The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-01-16
PORTLAND BENEVOLENT SOCIETY
Annual sermon Preached ny Rev. DR.
Wilson.

1
State street Congregational church wa
well oiled st-'evening on the occasion o
the annual services held In the interest Of
the Portland Benevolent society. which
was represented by Hon. James r. Bax
ter. president; John NJ. Gould, treasurer
Elias Thomas, Lyman n. Cousens,
Charles S. Fobes and Franklin X. Bar
lett
I There was invocation by Rev. J.EolA
Jenkins ID. D., pastor of the church;
prayer by Rev. DIR. Fem, pastor OF the
High street Congregational church, and
scriptural reading by Rev. ]. Carroll
Perkins. pastor of the First Parish
| church.
Thsn came the annual address before
the society which was delivered by Rev.
Joseph Kennard Wilson. ID. d.. pastor
of the Free street Baptist church.
Rev. DIR. Wilson took the parable Of
the Good Samaritan ms the basis OF his
remarks, and said 1t is real story al
though simply parable as originally
told, real, because It deals In real things.
Il Aho StiISho tooa "Shs INV
Palestine simply, but through Portland
as well. On every side. there are robbers
of one sort or another &c leave the VIC
Tins with empty hands and sore hearts
and defrauded lives-and on every hand
are opportunities for ministry.
| 1t lie the parable Of humanity's need
and of humanity's ministry to nesd.
The all present and pressing problem Is
what Is our relation to the needs found
every where about us.
The speaker then dwelt upon the three
answers furnished by the parable. The
priest who passed by on the other side, !"
| typified the "laissez- faire'' doctrine Of
economies and life. Let alone. Hands
off," policy which setting aside It's
monumental selishness Is an utter impas.
sibility, for life touchs all along the line.
What Is done In the lowest part Of the
city touches State street and the Western
Promenade-the shadows Of want and
need which rest upon the home in the
narrowest alley, falls like rsproaoh
across your own broad lawns and spac-
ious halls.
Referring TO the second answer con-
action Of the L~vite, who "came and
looked on" 1t seemed to the preacher
that the catohword Of charity in these
days may be said to be Investigation.
The symbol of much OF modern charity
10 not well filled basket, but q notebook
and pencil, not an outstretched hand
but O tape-tied envelope in a convenient
pigeon hole Of secretary's desk. We
are looking for causes ana conditions thai
the knowledge, of today may be proven
ton for tomorrow. This is as 1t shoult
be, only,there ID need of care lest We stoi
short of the object for which Investigation
is made Investigation is not balm and
no one is helped by the mere looking
on" A man is more than lease.
The speaker found the third answer II
that Of the mar from Samaria, "he hat
had compassion on him and went to hin
and bound up his wounds, pouring II
oil and wine and set him on his owl
beast and brought him to an inn ant
took care of him. There were thre'
things In this answer. First. the gift
compassion. 1t Is a personal word.
law may give protection; society MAJ
give bread; dispenary may give medi
cine, but only human life can give
compassion. The underlying need is thu
sympathetic = recognition of relation
Under the art of helping must beat the
heart to help.
"Don't give me thing; give me folks, ;
was the pathetic cry Of q needy woman.
Again, the man of Samaria gave per
sonal ministry, without waiting 10 Sc
what any one else has going to do abou
1t, and when duty called him away, what
was to become OF the wounded mani
Here comes in the third element Of hi
answered. operation with the inn keeper
In cooperation he was doing for thi
man what he could have done alone
This is the pure meaning OF organization
1t is not the extinction of individual
responsibility or ministry, but the proj-c
ton in wider spheres and along longe
lines 1t is that as individuals, we ma,
do more and better service for humanity
that such societies are formed as thi
which calls us to together tonight.
Bev DIR. Wilson's address was listened
10 with appreciative interest and so wai
the music, among which were two yer.
notable numbers A sacred duo, Ire
joice in the Lord" by Schneider. wa
beautifully rendered by Miss Henriett
d. Rice and Mr.. Harry F. Merrill, and
the magniticat of Fred Heath receives
a fine rendition and was made doubl,
effective by the we'll balanced chorus.
A collection was taken up, and tn
benediction was pronounced by DR.. Jen