The Portland daily press., 1867-06-29
Religious Intelligence.


The Free Baptist Annual Conference met
at Lisbon Tuesday. Many REVEALS were re-
ported After some discussion it was resolved
by unanimous vote, to take the name OF the
Maine Central Yearly Meeting, and Rev Bros.
Blake, Cheney and Libbey were appointed a
committee to confer with other Yearly Meet
ings in relation to the organization of State
Convention. A letter was read from the Sec
rotary of the Maine Missionary Society, Rev.
Stephen Thurston, on the union of different
Christian Communions in small towns Rev.
Bros A. II. Morrill,, 8. p Morril and A. w.
Purinton were appointed a committee to con-
fer with other denominations ON this subject
Rev. Mr.. Cone, agent Of the American Tract
Society, made some Interesting statements
about the missionary work of the Free Bap-
fists in the Southern States. '-'
The Universalist State Convention assem-
bled at Stockton ON Tuesday. The officers for
the coming year are Hon sydney Perham of
Paris, President, Rev. j. NJ Steere Of Lewis
ton, Corresponding Secretary, Rev. A. r. Alb
bott of Rockland sabbath School Secretary
Mr.. Abbott's Sunday School report represents
the various schools as generally in good con-
citOu lADcut uoleSdtoS WcIt III dueuO-
ance. . -1" -'''Die
The Reformed Dutch Church, having
found the title Dutch, hindrance to its
growth, has discarded it, and will hereafter be
known as the Reformed Church"
The Banner of Light, having taken partic-
ular pains for two years past to secure all the
information possible upon the point unhes-
tatingly reaffirms the statement that there are
eleven millions of Spiritualists fin tho United
States - la 81" 90 70 -- ---L' 7-' 'l''4V --t
1.-The Maine Conference of Unitarian
Churches met at Bangor last Wednesday.
Judge Bourne Of Kennebunk, presided over
the deliberations of the Conference. Tho Off
GERS for the ensuing year are Gen. j. G. Cald-
well, President; Rev. DR.. A. Wheeler, Secre-
tary; Rev. DIR. Palfry, Hon. 8. II. Dale and
Rev. @. G.. Everett. Executive Committee; and
R,y. j. T. Hewes, DR.. L. w. Morton and Rev.
DIR. Wheeler, committee on Missions. The
report of the State Missionary, Rev. DR..
Wheeler, shows that the ideas Of Unitarian
ism are spreading in the State, old churches
growing and new ones springing up. The re-
lation between, specific do,trinal belief and
religion was discussed by Rev. Messrs. Ever
EFT, Hewes, Sheldon, Palfrey, Savary, Judge
Bourne, Mr.. Simpson, MIR. Prentiss, Gen.
Caldwell, Reys. Messrs. Murray and Eldridge.
The discussion touched upon variety Of in
teresting and important subjects, and the gen
eral conclusion of the majority Of speakers
seemed to be that vital religion did not depend
upon the correctness of speculative beliefs
however desirable absolute truth in such mat
ters might be. r.,. ..a...s ... ..s..ll.s Ina
Rev. Dr. Denham,' Of Londonderry, Ire
land, and Major Gen. Russell, were present ut
the annual Convention of the Young Mems
Chriftian Association, held in Montreal, last
week, a letter was received from Rev. c. II
Spurgeon OF London.
Rev DIR. Morgan Dix of Trinity Church,
New York, in his essay on Ritualism, in the
July Galaxy, observes: "The Baptists build
splendid Gothic churches and decorate them
in polychrome; the Unitarians employ the ga
BILE and spire cross; even the Methodists erect
their stately marble temples and name them
after saints. The organ, the chant, the stained
glass windows, the flowers profussly used in
decoration, no longer belong to any one de-
nomination, but are gladly employed by all"
The Rev. Ebenezer r. Newell-known ~
"Father Newell"-died at Johnsonville, s. c.,
about the first of this month. He was ninety
one years Of age and has been a member Of the
Methodist Conference for more than half a
century.