The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-10-10
NEW JERUSALEM CHURCH.
Tho sixty-third Annual Session of the
Maine Association.

The sixty-third annual session Of the
Maine State Association of the New
Jerusalem church was begun Saturday
noon in the society's house of worship.
The president, Rev. George 81. Dole of
Bath, was in the chair. Services were
opancd by the Rev. Mr. Hinckley of
Brookline, Mass, who read the sad
Psalm.
Delegates were present from Portland,
Bath, Fryeburg and Wateryille. and
visitors from these and other places.
The following officers were elected:
President-Rev. B. N. Stone, Frye.
burg.
land.
Corresponding Secretary-Rev. Mr..
Worcester, Portland.
Ministers of association present: Rev.
George Ii. Dole, Bath; Rev. B. N.
Stone, Fryeburg; Rev. Samuel Worces-
ter, Portland; Rev. Mr.. Schafer, Bruins
wick.
The executive committee consists of the
above and A. B. Stearns of Bath, E. w.
Larrahee of Bath, W. I. Swanton of Bos'
ton, A. s. Lewis of Fryeburg.
1t was voted that the present state
missionary, Rev. Mr.. Schafer. be re-
tanned.
"The Sesame Of the Church. was the
title of the address by the president. the
Rev. George Henry Dole, who spoke in
part as follows:
The popularity OF Longfellow's poem.
Excelsior, is due to it's faithful portrayal
of the spirit of worldly ambition.
The poem is almost too we'll known to
say that it describes youth enthHsed
with natural ambition. sacrificing himself
to suffering and danger, forsaklng the
comforts of home, turning from pleasure
and love- rejecting advice in the sole en-
deayor to get higher, in the effort TO reach
| the goal Of natural ambition.
The spirit of the times is too much like
| that of this poem, excelsior, higher, high
| er than those about us; regardless OF the
admontions Of wisdom, or the happiness
of homes, or the ties of love, or dangers to
| the spiritual life, only higher; no matter
how, but higher.
| But the desire. to be higher is not neces-
sariIy wrong in itself Progress is the
Christian watchword. Now is the prom
| ised time when "The increase of His gov
eminent shall know no end. Because
advancement is of God, everything speaks
| of it. The seed passes from the sprout to
| flower and fruit. The animal advances
| from the helpless young to the developed
mature. Man, from an infant becomes an
angel Science, art, religion, all increase.
| The world is made according to an order.
| That order reaches from the dead rock to
the living God; from the lowest natural
| to the highest spiritual; from the lowest
+h irrho haau0nIu 1ifQ
There is a jacobs ladder reaching from
earth to heaven. 1t is of Divine purpose
and will that all ascend. But there are
right ways and wrong ways, right motives
and wrong motives. 10 every right at.
tainment, the Lord says lam the door.
Let us observe particularly what this
means. How is He the doorS
The young man judges OF success by It's
outward appearance He observes that
| the rich are exalted and honored Ease,
comfort and luxury are theirs to enjoy.
| Outwardly such appears to constitute q
successful life. But il he makes such hif
ambition, eventually he will be Drought
by some experience to see that riches &c
not make true success; that the honor Of
the world is as unsatisfying as it is hol
| low. Success is deeper than outward at
| tainment One may realize success In
| business, yet be conscious of utter failure
| in himself. 1T is inward. not outward
success that should be our ambition. Ie
/ this success the Lord said II am the
! door, sff 4-S
\ Likewise with happiness. 1t appears
| that the satisfaction of natural and world
ly desires woald bring happiness. But il
| is the nature of natural and worldly de-
sires not to be satisfied. The feeding OF
them increases and confirms them. They
are the worm that dieth not and the frt
that is not quenched.
| The first step toward happiness Is, not
to increase the love of the world, but &c
decrease it, 1T is not to influence desire
but to subdue it; it is not to increase
self, but to diminish it. Not to the
avaricious, the grasping, the rich IL
worldly desire, but to the poor in spirit
is the Kingdom of Heaven. So of the
way OF happiness, of the way to hum
BILE, grateful lif5, Jesus says, II ain the
door,"
The unrest, the anxiety that character
| ICES the times has for its end victory oyel
! limitations and final peace. 1t seems that
| if we could overcome all that opposes our
am bition, that then we would find peace
| Yet peace does not come from outward
tranquility, but from inward rest. 1t il
not based upon our relations 60 ou'
estates, but to our God. Life may b'
wasted in the endeavor to realize peace
from worldly victories but when lie Is
spent, and it is realized that peace Is IRON
above, it will appear just as far away. IL
| the victory that gives peace Jesus says
am the door, ~ OF every desirable attain
ment, of every enduring thing, the Lore
| JESUS is the door.
Let us observe more particularly wha1