The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-09-13
KNIGHTS OF MALTA.
Beacon and Lebanon Communicates at
First Free Baptist.

Beacon and Lebanon Communicates at
First Free Baptist.
Yesterday morning Lebanon Com
mandery of Westbrook and Beacon Com
mandery of Portland, Knights of Malta,
attended services at the First Free Baptist
church in this city. There were perhaps
fifty Sir knights present and they occu-
pied pews in front of the pulpit. The
morning services were the usual services
for the day.
Rev. Lewis Malvern, the pastor, took
for his text, Acts xviii, 7. "In the
same quarters were possessions Of the
chief man of the island, whose name was
Publius, who received us and lodged us
three days continuously" The speaker
began with welcome to the Sir Knights.
He referred to the establishment of the
order in 104S. Of the founding of the
American order at Toronto in 1870, and
in the United States in 1875. There are
now 1873 communicates and 1900 mem
bers. The aim of the order is to comfort
one another in the practice of the
Christian religion and to offer mutual as
sistance in time of need. Human nature
is sympathetic. In Paul's time the
barbarians kindled fire and showed the
ship wrecked wanderers no little kind.
ness, and when Paul healed those that
were i'll, they loaded him with honors.
No matter how low or debased humanity
may be, 1t responds quickly to the evil
dences of sympathy displayed towards it.
The barbarians that Paul encountered
showed by their actions the grand proba-
bilities developed by true Christian
action. The text calls attention to
Publius the governor of the island, who
treated Paul and his companions oourte
ously, and the speaker reminded his hear
ers that nothing can convey a greater
lie, than knightly courtesy, and the same
rule applies to all secret orders. But it
should not stop there; it is equally appli-
cable to the church, the home, the world
at large. In this rough and ready age
we are apt to forget those little delicate
pleasant. When should we show courtesy?
The present time, our own city demands
it as much, as it ever was needed at
Malta. Sanctified .civility, some one has
said, is great ornament to Christianity,
and I might add to every day life. We
are apt to conclude no times were ever so
good. or SO bad, as our own. A little
history would correct all this. We have
always had the croaker and the con-
tented, the pessimist and the optimist,
the thoughtful and the ungrateful. Still
it may be said that controversy is not
abundant in these times. The necessary
and glorious consequence of our schools,
the education of the people, the multiple
cation of all kinds of literature, is that
men think..vastly more than they used to-.
| Thought gives use to thought, ideas come
with conflict.
The knightly courtesy should be exer-
cised at home between husband and wife,
parents and children, at school, for next
to the home influence, comes that of the
teacher. If teachers are coarse or rough
or vulgar, the children will be apt to be
SO too. 1t should be exercised in society,
not the wealthy circles so called, but the
society of good breeding and good man
ners. A true gentleman will always be
careful not to offend other peoples feel
ings. In inverse ratio he will rather be
boorish and say disagreeable things In
business courtesy seems an absolute
necessity. Civility has realized large for
tunes to its owner. In politics courtesy is
extremely important. May God hasten
the day. we shall think less of
politics than of citizenship less of politics
and more of craftsmanship. In religion
remember that for the child of God who
wants to keep the heart calm it is better
to suffer than to do wrong.
How shall we follow the example of
Publius? Not by sacrificing our self re-
spect. Courtesy does not mean stupidity
nor imply the absence of indignation at
injustice. Let Jesus be our teacher. And
now Sir Knights be faithful to your
pledges to this illustrious order. Let it's
teachings sink deeply into your hearts.
Let the degrees that you take not alone
be the means of admittance to the order.
but many things be incorporated into
your lives governing your actions, faith
and character.
The sermon was interspersed with many
pointed anecdotes and touching stories
There was large congregation in attend
ance.
Four Peoples Escape from Death.
RrGo1d NInco Cortana hon. Ii