The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-05-01
NEW PASTORS SERMON.
An Eloquent Address Delivered by the
Rev. Mr.. Bovard.

was crowded to the doors yesterday after
noon by an audience which assembled TO
hear the first sermon of them pastor OF
the church, Rev. william S. Bovard.
The sermon which he preached was very
eloquent and able one and 1t is safe to
predict that this able speaker will never
lack for an audience while he remains In
Portland. The retiring pastor OF the
church, the Rev. William f. Berry, who
resigned his Passionate to become the Held
secretary of the Maine Civic League In
troduced the new pastor to his people. lie
said that it seemed very strange to him to
think that for the first time in twenty
years he was without q pastorate, but he
was entering upon great field of work
and he believed be had the sympathy of
his church in what he was about to
undertake and would ask them for their
prayers. ssHe then introduced MIR. Bovard
in few simple words.
The Rev. MIR. Bovard took his taxi the
twelfth verse of the eighth chapter of
Second Corinthians: "For If there he
first willing mind it Is accepted accord
ing to that a man hath and not accord
ing o.that he hath not
doubtless there was in the church at
Corinth difference of opinion regarding
q collection which the Apostle Paul was
then taking up for the poor Of Jerusalem.
Some.of the people excused themselv es
from doing anything because they said
they were unable to do oil that they de.
sized to. This same spirit exists today to
certain degree. The speaker said he did
not propose TO make local application
of the principle underlying the words of
the Apostle Paul, out rather to apply it
to the whole Christian life. Upon the
plane of willingness to do all that lies in
our power for God is to be found after all
our real equality. There is an idea which
was crystalized in the Declaration of In
dependence that all men are created
equal. While IL is true that all men were
rights 1t Is not true that all men are
created equal. There is a difference of
opportunity, there is difference in abili-
ty but there is equality and unity which
may be found in Willingness. This, how
ever, means to some that they have mere
ly to acquiesce. 1t is not enough to say,
Eyes, / know that God should be served
and that great work should be accom-
plished. Send some one else to do it." 1t
is rather, Lord what wilt thou have me
dor"
In the hands of God an unfavorabie op.
portunity may be made to work for the
highest good. The shepherd boy went
up to witness the battle. He found the
gigantic enemy of the Lord in front of,
and defying the host. He went straight
into the thick OF the fray armed only with
a sling and few pebbles, but supported
by God and he saw this enemy fail. He
had the heart of a king and. aboye all was
his reliance on him who is mighty to
save.
The speaker then drew another parable
from the story of the Black Prince, whom
a private saw going into battle on a mag
nifcent charger, with waving plume,
rich equipments and big sword. ''If
had that sword" said the private. 81 too
would remain and fight this enemy, but
my sword is not as good as is the weapon
of the PRINCE 1hereupon the private
threw away his own sword, after break.
ing it in two and ran to the rear. In the
course of the conflict the horse of the
Black Prince was killed. his handsome
equipment gone, his weapon lost. and
wounded and hard pressed he was driven
back. Suddenly he came across the
broken sword of the cowardly private.
Waving this aloft ne rallied his forces
and won the battle. He took advantage
of broken opportunity. A broken life
may be made mi ghty in Gods hands,
The Evangelist Moody heard man say
that God was waiting the coming OF an
entirely conseorated man. Mr.. Moody
said at once that God should wait no
longer and he has .vitalized the church to
a greater degree than any man since John
Wesley.
We have no right to fix our own stand
ing or rank in life. There are those who
under estimate their own ability or use.
fulness, and those who overestimate these
things. We must make the best we can
of our opportunities and act entirsly in
accord with Gods will.
Nor are we to regard small things as
insignificant. The little stream issuing
from the mountain side has as its mission
the cutting of its way through the granite
hills to the sea- 1t goes on Its way laugh
Ing and joyous and knows nothing of the
Thousands of tributary streams which
are to aid it, nor of the deep waters with
which it must mingle, nor OF the showers
which will descend to aid 1t. 10 all OF
these it bids a welcome on its course and
at last flows smoothly on as broad rivey
on whose bosom the commerce of the
world may float. So of our own lives.
We receive assistance from the right aaf
from the left, but all of our strength
comes from above. God help us to SO order
our lives that before we reach the great
ocean of death we may become co-workers
with Him."
MANY LOBSTERS ARRIVE.
L