The Portland daily press., 1899-09-07

oulties, In loneliness, discouraged by our
indifference, they press toward their CD.
portunity. Why should we lag behindf
/. Press the missionary move
ment. for once the church is alive to
tnie, u will awake to every other interest
|. /. :. Build fire that will burst
ont Of the missionary window OF your
church, and soon the whole interior will
be aflame for Christ
Press the "tsuth leaion." What hinders
the conversion Of the money powerf Tbs
greedy selflshness of men and women
Yes, but fer more the indifference Of
Christian people 10 the duties and
privileges for stewardship.
Press toward the mark of systematic
intelligent, liberal giving. The pocket
book is the partner Of our gifts and tai.
ents; Enlist u and you quicken null
Press Christian citizenship. What him
ders good government The corrupt poll.
! tioianf The rum trafficg The grasping
greed OF tho money powars These ars
pignies compared with the tndifferenoe
Of good men. Press good citizenship un-
al the time that corruptions shall trem-
Bile because good men have arisen from
their apathy.
Press the "war against war;" Peace
has too often been associated with apathy.
with the unconventional face Of your Pic
tursd Quaker-such putty face as some
ttAncH rA1filoAs thRb CntIAbtiU HthltH N a u.
Penn. WAR against war; the topic is a
good ole for all the pressure demanded
In the conducting OF a campaign of sword
and cannon shall be needed In beating
the sword into ploughshares. We shall
not drift idly into peace among nations
let as press. then, the thought of the
brotherhood of man, and teach that pa
triotisin by no means involves the hatred
OF other countriess
Above all, and before all and with ali.
let us press toward the mark OF spiritual
power. Press the morning watch, press
systematio Bible study, the revival of the
home altar. the COMMITTEES prayer meet
Ing. the spiritual life of all our work.
Spirituality and apathy are not welded,
as some may suppose. Laxity is opposed
to reverence; indifference and com mum
ion do not go hand in hand. We do not
drift. but press into the presence of God
Let me give you then as my best word
today, the exhortatlon to promote with
intense earnestnsss the spiritual life of
your church and society.
For two years 1t hRs been my privilege
to serve the Maine State Union as it's
president. These have been years of bles-
sing. Thers have been perplexities and
burdens in the work, but never for one
moment have regretted that I accepted
the position. Fellow Endeayorsrs, l am
glad to know you. / appreciate the hon.
or you have done me- / am proud of
the confidence you have placed in me.
heartily thank You for your kind cooper
ations and now that the time approaches.
at which shall relinquish to another the
duties and privileges of this office, my
heart is soIemuized and rendered and
struggle almost hopelessly for fitting
word with which to close my message. /
can find no better than to repeat the ex-
hortation, in all things that make for
the prosperity of Christian Endeavor In
Maine, let us "Prsss toward the mark
for the prize of the high calling"
Behind us Is the record, reaching back
to the birth of Christian Eldeavor, Civ
ing to us a unique reputation, therefore
Inviting the. scrutiny of Endeavorers eve
rywhers, and bringing upon us greater
responsibility. Before US Ia our future
big with the possibilities Of greater work.
Behind us is oar record; before US our
opportunity. Around us. within us and
upon us, the imperative demand that we
should 'sPress toward the marx" God
help US to be faithful.
REV. MR. RINGOLDiS ADDRESS.
One of the most Interesting addresses
of the season wns that OF Rev. Mr.. Ring
old of Gardiner on "Proportionate Civ
Ing, In the course of which he said that
proportionate giving to the Lords cause,
religion and benevolent purposes, has re-
ference TO the amount given for other
purposes. 1t Is not the same as systematic
giving. One may systematically give ten
cents a week tc religious purposes when
his salary is 8 1000 year, but for a
Christian Endeavorer this ought to be
called systematic meanness 1t could not
be called proportionate giving. A scrip
tural statement of proportionate giving Is
to give as the Lord has prospsrsd. That
is a very fair principle yet somewhat
indefinite In statement Tne scriptures
recognize the propriety of giving NOS only
in proportion to what one receives, but
also In proportion to what one has left
after giving. The only commendation of
Jesus In respeot to giving was OF the
Widows ruite.
A tenth of ones net income has been
recognized as fair stan dard by many
persons who desire to maintain their self
respect in ths matter. TO satisfy their
consciencss and please their Lord The
proportion for each disciple to give ought
to be such as will insure the use of that
which remains In such manner as will
unquestionabIy honor his Master. The
proportion that secures this end secures
the devotion of all the giver has and of
all he is to the honor and glory of God
That is the ultimate end
REV. WILLIAM 4. LANDERS
of the Massachusetts, State Christian En-
deavor Society spoke briefly on the power
of the press in religious work. He thor
oughly believed that this was one of the
greatest agents to assist churches and
religious bodies in their good work.
In bis address on the "Quiet Hour. -
Kew. DR.. Wilson said that 1t was impossi-
be to give comprehensive definition of
the "Quiet Hour" for 1t means SO many
different things to many different people.
He though the could best express his
idea Of it as '.giying God a chance" at
Ms.
SOCIALS-THEIR OBJECT.
Another very helpful and interesting
nanar WAS thar IF Mis- A hhfa T. H1n~ka