Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1903-01-27
with all it's misfortunes the church

With all its misfOrtunes the church
Organization has gone steadily shead
1t is now stronger and larger than ever
before in its history. There are no fac.
tions to mar the work of the church.
The ladies have come most heroically and
efficiently to the rescue and no body OF
women ever worked harder than have the
good women of this church and parish
for its financial and spiritual welfare.
Since the organization of the church
in 1853 the total number of persons
received into membership is 426. The
present membership is ISL.
In the Christian Endeavor connected
with the church are fifty members. The
mems meeting is feature almost unique
to this church. The meetings were
started soon after Evangelist Gales stay
in Norway.
The Sunday school, of which Eugene
N. SWEET is superintendent, has 100
members. The average attendance is
100. This does not include the home
department.
One of the most vigorous in the state
is the Ladies' Circle. The president is
Mrs. Chester Horne. Always ready to
work, the Circle puts strong shoulder to
the wheel in every emergency.
The deacons of the church are Messrs.
Osgood Perry, w. II. Porter, Irving Bean
and II. L. Plummer.
Following the history, Rev. Smith
Baker, ID. d., pastor of WilliSton Church,
Portland, was introduced to give an ad-
dress. Dr. Baker is well known as one
of the most eloquent and at the same
time entertaining pulpit orators in the
state, and his inspiring address was
heard with the closest attention.
In opening DR.. Baker called attention
to the incalculable value of records such
as are furnished by the days proceed
ings, and hoped that they would be care
fully preserved for the benefit of future
generations. He then announced his
subject as one assigned him, "What the
Church Stands For"
The value of anything is in what it
stands for. A wheelbarrow is many
times larger than watch, but the value
of each is in what it stands for. So with
books, organizations, men, buildings,
each is of value for what it represents.
The barn, the house, the factory, the
bank, the meeting house, represent each
its separate idea.
Buildings devoted to the uses of re-
ligion also represent each its separate
idea. The Catholic cathedral repre-
SCENTS one idea, the Quaker meeting house
another idea.
Our forefathers, the Pilgrims, built
first the meeting house, then the school
always the meeting house
Gnu Inn hnri i'll
tagc of the churches of to-day. What
does the Pilgrim meeting house stand
for?
First, it stands for religious instruc-
tipn-an intelligent community, an edu-
Gated ministry,an instructed laity. These
are essential to the genius of the Con-
polity. The strength of the
church rests upon the high average of
intelligence of all its members, and in
this respects the Congregational church
stands high. In a democracy, where
church and state are separate, in the ma
.ure of things religious instruction must
come from the church. And this in
,tructon is needed There can be no
leep and true Christian character with
Dut an intelligent understanding of
CHRISTIAN doctrine.
Again, the Pilgrim meeting house
stands for religious home. Man is
social as well as thinking being. The
Gospel is message from the heart of
God to the heart of man, and is essen
tally matter of affection and not of in
elect. The value of home is its atfec-
,ional life. So it is with the church.
Here the struggling man can come and
ind sympathy and help from his fellow
men. Here is home for the poorest man
n woman who wants to lead better life.
Welcome them, be cordial to them.
Keep the atmosphere of your church
warm. |
The Pilgrim meeting house also stands :
or the development of character and
lifts. This follows from the nature of a
democracy, and is peculiarly character
site of our denomination. The work
lone in this line by the Christian En-
leavor societies is of almost incalculable
,alue. In my own church, / learned
hat during an interim between pasto-
ates, there were forty men, trained in
he Christian Endeavor society, who
we're ready and willing to take charge of
meeting. But remember, every man
,ets out of the church in proportion as
le puts into it. In proportion as he puts
himself into it,so will he take out of it, in
he development of grace and power.
Finally, the Pilgrim meeting house
stands for the highest and hottest
thought that can come into mans
mind, worship. Amid the conflicts and
roubles of the world, you need one day
n the week to shut it all out and COM
hume with God. But the kind of wor-
hip you have depends at last upon the 7
upon the magnificence of the {
buildings or the quality of the music,
II even upon the intellectual ability or
,loquence of the preacher, but upon the
pirit in which men enter upon the act
II worship. And according to the full
less with which they enter the spirit of
Worship will be accomplished the object
If the church, to:bring men into commun-
on with God.
DR.. Brooks pronounced the benedic-
ion, and very successful anniversary
celebration was closed. ,