The Portland daily press., 1864-04-16
Reported for the Press
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Maine Conference, NJ. l.. Church.

Maine Conference, Nj. l.. Church.
The Maine Conference of the NJ. E. Church
commenced its fortieth session in Wesley
Church, Bath, on Thursday last, Bishop Scott
presiding.
The weather had been for several days very
unfavorablc, so that smaller number OF
preachers were present at the opening than is
usual. At nine o'clock A. NJ, the Bishop
called the Conferene to order and conducted
the usual religious exercises, consisting of
reading the Scriptures, singing aud prayer, az
ter which the sacrament OF the Lords supper
was administered.
The Secretary Of the last Conference called
the roll aud sixty members answered to their
names; 40 were absent and two had been
transferred to other Conferences. Rev. Asahel
! Moore was reelected Secretary, and Rev.
Chas. G. Mason, Assisting Secretary.
The several committees were appointed
The Conference ordered draft on chartered
fund for thirty dollars, and on the Book Con-
Germ for 400 to be appropriated to superan-
nuated preachers. A proposition waS made
to obtain the names and Post Office address
of local preachers, also to restore the super
numerary relation which was abolished by
the General Conference of 1850.
Gersham I. Cobb, Geo. w. Ballou, Ammi
s. Ladd, Geo. w. Barber, Josiah III. Newhall,
III. II. Martin, John Gibson and Geo. Holt
were elected to Elders Orders.
committee on the Uuited States Chris
tian Commission, and one on the State of the
Country and on Slavery were appointed. ID.
Perry, ID. Copeland, f. Messerve, ]. Green
halgh, X. III. Ford, j. Harrington and S. NJ.
Emerson were continued in the superanuated
relation.
After fixing the time for electing Delegates
to the General Conference.-The Conference
adjourned.
AT halfpast p. NJ, Rev. c. F. Allen
preached from Hosea 6:1-"Come and let us
return unto the Lord for he hath torn and he
will heal US; he hath smitten and he will bind
us up"
We have departed from God. Faith has
been weakened in the Providence OF God
His agency has been lost sight of In modern
theories of philosophy. The divine blessing
is not sought on the daily business of life, and
politicians have discarded the divine soyer-
eighty. God hath torn us. A review of our
nations conflicts and reverses. The striking
contrast in the views of national history when
contemplated from the human and from the
divine stand point. A return to God will
alone insure our triumph, and permanent ma
tional prosperity-a return in principles and
practice.
At half-past :, Rev. W. W. Baldwin preach
ed from Mark l6:15-." Go We into all the
world and preach the gospel to every crea-
ture."
The commission of the Christian Minister is
much broader than that Of the Jewish priest.
The subject which he is TO bear to the people
is the gospel--good news of salvation to per-
ishing world. The general diffusion of the
gospel presupposes that 1t was designed for
all men of every age, nation and CLINE. Sin
has affected all men from the lowest to the
highest. Nothing but the gospel can reach
his case. The gospel does this-is adapted to
meet his case-to prepare him for his duty in
society and for heaven at last. 1t meets his
wants in every circumstance and 10 every
state of life.