The Portland daily press., 1898-09-05
MISS MARY S. MORRILL,.
The Farewell Exc rcises for Returning
Missionary.

= At the Second Parish COngl egatlonal
church yesterday afternoon the exercises
were largely in the nature Of farewell to
Miss Mary S. Morrill, who starts today on
her return to the field of her missionary
labor in Northern China. 800 500
After an invocation, responsive scrip
ture readings, the singing of Mem
deissohn's elbow Lovely Are the Mes.
sengers. most appropriate selection.
and a prayer by one of the deacons Of the
Second Parish church, the pastor, Rev.
Mr.. Hack, briefly introduced the first
speaker. This was Mrs. Daniels, wife OF
Rev. DR.. 9. Fl. Daniels, = former pastor
of the church who is now one of the
secretaries of the American board of
commissioners for foreign missions.
Mrs. Daniels spoke in behalf of the
branch. She is an easy, graceful speaker
and was listened to with much interest.
Mrs. Daniels said she brought message
Of love to Miss Morrill,, one of love for her
personal character and work and for the
lessons learned from her during the year
SQo has Uc6u dU aOLuO, diiA OAAo VI NAoA
speed. The Women's board, she said, is
proud of its schools and colleges, but
more than all of its missionaries. From
them 1t learns lesson of renewing and
elevating its ideals. We should be more
practical if we were more ideal and lived
up to our ideals as do these missionaries.
Then DR.. Daniels spoke for the Ameri-
n
can board. He thought it an occasion for
CONGRATULATIONS all round. He referred
to the early and important connection
between the Second Parish and the
missionary work. To that work DR..
Cyrus Hamlin was ordained in that
church fifty years ago this fall. He re-
ferred to Miss Porter, afterwards Mrs.
Gliss, and Mr.. Tyler as missionaries who
went out from 1t, to its sformer pastors
like Payson, Cafruthers and others who
were corporate members of the American
board, and to Hon. William W. Thomas,
long prominent corporate member. DR..
Daniels made some al1usion to ths men
who now go into the missionary field.
Once it was thought that almost any
pious young man would do for mission
ary but he says the standard has been
much elevated and viii continue to be-
raised. In the last five years from out of
every i've applicants who desire to enter
upon this work four have been rejected as
unsuitable persons. 1t was stated that in
Northern China to which Miss Morrill,
went nine years ago and to which she
now returns. where in 1883 there were
$4,000 native members of Christian
churches there are now over $4,000. The
speaker gave as his message to the congre-
CATION: 1--WE are allowed Of God to be
put in trust Of the gospel" and he asked
his hearers If they did not believe that
the evangelization Of the world was the
prime object of the gospel.
Miss Morrill, spoke briefly, with modesty
and feeling. She thought she was engaged
in woInan's highest work. She referred
to the past year MS an exceedingly happy
one, but she was anxious to gut back to
her work. She told Of q message she had
received from her former pupils and while
admitting the need of work here at home
thought there was no comparison between
the needs of those who live in Christian
country and the women among whom she
has been working in the East. She had
loved them more than ever since leaving
them and longed ine1pressibly to be with
them.
The Rev. Mr.. Hack then uttered the
farewell of the church. He pledged If To
increased labor and prayer for tho sun.
port and unfolding of its missionary
representation. His most ardent des,re
Is to find young man in his church
ready to enter the work and fitted for ir
Women are taking the lead in all fields of
effort. He exhorted his people r. mt
forth more money and moro effort and 70
find young man to represent than ~
possible.
Then there was prayer and col,ectio,
and the following hymn, written for tho
occasion by Miss Alice M. Kyle. was srnr,
Jesus, thy word repeat,
Solemn. abiding, sweet,
In this still hour