graces.
| Mr.. Mills then went on to speak of
CHRISTIANITY AND BUSINESS.
Any business not established for the
sake of helping men and women, is q
goddess business, and the manager of il
is a practical infidel. What we need is
men who will build factories to minister
to men and women, as Christ ministered
to them. Some men say that they can
| not be Christians on account of theil
business. The hotel business is an illus
tration often cited by such. Well, you
cannot sell muchSwniskey if you are g
Christian. But TWO or three of the god
lest men l know keep hotels, and sum
mer hotels at that. Mr.. Mills then relat.
ed an anecdote of Christian keeper OIL
a summer hotel, and his success.