The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1866-05-25
METH0DISM IN MAINE.

The following facts concerning Methodism in
Maine are of interest -
The Maine Conference of tho Methodist Episco.
pal Church, was set Oft from the New England
Conference BY the General Conference at its ses.
sion in baltimore, in May, 1924. The two confer
enccs met together at Barnard, VT, June ~,
1924. The first session Of the Maine Conference
was held at Gardiner, July 7th, 1898. Bishop
Enoch George. presiding. Rev. Oliver Beae was
its hrst Secretary, aud served the Conference In
cluied ali the State Of Maine, aud that part OF
New Hampshire east of the White Hills, and north
Of the waters Of 0ssipee Lake. At the session Of
1928, there were reported 6,960 members in So
ciety; 40 preachers were stationed, and one,
James L. Bishop, was returned superannuated.
The limits of the Conference remained unchanged,
until the General Conference held In Pittsburg,
May, lSiS. The Maine Conference was then made
to include that "part Ot the State Of Maine lying
west of the Kennebec river from its mouth to the
Great Bend below Skowhegan, and Of line run
ming thence north to State line," (including
Skowhegan, and Augusta stations in the Maine
Conferepce,) and that part Of New Hampshire
before included. The East Maine Conference in.
cludes that part Of Maine not included In the
Maine Conference.
Up to the time OF this division the Conference
had gained 2s5 preachers by admission ON trial;
80 by re-almission and 80 by transfers from other
Conferences; and had lost 81 by location; IL by
discontinuance; 3 by withdrawal; 4 by expulsion
10 by transfer to other Conferences, and 90 by
death. The undivided Conference held Its last
session In Saco, June 30, lS47, when there were
reported l9,4B7 members In society Ind lO3 local
preachers were stationed.
Thirty were returned superannuated and one
was left without any appointment. Vi those sta
toned eighty.two were In what was to be the
Maine Conference, seventy. mine In what was to
be the East Maine Conference. Of the superan-
nuated preachers seventeen were assigned to the
Maine and thirteen TO the East Maine Conference
The Z. NJ. c. held its first session In Bangor, Au'
gust ~, ls4s, and reporteda membership Of STAG.
aud seventy lone local preachers. The Maine Con,
ference held its next session after the division nj
Portland and reported membership OF l0,O3i,
and ninety mine local preachers.
The General Conference uf lS4S, made proyis.
ions for reporting members In full connection,
and pr0bationers separately. Since the division
in lS4S, the Maine Conference has received an &C
admission on trial, twenty-five by re-admss0n
and twelve by transfer from other Conferences;
and has sustained oss Of thirty.six by location
sixteen by discontinunnce; one by withdrawal;
two by expulsion; twenty-six by transfer to other
Conferences, and twenty.six by death Al its
session in 1865 ninety -four received appointments
eight of which were to literary institutions. chap
laincies and agencies; twenty seven we're returned
superannuated and four were lett without ap'
po,ntmen,s, There were reported 10, 500 members
of the church, 1909 probationers, and 81 local
preachers. AT the East Maine Conference In
1865, seventy three preachers received appoint
ments, one Of which was rs Agent OF the +. NJ
Conference Seminary; seventeen we're superan.
nuated, four were lett without appointments
There we're reported S7l5 members, 1910 probs.
TONERS, and seventy. nine local preachers.