Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-04-22

was announced to preside at this, but
Rev. |. A. Bean of Lewiston, former
nastor of the South Paris church, who
presided, explained the absence of Mr.:
Canham by saying that he was engaged
in business which to him aud his son
doubtless seemed of more Importance
than this anniversary. In short, Mr..
Canham had gone to Philadelphia TO
marry his son. The announcement
seemed to be pleasing to the audience,
as it was greeted with applause.
The Cecilia girls choir of the church,
in stments, sang for this service, with
Mrs. Burnham at the organ, and re-
ceiyed much praise from the chairman
and the speaker of the evening.
DR.. Sheridan, the principal speaker,
on being introduced Immediately put the
audience in the mood of true devo-
tional meeting by calling for the singing
of a stirring hymn, saying, 81 want to
hear this crowd sing" Then, after con-
graduating the South Paris church on
it's possession Of the beautiful church IN
which they were assembled, and calling
attention briefly to some of the League
literature, he legan on bis general
theme. >.
A speaker who never tires his audi
snce is DR.. Sheridan. His discourse Ia
Illuminated by frequent incidents, some
new. some of more ancient date, but al
ways to the point. Let no one think,
however, that he is only a story teller,
for his address is direct and we'll ordered
and frequently eloquent in it's declara-
ton and appeal. CT,
We need occasionally, said DR.. Sheri-
dan. to bark back to the foundation
principles of the League, and think what
il stands for. First, 1t stands Tor a
trained and disciplined host. It means
body of young people trained to servo
with scientific efficiency. In the twenty
one different lines of service for which 1t
is organized, it gives each one some
thing to do. If it does not, 1t fails OF
fulfilling the plan of the League. DR..
Sheridan spoke particularly OF the WORK
done in training by the Epworth League
institute, in Increasing the efficiency OF
the workers, and especially in the social
line, or the development of wholesome
and entertaining forms of amusement.
The League also stands for a minister
ing host. 1t should have the world
vision, 1t should be a missionary
league. 1t must fight evil, the evils OF in
tenn mperance, impurity, corruption, where
ever found. 1t must catch and hold the
Young people at that age between thir-
teen and seventeen when they 80 easily
slip away from US. The speaker advocat-
ed appealing to the social and athletic
iustincts of the boys and girls Of this age
in order to hold them, summing up his
plan in the words, "When you 60 fishing,
you don't take the bait you like, you
lake the bait the fish like"
The League also stands for a spiritual
ICED host. With an earnest appeal for
the furtherance of the work OF the
League in bringing the young people to
Christ, DR.. Sheridan closed an hours
address. :.
Alto o'clock "Wednesday morning de-
yotional services were conducted by Rev.
DIR. Sheridan, and having been requested
by Bishop Henderson to take up some
phase of the work Of tho preacher, he
spoke of "The preacher as prophet"
The prophet: gain Is that he sees deep
iy. A man once said to the great artist
Turner. "I never saw such sunset a.
that YOU have painted" "Ah," said
| Turner, "don't you wish you couldp.
Other men have seen deeply-soci0logi-
cal workers, great dramatists and novel
lists, Moliere, Zola, Ibsen, Hall Caine,
Hardy-have seen the wounds and hurts
of human society. Like them the proph'
ct sees deeply, but he also, as they DC
not, sees high, sees the power OF Christ
to save the world.
The prophets grief is, not homeless
ness, nor lack OF this worlds goods, nor
the absence Of emblems of great success
es such as other men display, but the
fact that men will not take his preaching
to heart; that his work deals with invisi
BILE realities; in his own unrealized
dreams, not of selfish preferment, but ol
bringing men to Christ, even though
God works by illusion, and tue accom-
plishment may come though we DO mol
realize 1t.
The prophets glory lies in the fac
that the invisible forces with which h'
deals are In the long run the almighty
forces, which must finally prevail.
Bishop Theodore s. Henderson, d. D.
LII. D., of Chattanooga, Tenn, arrived
on the forenoon train Wednesday jus
before 10 o clock, and At that hour con
Quoted the impressive sacrament OF tn
Lords supper. Following this came tn
formal organization OF the conference.
l. The call Of the roll was answered b.
lseventy.one members of the conference