The Portland daily press., 1898-12-09
AN APPEAL:

There are host of people who suppose
themselves to be eager to find their work
in life and who longing for an opportu-
nifty, are surrounded. by work and
opportunity which they fail to recognize.
The real difference between men is not
in their chances, but In their ability to
recognize their chances. Opportunities
are universal They come In one form or
another to every human being 1t is
safe to say, that no man lives whose hand
at some time has not been at the door OF
a genuine opportunity, if he had only
raised his eyes and discovered that his
hand was no longer resting on an un-
broken wall? The trouble is that we do
not see. We are SO intent upon having
things come to us after some manner
which we have determined upon in our
own minds, that when they come to US In
some other guiss we let them pass un-
noticed. The common opportunity comes.
az the divinest opportunity in the whole
history of the world came, Graded in OBJ
security.
No person in Portland today, however,
can fail to find his opportunity for doing
practical good. The disaster orcasioned
by the loss of the steamer Portland with
all hands on board on the 27th of Novem-
ber last, has opened way for the outlet
OF lra,tical sympathy which "ths way
faring man, though fool, cannot err there
in" None will be excusable in the sight
of God, il this golden opportunity to
minister to the necessities of those rem
dered destitute by the loss of the bread
winners on board the iIl-fated boat be
neglected.
This disaster coming as it did between
the feasts of Thanksgiving and the Ma
tiyity, is most significant. AS a God-fear-
ing people, we gavs thanks on the 24tn
of November last. to the Lord of Harvests
for a bountifuI year, and for innumerable
blessings ynucn SIZED to us during tne
year. In q couple of weeks hencs we
shall again give thanks to God Tor Une au-
vent into the world of Him who brought
peace and good will to all men; Would ~
not be well-pleasing to Him who Is Jhe
source of ali blessings and merc1es, II we
contrihute of our substance to those who
otherwise will be- driven to dire Wans anu
suffering during the present cold inontn5
of a long and trying winter
1t is most pleasing to notice the greau
interest which the Mayor, the citizens
and newspapers of Portland have mani
fested towards those VINO cannot heip
themselves Money has been llDerally SUD.
scribed, but there is abundant room TOT
more. and the necessity for substantial
and speedy aid cannot be too forolply
nrued upon those into whose hands '5od
has put wealth
Good men have long since recognized
the infinite value of the neWsp per IN tne
Extension of that Kingdom "hich is
rienteousne g, peace, and JOY The
vieor and sucoe IS with which the Daily
PRESS uushed forward the raising OF
a + nd for the suffering Cubans q lew
months a.o. will ever remain an unan.
swer .nIe argument in favor OF the above
nnsition. mat service of love being now
rfnniicatsd in benaIf of the sufferers of
pnrtland,s disastsr is only another ocoa-
s,on for the belief that as the thread of
Sima unwinds a little further, through
the silent. yet speaking newspapers. may
he found the vast Inheritance of the
worlds redemption.
The church OF which am pastor has
suffered in the aggregate more than any
other by the disaster, Iny income will be
creatly lesseped IN consequences; but |
am not concerned about that; my chief