The Portland daily press., 1870-01-13
From our Special Reporter.
Cumberland County Conference of Con.
gregational Churches.
FIRST DAY.

FIRST DAY.
The ninety-fifth meeting of the Cumberland
Conference organized in this city on Tuesday,
10 A. II. by the choice of Dea. s, W. Iarrabee.
of Portland, as presiding officer. Rev. H. lis
lev offered prayer and the scribe. Rev WI
Haskell READ the record of the last semi-annu-
al meeting. Committees appointed; pastors
Harris and Balkan with Frank L. Dipolev
committee OF arrangements. On nominations
Rev. VIM. Warren, and Bros. A. Morton and
L. P. Irish. Rev. G. 1. Nichols of Pownal,
preached on the text, "Our Father who art in
Heaven" exhibiting the elements of the di-
vine Fatherhood; authority torule, care to pro-
tect, sympathy to console and help to succor;
involving on our past the duties of obedience,
faith, love, prayerfulness and study of Gods
character. Adjourned at p M.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
Rev. DR.. Adams concluded half hour
prayer meeting. Rev. E. p Thwing was re-
quested to open the discussion on the prayer
meeting; first, woman's part and second the
pastors part.
1t is the privilege and duty of woman to be
present and II she choose, to audbly .partici
pate in the social meetings OF the church. Her
voice in song, her testimony and her prayers
are needed especially where the male member
ship is small. Her contemplative habits, and
the serener views of TRUTH enjoyed by her, the
very tones of true hearted intelligent Chris
tan woman's voice are helpful to men coming
in from the stern strife of life. By the recital
OF we'll chosen scripture verses she may also
happily ill gap in the exercises and quicken
the fervor of devotion.
The pastor should be punctual. His watch
ought not to keep mean time" He should
at the beginning speak briefly and in a colo
quail style rather than for the calculation of
doctrinal truth merely. A warm discussion
followed, in which pastors Adams, Balkan,
Bean, Randall and several lay brethren
participated. The views presented in the
opening address were endorsed and enlarged
upon. L. L. Dingley would use the appels-
ton Social Meetings" rather than ''Prayer
Meetings. Let frequent singing be intro
duced. Another suggested that the pastor
ana 9resaFea tsks tHEHs " shSud &c brief in
vocation and each related to the foregoing ex-
ereise.
N. Dingley, Jr., of the Lewiston Journal
thought that rs years hence. the pleas for
woman cooperation in church work would
read strangely. These truths are self evident
He would as soon argue for the proprety of
their participating in the conversation of the
family or festive circle as to plead for their
right to participate in the social meeting of
worship and conference. Another alluded to
the freedom allowed ladies in remarks at the
teachers Conventions and Institutes where
there was twice the publicity of social relg-
ious meeting. Incidentally the matter of vot-
ing was alluded to, and the speaker, Rev. VIM.
Warren OF Gorham, seemed to carry the SYM
pathes of the audience with him, When he
said that we can safely leave that vexing ques-
ton to the good sense of woman herself If
demanded, the prerogative will not be refused
The next discussion on "aids to pastoral
work" was opened by Rev. H. Ilsley and PAL
tcipated in by both lay and clerical members.
Prompt and uniform attendance at Sabbath
and week day meetings, OF itself, is an inva!ua-
BILE help to pastors work. Christians should
watch for and follow up noticeable impressions
made on the unconverted by preaching. They
should visit and carry on neighborhood meet
ings: They should be tolerant of infirmities, be
sindld In criticism and moderate in demands.
They should pray for their pastor and guard
his reputation from gossip and SANDER. The
last point received an emphasis which the
cruel and causeess abuse of an eminent and
worthy pastor of this neighborhood last sum-
mer rendered timely.
The evening session was model PRAYER
meeting. Rev. Samuel H. Merrill OF Portland
conducted the meeting with tact and ability.
fl1ty or more voices were heard in PRAYER re-
marx or IN the recital OF scripture verses, while
score OF sweetly sounding hymns were sung
without books. The presence of live sexton
attending to proper ventilation, &C., was no.
tlceable on account of It's rarity.
WEDNESDAY MORNING 4
The Conference assembled for business at
A. M. The delegates of tie Plymouth Qate
Central) church of Portland were received and
fraternai words spoken in their behalf, con-
graduating them on the prospects now pre-
sented in their enlarged membership and re-
sources. lll y :
The discussion on Systematic Benevolence
which occupied the forenoon was discursiye
but spirited and suggestive The need of
widely read Congregational weekly was urged
as vehicle of Communication with the church.
es. The remarks of an unfriendly critic of the
Christian Mirror, called out emphatic con-
mendation OF the character and value of this
sheet to all Maine Congree ationaIists. Ap-
precIatlVe acknowledgements were made to
the PRESS and Advertiser for announcino This
Conference.
THE CLOSING EXERCISES
consisted OF an able discourse by Rev. DR..
Adams on Responsiveness as an element of
Christian life and usefulness, followed by the
Lords Supper. The attendance was not large,
but the meeting was one of the most interest NO
and practical in its discussions that has been
lately held, The next meeting will probably
be a. Brunswick.