The Portland daily press., 1901-02-11
Was IIeld Yesterday at The Congress
Square Church.
Rev. DR.. Blanchard De-
livered the Address.
The Topic of His Sermon Was
Tho Passion for Service.

The annual religious service OF the
Portland benevolent Society occurred
yesterday afternoon at the Congress
Square church. The services were not
largely attended, but were very interest
ing. The music was delightful and was
specially arranged for the occasion. Rev.
John Carroll Perkins read the SCRIPTURE,
and Rev. DR. Fam offered prayer, after
which Rev DIR. blanchard delivered the
sermon. He began by reading some his
torical facts regarding this society which
all p ortland people know was organized
in 1903 by some of Portlsnd's wealthy
and benevolent men, and with the Rev.
DIR Deane as Its first president, and that
Its purpose was to provide means for the
relief OF the poor and especially Of thoss
who once were possessed OF the good
things of the world, but who, through
misfortune or sickness, have been de-
prived OF aim ost the necessities OF life
At the beginning this society had a sum
of 81, COO 1t has now the sum OF so. UOO,
the income OF which, together with the
collections at the annual meeting. and
cases OF poverty and want. As Is well
known the officers OF this society have
been since Its organization well known
men of the city who have nearly all.
when once chosen, served many years
such positions to which they were elsct-
ed. The present president OF the society
Is Hon James p. Baxter.
nirNonrEa Vuaa nm fha
passion OF service which he showed was
derived from God and strengthened by
the teachings of Christ. He spoke of the
many charitable organizations in Port
land which are doing noble works and
OF the great philanthropists OF the great
cities, such as the institutional churches
and the college settlements, all OF which
are striving with one purpose, the edu.
cation of the Door and the re lief OF the
suffering. Darwin mad said that ths secret
OF life was the struggle for existence,
but Henry Drummond pointed out that
the secret of life was the struggle for the
existence OF others. DIR. blanchard said
that what IL now required Is that the
church shall pay less attention to the
teachings Of the hereafter and lead men
to serve their Master In the present by
following the example set them by
Christ. He was optimistic in his view
of this and Eesmed to think that all
denominations and ali oreeds were unit
ing more ana more in an effort to uplits
humanity on earth and teaching men
to live TO help one another. The church
has message for the family, for the
school, for the business world and for the
political world. DIR. blanchard made an
appeal for the preservation OF the fami-
Iy and SAID that some critics of America
had thought that the family life In this
country 10 deteriorating. The church
should strive TO main tain the sanctity
of the home, for this il the foundation
OF not only the church, but OF the country.
he spoke of the need Of religious in
struction in the schools and regretted the
action of the Chicago Superintendent Of
schools in not permitting the "Reces.
sional'' OF Kipling TO be read In the
schools because 1t contained reference
to God. lie thought that the teachers
should strive to instruct their pupils In
the need OF living for others, not alone
in living for self, and he believed that
there was great need OF some form of
religious instruction In our public
schools, however small 1t might be. He
said that the schools Of Portland are now
decorated and adorned with beautiful
pictures and statuary, the work Of our
club women, but nowhere had he seen
a picture of Christ, nor anything which
would turn the minds OF tina children
to His teachings or example. He believed
the church had work to do in the
business world by teaching that all was
not seltishness and greed, but that man
might succeed and at the same time help
ons another. The church might accom-
pIish much more than 1t does Ii instead
OF dwelling so much on the hereafter 1t
tried to make man more honest and IN
selfish here on earth.
Then the church has a great work to
perform In the political world and here
there Is the need OF the same message OF
Christ. Once ministers were condemned
for mixing politics ana religion, hut in
mis- opinion, II was the duty Of the min
lister TO take an interest In politics.
DIR. Blanchard made an appeal for the
work OF the Associated Charities, ana
he hoped that all charitable organiza-
tions would unite in this organization
so as IA bring about = more uniform
system of relieving suffering. He then
spoke OF the absolute need, above all
other things, OF modern tensmsnt houses
in Portland, where the family life could
be cultivated and also of places OF
amusement Tor the workingman as an
antidote for the saloon. Men go 70 sa-
looms because of their social instinct.
The smashing of mirrors In saloons win
not cure the world of the evil OF ga