The Portland daily press., 1896-02-28

Will CODbflUuC0 TO make the
city Of the future a true Christian COM
munity.
"a structure of wise governments, and
show.
In our new world, glorious spectacle.
OF social order. tFreemen, equals all,
BY reason sway'd self-govern'd, seIf-im-
prov'd,
And the electric chain of public good
Twined round the private happiness of
| EACH.
The Clergy-Expounders of Divine
truth. whose duty is to point to Heaven
and themselves lead the way.
Response by Rev. A. H. Wright.
REV. A. H. WRIGAT'S REMARKS.
Mr. President and Members of the Port
land Marine Society:
| l ought to feel that / have double
c ause for gratitude and satisfaction to-
night. l am grateful for the privilege of
sitting among your honored guests at this
centennial banquet 1 ought to feel
gr ateful also for the privilege of respond
| ing to this graceful and felicitous senti-
ment respecting 1.-The Clergy The SEN
timent, have no dOub bit is a truthful ex-
preston of your conception of what the
clerical function and office involves of
sacred trust and responsible duty. That
conception is just and noble one. 1t
exalts the sacred profession am proud to
represent here tonight. and it is highly
honorable to your Intelligence and cour-
| tesy.
1t is related of certain artist who was
struggling for eminenoe in his profession,
that he ons day stood before u painting
OF one CT the great masters, absorbed in
profound admiration, when suddenly he
exclaimed, THANK God, too am a
painter" Often when l have listnned to
an eminent preacher, or read a great SER
mon, have felt the spirit of this strug
Cling artist moving within me, and
have silently thanked God that l too am a
preacher.
So profound is my respect for, and ap-
probation of the dignity of the office and
the function of the Christian ministry
that l almost shrunk from making re-
Spouse to your vary courteous toast.
The best l can do is to follow along the
lines of your graceful sentiment.
l must first however, congratulate you
in behalf of the clergy upon the long
continued existence of your benificen5
Society. No words of wisdom or eloquence
can adequately set forth the value of its
ministrntions, during the past hundred
years, to the afflicted and the needy. 1t
has lived through century because it
has its foundation in pure principle and
sound philanthropy. AS always it is
more blessed to give than to receive, SO.
not the least of the benedictions of this
Society have reverted to it's donors. 1t
has wiped away the widows tears, and
carried comforts to fatherless children
but more than this, it has deepened the
gladness, and enriched the lives OF those
who have been its willing benefactors.
Speaking for the clergy Of Portland, l
assure you of their full appreciation of
your good work. and also of your kind
and courteous recognition of the sacred
ness of their profession in the midst of
your festivities -
Your sentiment declares that the clergy
are the "Expounders of Divine truth. +"
This is one of the most important func-
tions Of their sacred office.
incidentally, the clergy may, if they
are sufficiently learned, expound other
things, such as philosophy, history, sociol-
ogy, and the principles OF civil and politi-
cal science, but these things do not be-
long essentially to their minister al
functions. Your sentiment places the
emphasis rightly. 1t recognizes two i'm
portant principles concerning the sacred
ministry. First, there Is q body of truth
which is divine in its source, quality
and power. Secondly, there is an order
Of teachers whose high duty it is to be
faithful, fearless expounders of that
divine truth But there is more in this
fine sentiment of yours worthy of high
praise, 1t contains IL simple and beauti-
full statement of the highest aim OF the
clerical profession viz: ITO point to
Heaven. The Clergy; whose duty it is
to point to heaven.'' Heaven is full
freighted word. 1t means more than a
place of peace, safety and happiness be-
yond the pains and sorrows of mortality
Heaven Is another word for right life
true character, pure living and good-dc-
ing. To point to heaven is to point to all
that is worthy and noble in human
thought and life. To point men to heaven
is first of all to point to the holy Christ
and plead with men to study, admire and
initiate his perfect life. More and more
the clergy are coming to realize that
there can be no complete exposition of
Divine truth, that does not expound the
principles. and eXempljfy the character
and the life Of Jesus of Nazareth. Is my
address becoming too sermonio for the oc-
oasion? If so the responsibility rests
upon your pious toastmaster, who has
thrown around me the religious atmos-
phere of this fine sentiment which re-
minds the clergy that their duty is not
ended when they have pointed me the
way to heaven in pulpit discourse, but
that they themselves must go out amor. @
man, in the world of practical affairs and
lead the way-expounding it's truth,
pointing OUT its principles and withal ex-
employing those truths and principles in
their daily life.
Your sentiment carries to the clergy a
mild rebuke and salutary exhortation
When was student, l was theologi-
cal student in Bangor, we had two DR..
Fields there, a physician and a clergy
man, who were brothers, living together
in the same house One day a woman
called when the physician was out and
the minister was in, she wished to see
Dr. Field, and was shown into the pres
ence of the minister, and began Mt once
to rattle off her symptoms. The good
man listened patiently and sympathetic
cally and as soon as he got chance to
speak, he sold, my dear Madam, you
must excuse me. My brother practices,
l preach" Possibly some of us minis
tiers would rejoice to have a brother to
practice for us what we preach. One
thing 1 am sure of. An honest mariner
won't take much stock i'll preacher who
doesn't practice what he breaches. 1t is
one thing to expound Divine truth. Ii
is quite another thing to be a living
! witness for the truth, and holy exam
Pile of the right life. 10 show the way
by a reasonable, practical exhibition OF
Goodness, that is the thing most need
full in these times.
| take it that you, aged mariners, many
of you, toilers of the sea who have done