The Portland daily press., 1898-12-05


From this point DIR. Dalton went on to
show how much more is required and ex,
peoted of believers than unbeIievers; also
how re ligion increases the tenderness and
sacredness of all human relations and
ties. when we believe, life and death are
no longer what they were, but assume
an entirely new aspect. AS to regrets for
things done or left undone they are gener-
ally useless and vain. Let us look for
ward, not dwelling on the past but press
forward to the prize of our high calling
in Christ Jesus.
The hymns sung were:
.Thy will be done.
aNot for the dead we weep;
Their sorrows now are Ger;
The sea is calm the tempest past,
On that eternal shore"
clark my SOUL
Ger oceans wave beat shore.
ST. LUKE'S CATHEDRAL.
AT morning prayer Dean Stills especial
" invited his congregation to join in
special prayers for those who had been so
deeply afflicted during the past week, and
preaching from the text Heaven and
earth shall pass away but My words shall
not pass away" The dean made the fol-
lowing application of the latter partiof
his text to the late disaster. Arguing
that the inimutability of Christ's words
could be the only source of comfort and
consolation In times of need he said,
"Thoss who lightly regard the word of
God and wilfully ignore its awful truth
fulness and inspirations may well be
brought to see it's strength and power
when sohered and brought to themselves
by some great and terrible calamity such
as that which has lately befallen this city
and neighhorhood. Death with all its
awfulness and horrors has brought DESC
lation into the homes and lives Of many
of our own townsmen-onr own con-
gregation has not been entirely
spared, one at least of those who
worshipped here was passen-
ger on the i'll fated steamer. Loving the
church and her ways from his youth,
present whenever possible at her services.
even when living at a considerable dis
lance away. William Beardsworth was
known to me and to many as q kindly
earnest man who strove bard to do his
duty in every part of life as husband,
father and man OF business.
Such a one called suddenly to his
last account goes to his maker with
many claim for mercy and from the
Lords lips we may be sure he will receive
the reward due to sthe service he delight
ed to render.
The cry of anguish which has been
wrung from the stricken hearts of those
well known among us appeals for help
and sympathy greater than any that man
can give If thesfirmest believer in the di.
vine power and love of theiLord Christ as
he repeats the words of loving consolation
uttered by his Divine Master, feels his
utter helplessness when he attempts to
console the sad and suffering, surely the
man who fails to recognize any
divinity in Gods word must be still
more at loss for words of comfort in
of the undying loving words of the Lord
Jesus scan gave any consolation to thoss
now mourning the loss of the nearest and
dearest of their relatives and friends.
Will the sayings OF any of the greatest
poets or philosophers satisfy the craving
of thu stricken heart for words of com {
fort?
DID any one on that awful night think
you try to comfort his soul with any say
ing of Shakespeare or Milton or Emerson
or Browning or any other mere man.
What help would there be for soul about
to enter into the presence of its maker in
the remem brance of any mere human ut
terance. Surely at that supreme moment
of its trouble and its anguish it would
cry for mercy to Him who alone could
hear and answer its pitiful appeal. Who
amidst the crash of the elements and
the fearful upheaval Of the sea could alone
utter the words of hope and comfort
which never should lose their value as
promises of salvation and life, Fear not
| am with thee.'
We have each no doubt during the past
week pictured to ourselves the awfulness
of that fearful night. By day its scenes
have filed our minds and by night it has
come into our thoughts with Inspeakable
horror. We may not understand the
mystery of Gods dealings with his people
but ws should be in utter despair at such
a time as this did not o1r hearts stand
fast ana believe in the wisdom and love
and overruling providence OF God. ]
believe that one of the many lessons that
God would teach us By this and such like
oalaInities is that we should learn. the
transformers of those things in which we
are accustomed to place SO much depen-
dence here That VIC should realize for
our eternal good the shortness and I'M
certainty of human life and further that
we should strive to. value more highly
than we do the precious treasures con
tanned in the Blessed promises of God g
holy word.
Last Sunday morning as the storm was
raging in all its fury we prayed in this
place for those at sea, tempest tossed
and in awful peril of their lives Who
can tell but Gcd heard our prayers and