The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1865-09-16
RELIGIOUS 1NTHIL1aENcE.

IA 1904 -T-7T---- Aka4AtA4f
Rev A. A. Smith, graduate of the New
HamptonsN N. H. IlIeologicai Institution, was
ordained pastor of the Free Baptist Church in
Topsham, the 18th inst. Sermon by Rev. Dr.
Graham, D. D., of this city.
Bishop Ames suggests that the Chief jas
tice of the United States shall settle the title
to, the Southern churches, and promises to
/ withdraw all the ministers whom he has APP
pointed to their charge, if the decision shall
b prove adverse. .g1Aaal-A
The Hancock Baptist Association held its
Sista anniversary at surry the present week
Number of churches, q; reported at this meet
ing, Is. Pastors and stated supplies, g; minis
tiers without charge, 4. One church was drop
I ped, leaving rs Ofthese churches, 6 only have
constant preaching-3 have preaching halfoi
the ttime--the others less,-6 have not more
than one or two Sabbaths preaching during
the year. ''''-'f
q The next session is to be held withthe church
| at uehill.e sss 2 81 I'D ASSS
-Itis said the Papal authorities have decided
to hold grand commemoEation of the martyr
| dom of St Peter next year on the eighteen hun
dredthI anniversary of that event. ~
The Universalist National convention VIII
assemble ia Middletown, Conn, ON Tuesday of
lnsxtlweek. This body Is made up If delegates,
lay and clerical, from all the State Conventions
| ofthe denomination 1881 g2 iftgi
The hrstcompany Of Mora VANS, or United
Brethren, who ttled in this country, came
originally from g ermany, in the year 1734, and
4 founded town in the State of Georgia in the
yieirity of Savannah. Here they lived in peace
and plenty for time, but, on the brea,ziIg out
ofthe war between England and Spain, the coll
opy was broken up, and q portion Of the colo
nists came North, and, in the year 1741, erect
| ed the first house on the-s where isn6w
Bethlehem, Pa. At the present day, few of
this peculiar sect remain there, but there is still
one ancient building of grey stone whose quaint
roofand old-fashioned windows give it singu-
Lar interest In cur eyes, while the adjoining
building, surmounted byits ancient belfry, with
It's prof scting caves and double, row of dormer
I windows, brings the mind back to the stories
we have read ofthe old German towns. This
building Is now called the Sisters Hous,., and
is occupied by aeotnhanity Of pieus uns, who
for thu remaining portion Of their lives have de-
voted themselves to good works. $50
The Massachusetts, Confer of3 4 sre u I.
tional Churches convened, in Hayerhill- on
Tuesday the 18th inst This BODY represented res
40 churches and 10000 members. Rev. DR..
Stone of Boston preached sermon on the nee
essity for Christian education and general en-
hghtenment throughout the land. Able reports
were read, at different stages of the meeting, by
Rev, Msssrs. Barrows, Noyes, E. p. Marvin.
and Professor Park of AndoEer. These related
to the congregational polity and to the duty
and mode of contributing the full share of the
denomination to the moral and religious i'm
provement of the community. For this, both
In New England and at the. West and South,
me writer's and speakers regarded the free sys-
sem Of congrsgationaIism peculiarly adapted.
9eme made aisharp distinction between that
system and heihdepenaency which prevails in
England This lacks the fraternal, confedera-
seu organ,zattiOn which; it was contended,
MAKES the New England sytem stable and con-
sentative without the more eccle ,iastical CEN
tralizatiOn Of power, belonging to the prelatioal
AM, and essn the presbyterian systems. az s. 4
gs# Hon olulT is ahead ~ SALE Tal-a' ~.