The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-10-01
MR.. GARDINER TO ENDEAyORER s
First Rally of the Portland Local
Union Held Last Evening.

Described.
The first rally of the season Of thePort-
land Local Union of the Young Peoples
Society of Christian Endeavor. was held
last evening at the Second Parish
church. This meeting was arranged for
by committee composed of Messrs. A.
Southworth, F. II. Plummer and ]. d.
McQuaIrie. The church was pIettily
decorated with bright new American
flags. which were draped over the door
ways and over the pulpit The motto
"Eor Christ and the Church" was ereot-
ed above the society badge, behind the
pulpit.
The attendance was large.
The exercises began by the praise ssrv-
ice. led by Mr.. Roscoe S. Davis.
Reading Of the scriptures by Rev.
George D. Lindsay and prayer by Rev.
A. H. Wright. followed.
The ST. Lawrence street Male Quar-
tette, M essrs. Samuel s. Gilbert, VIM.
II. Davis. Alfred H. Tracy, Fred h.
Oliver and Harry W. Locke, pianist,
next rendered, 30, Gallilee. Sweet Gal
lilee," very beautifully.
Rev. Frederick NJ. Gardiner, pastor of
the Central Square Baptist church of
Boston, and graduate Of Colby in the
class of 1881, was next introduced. He
said he felt embarrassed at speaking of
Christian Endeayor to Portland audi
enoe. 1t seemed like carrying Goals to
Newcastle. like making silver speech
to Mr.. Bryan, like talking of rules to
Thomas B. Reed. like bringing Republic
canism to Maine.
But seriously there was much to be
said on the subject of Christian Endeav-
or. 1t was time of peril. The stage Of
organization had been passed. It was
now time to look to the Strengthening
Of the spirituality of the great organiza-
tion. This was an age of great physical,
intellectual and moral power. 1t WAS
also an age Of great religious power. Of
great missionary effort.
But for all this, was it not true that
there was a great lack Of spiritual power.
He was not an alarmist. But he be-
lieved that the church. that Christian
Endeavor, lacked in spiritual power.
We're Peter to come back to earth now
he would be disappointed at the little
progress made in eighteen hundred
years.
The church has culture, wealth and re-
sources for all the work required Of her.
The real lack of the church is lack Of
spiritual power. How should this be
remedied. Turn to Daniel 1872, where
he says: "The people that know their
God shall be strong and do exploits. !" In
fellowship with God shall the church
aud Christian Endeavor flourish.
How shall this be obtained?
First by positive knowledge of spir-
itual things2 There Is too much indul-
gence of hope, and too little of the posi-.
know" We should know God as we
know people here, by fellowship and
communion with Him. Meditation and
prayer we're great agencies for this.
There was too little prayer now. Family
prayers had become almost an institu-
uAOA VI uhC Ru5us NINA hA0 OtAoA luou VI
great spiritual power were wont to COM
mune with God three or four hours every
day. We can walk with Jesus Christ as
definitely as we can walk with any per-
son on the street; and when we know we
are walking with him we arc strong.
sMr. Gardiner quoted ST. Paul's injunc-
tion to be filled with the spirit, net with
wine. He cited drunken man who he
had seen that morning under the Massa-
ohusetts ''infernal license law; thank
God you do not have it here" ca muir
mur.) Having contrasted the man filled
with wine with the man filled with the
divine spirit, the speaker went on to q
spirited reoapitIlation of the triumphs
of the faith which had inspired the cru
saders of the past. had inspired Carey and
Jrdson. and was inspiring those mission
aries who now, in the land of that mis-
cradle fiend of the pit, arch representa-
tion of hell, incarnation of devllishness,
the Sultan" are aloriously standing at
their posts.
Among the great exploits which fell
lOW6ulp Will 0uu WOulu uIdk6 pUSSl Ul6
would be the ability to live right, a great
exploit. Let Christian Endeavor live for
the best in life, and it would sweep the
world. If Christian Endeavor is to be
her great work she will do it when she
realizes the spiritual power spoken OF
tonight. There will be in the next CEN
fury great struggle of religions. but the
one that will triumph will not be the
one that can show the most ancient doc
uments; but the one that can work the
greatest good in the human soul.
Miss Cora B. Bickford Of Biddeford,
president OF the Maine Union, who had
been delayed, arrived during the evening
and was introduced TO speak on "Prog
ressive Endeavor.''
Rev. Ellison R. Purdy of the Friends
church who as president of the Union
presided, introduced Miss Bickford with
some verses on Wonan's Sphere, which
ended as follows:
There's never life or death or birth,