The Portland daily press., 1897-08-16
AT THE Y. M. c. A.
A Remarkable Spiritual Banquet Enjoyed
Yesterday.

The rooms of the Y. M. C. A. were
crowded with earnest young men yester
day afternoon, and never was the necessi-
ty OF the completion of the new building
more forcibly emphasized. The weather
was close and muggy, the open windows
were not adequate to properly ventilate
the hall, and yet those young men gave
the closest attention to the Rev. Dr.
Butler. president of Colby University,
who addressed them, Rev. Mr.. Ufford,
the author Of '"Throw Out the Life
Line, who gave the origin of the hymn
and Miss Rice, whose beautiful sympa-
thetic voice added greatly to the general
effect of the meeting.
After the singing of several hymns by
the congregation in a most spirited man
ner, Miss Rice rendered "The Saviour
Whispers Message to Me-" with great
expression. Then Secretary Garland
introduced Mr.. Ufford in appropriate
words, and said he would tell them some.
thing of the origin Of bis famous hymn.
Mr.. Ufford, after referring most pleas
antly to the time, some years rago, when
he was in Portland engaged in the
Masters work, spoke most feelingly of
his old associates of that day. When he
composed "Throw Out the Life Line it
seemed very ordinary work to him, but
as he kept hearing it sung it seemed to
him to have each time deeper meaning.
1t was while at Nantucket, some twelve
years ago, when visiting the life saving
station, he was struck by the Tearnestness
of the crew, and the apparently fragile
character Of the life saving line, which
was made largely Of silk at bingham,
Mass. It was line used.but once, and
this line had saved the life of the mate Of a
vessel that had been wrecked on the beach.
At the evening service that mate was pre-
sent, and brcSsht to a. desire to know
more of the better and higher life. The
speaker went away with the idea that If
this slender life line, 1.-THE work of human
hands had brought soul to Christ, what
might not be accomplished by a spiritual
life line. One afternoon he took his
little organ out into the field and began
to play and sing, and crowd gathered
about him. After he had finished one
woman asked him what it all amounted
to. He said, "I'll leave the matter with
the Lord and He will work His will, and
then I sat down and it all come to me,
and in fifteen minutes had written the
words and composed the music" 1t all
came to me, said Mr.. Ufford, as the
''Ninety and Nine'' came to Sankey. and
after had written it thought Of Brother
Pearson here in Portland, who has been
so hard q worker in the field of righteous
ness, and then I sang 1T in Paris, and in
Whitechapel in London, and in fact every
where, and then Mr. Ufford sat down at
the organ, playing his own accompani-
1nent, and sang the hymn simply, but
with much feeling.
After prayer by Mr.. Garland, and sing
ing by Miss Rice, and the congregation,
Mr. Garland introduced DR.. Butler who
made a most telling address.
Growth in Grace" was the subject of
DR.. Buffers talk, suggested to him by the
Salvation Army that afternoon. In some
respects uncouth, with hating and I'M
grammatical speech, yet DR.. Butler said
their words went to the very heart OF the
Gospel and made him feel deeply. Our
religious belief is matter of serious con-
sequence because it has to do with our
dealings with God and our fellow men.
Few people can tell when they became a
Christian, though John Wesley could tell
the hour and minute when he became
one. The speaker believed every man
knew the time when the new life came to
him. He thought the term Christian had
become somewhat out OF date, too old
and too smooth like pebble on the beach,
washed for ages by kthe tides. We
want word with rough edges, and
sharp corners that will make its mark.
And such word is man in its highest and
most progressive Christian meaning. God
only asks three conditions of US to make
us as near to Him as it is possible for
mere human life; that we shall use the
right food, proper exercise, and the right
atmosphere for the SOULS growth. By
food is meant spiritual food. A great
miracle, we do not understand. is the
growth of the body, but we see it's progress
and we know it is obtained by nourish-
ment. So the spiritual growth of the
Christian comes from our books and our
associations with other men whose ideas
feed our own brain. A man max now
the Bible from end to end and yet j, may
have been of no value to him. Then there
is that exercise Of the mind that, like the
physical exercise, makes the mind as
vigorous as the body and last there is
the atmosphere for the souls growth,
which is prayer. These all make the
growth in grace that brings man finally
to the highest perfection.
Miss Rice sang again at the close of DR..
Buffers remarks. A collection was taken
to provide a library for the life saving
station at Cape Elizabeth.
Watervllle's Building Case.
Waterville, August IA hearing was
held before Judge W. P. Whitehouse at
Augusta today upon the petition of the
a;4-- 80 NY 4o-,-;1yo fcu