The Portland daily press., 1863-06-27
Maine Universalist Convention.


This body held its annual session in Calais,
on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of the
present week. The business meetings of the
Council were in Halls hall, Oh the Federal
side Of the st. Croix, but the religious meet
ings were in the Universalist church, a very
beautiful edifice on the Colonial side. The at
tendance of strangers was small, owing to
the extreme position of the place, but the an
diences were usually large and interested.
Your reporter was only able to remain un-
til the morning of Thursday, but would be
very emphatic in his statement of the Hospital
BILE manner in which the people of the parish
received and entertained the visitors present,
and also OF the courtesy and politeness of the
officers of the New England and the Queen
steamers, in which the delegates were trans
ported from Portland. Nothing could be
more comfortable than these boats are rem
dered to those who journey in them, and there
are few places to which the tourist can voyage
with more pleasure at this season of the year,
than from Portland to Calais and st. John.
The business of the Council was transacted
with harmony and despatch The Council
was called to order by Rev. A. Hitchings,
when prayer was offered by Rev. w. A. p.
Dillingham;. S. H. Colesworthy, Esq, of Port
land, was chosen Moderator, pro tenn. The
permanent officers of the Convention were
then elected, as follows:
President, Hon. l. Washburn, Jr.; Vice
President, J. A. Milliken, ESQ.,; Recording
Secretary, Rev. Giles Bailey; Assistant Secre-
tary, Rev. d. B. Byther; Corresponding Sec
rotary, Rev. Ii. w. Rugg; Secretary, Hon. E.
+. Beal; Sunday School Secretary, Rev. A.
Battles; Occasional Preacher, Rev. f. c.
Bolles; Substitute, Rev. J. c. Snow; Com
mittee of Discipline, Revs. Messrs. Hodsdon,
Dillingham;, Rallou, French and Harris; Trus-
tees, Revs. Messrs. Dillingham;, Rugg and
French, and Hons. Sidney Perham and J. A.
Bicknell.
Several of the documents usually read were
omitted, in consequence of the absence of
those who were to present them.
The public services were--a sermon on the
Necessity of the Church, on Tuesday evening,
by Rev. W. A. p. Dillingham; OF Watervie
on Wednesday evening, by Rev. j. w. Hanson
Of Haverhill, Mass, on the Loss of the Soul on
Wednesday afternoon the Report of the Sun
day School Secretary was read by Rev. l.
Barstow of Orono, followed by addresses from
Rev. Messrs. johnson of Jay, Battles of Ban
gor, and Bolles OF Portland; on Wednesday
evening, by Rev. A. Battles of Bangor, on the
Besetting God, and on Thursday morning the
Occasional Sermon, by Rev. II. w. Rugg, and
in the afternoon by Rev. r. A. Ballou of Au-
gusta, followed by the communion service.
Conference and prayer meetings were also
held on the morning of both days, and the
services were fifty and happily concluded by a
social reunion at the residence of VIM. Du-
rem. on Thursday evening
Several of the delegates who were obliged
to remain over were anticipating much pleas
ure from war meeting which was appointed
for Friday evening, when addresses were ex-
pected from Messrs. Battles, Rugg and others.
The weather was cool and delightful, and
the occasion will long be remembered by those
who were able to be present.
REPORTER.