The Portland daily press., 1866-05-16
Methodist Conference at Lewiston.

MONDAYS PROCEEDINGS.
A Centenary meeting was held of a deep
lv interesting character, Bishop Ames presid-
ing. lt trf,,
On taking the chair he said, ''The traveller
takes delight in looking back over the path
over which he has travelled. So with nations
they love to review their past history on
certain days as we do on our Fourth of July.
The Christian may with propriety pursue a
similar course. During this Centenary year
of Methodism, set apart as being the hundredth
year since the Introduction OF Methodism into
America-it has been deemed fitting to cele-
brate the occasion by appropriate religious
services and benevolent contributions. We
prize Methodism for it's associations. We hon
or those under God who have been instrument
al in founding and building up this branch of
the Christian Church. Wesley is to-day hon.
ored in Engand-in the Parliament of Eng
land, for his great legislative power, for his
spirit of sacrifice and unwearied effort to pro-
mote the cause of God. There have been
many revivals of Gods work in the world
These have not been effected by laying out
any system of church polity, or putting for
ward any set of Christian doctrines, but by
preaching Christ. One of the reasons for tine
great success of Methodism is that she en-
ploys the lay element to a greater extent than
any other church in Christendom. More OF
them are holding official relations in the
| church. controlling her finances, having SUI
| pervision, in connection with the pastors, oi
| the spiritual interest of the church as trus-
tees, stewards, leaders, local preachers, Sun
| day school officers and preachers"
VIC. Hoyt said the Bishop had nevermade
| so hard an appointment for him as in calling
upon him to speak under these circumstan-
ces. Why do we celebrate this Centenary
hot obr1po hao I0ra for
| in bringing us to Christ, and multitudes OF
| others throughout this and other lands. We
are a correctional church. One in Maine, one
| in New York, one in Oregon, whose Hymn
| Book is the same In every part OF our church.
| Every man may be made available in some
| part of the work, and every part of the work
| has an oversight by the proper officers OF the
| church. We have used a popular style OF
preaching-a style adapted to the wants of
| the peope-simple, plain, coming from hearts
made warm by Christian experience. The
Hymnology OF our church and singing of our
| people have had powerful influence on the
| prosperity and increase of the church. The
| law element has in remarkable degree been
brought into operation, which was illustrated
| in a happy manner by an allusion to the
| speakers religious experience. We have a
mjnistration that reaches all classes of persons
! Our ministers 60 everywhere. ll
DIR. Monroe, in very brief speech in his
own humorous style, spoke of the happy influ.
ence exertcd by bringing before the mind the
character of those who have been instrument
al in bringing about those great results that
have been proclaimed by Methodism. The
chnrch has still great work before her-sim-
liar in many respects to the work John Wes-
ley had to do. A hopeful view of the future
progress OF Methodism at home and abroad
was piVen.
TUESDAY MORNING.
Conference was opened with reilSiouS ser
vices by c. G.. Cone.
VIM. McKendree Bray is granted super
numerary relation. .,,o co,.o
The report of the Committee OF the Cente-
nary was presented, and after being READ enc
ted warm and interesting discussion. Dur
~ ~ tbe discugsion, Bishop Jones, at o'clock
ms nna s% on minutes, appeared in the Conference
roo,n r,,M and was greeted with much pleasure on
tHe mart of the Conference. The report was
occepted. followed by several resolutions on
the same subject.
The stewards made theirrepprt, from which
il appeared that there was needed to make up
the claims of the effective preachers S1,114.,
and for the superanuated preachers $4,000,
and that $1,277.82 had been received from
all sources to meet thece claims.
A. MOORE.