The Portland daily press., 1898-04-19

S'ons' anu a collection was taken up to
oelfay one expenses of the meeting. Mr..
foruy ol 0ne Friends church. the retiring
presldent-made very cordial acknowl-
edgment Of the kindness and belnfulness
Which Uhe members had ALWAYS given
him, closing with word Of warn,sst
greeting to Mr.. Ballantyne, the new
president
Mr. baIiantyne responded yery f1ttinolv
saying thatshe accepted with great reluct.
ance the office to which he had inst been
elected, but he would do his hest and
Christ would help him. Mr. R.1lantvns
then said it was with great pleasure that
he had the honor of introducing this
evening. Mr.. j. W. Basr, the secretary of
the United society. Mr.. Baer was re-
ceived with the Christian Endeayor greet
ing, the waving of handkerchiefs. and of
hearty round of applause as well.
Mr.. Baer has very easy natural wav
of speaking, and took for his special
theme the ultimate aim of ChristianpEn-
deavorers, emphasizing with great earnest
ness the necessity OF keeping to the
original pledge, as DR.. Clarke first made
it. Mr.. Baer paid very noble tribute to
DR.. Clarke, saying that it was one of the
greatest privileges of his life to be associ-
ated with that great and good man. "The
last thing that DR.. Clarke said, as I left
him this morning was. give my love to
those people up there?" Mr.. Baer then
spoke of tifty-three thousand societies of
G. e. through the world, with the mem.
bership of more than three million, add
ing that if it is true that the chain is only
as strong as it's weakest link, SO much
more necessary is it, for each member to
do his best. In emphasizing the necessity
of following the first pledge of the G. E.
society, the reading of the Bible-Mr.
Baer spoke most reverently and feelingly,
and told the wonderful story Of Nansen's
phonograph, with much fitness. On some
of tLese sensitive plates of the phono.
graph were the impressions of his wife's
voice and his little daughters prattle,
which he would put into the phonograph,
way up here in the frozen north, and hear
those dear voices reproduced. $50" said
Mr.. Baer, sis this precious book, and I
say it reverently, the sensitive plate,
bringing us the testimony of the word of
God" Mr.. Baer further emphasized his
point by reading some confessions from
Spurgeon, as to the comfort, he had
gained from his Bible, this quiet hour, to
be followed by service, actual service.
Mr.. Baer has direct, personal way of
appealing to his hearers, making his
words potent with telling illustrations,
and an occasional funny story, which
drives his point home.
In closingihis address, Mr.. Baer begged
the members of the congregation to- bow
their heads, while Mr.. Lamb sang them
some helpful song. This was done most
reverently, and Mr.. Lambs voice rang
| out with great sweetness. This was fol-
| lowed by the conservation service, in
| which Mr.. Baer with great earnestness,
begged his hearers to carry home with
them the idea not of being perfect, but
blameless. Perfection is too much, but
we can at least, do the best we can which
| is to be blameless. The meeting closed
with another hymn, and the benediction
by Mr.. Lamb, after which many of the
congregation went up to shake hands
| with Mr.. Baer