The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-08-13
RECEIPTS.


Rev. Mr.. Hayden from the committee ON Mis-
sionary work, read the report, from which it ap-
pears, that in December, Rev. Mr. Stearus of
Illinois, was engaged as a missionary with a
guaranteed salary of $1,000 and located at Sac
carappa. He had visited Bridgton, Mt. Vernon,
Gardiner, Augusta, and his labors were eminent
ly successful. He afterwards removed to Rich
mond where society has sprung up. No col
porteur had as yet been employed, but the need
OF one was evident. Both of these reports were
referred to a committee at large, composed of
w. ID. Sewal, Bath; II. b. Hoskins, Gardiner;
l. S. Whitman, Bangor; j. P. Baxter ana Oliver
Gerrsh, Portland. Rev. Mr.. Stearns reported
that he had received $63675 and expended $645.-
IS. motion to change the constitution was
laid upon the table until tomorrow. A question
from Mr.. Pingree, asking if ministers of other
denominations were excluded from Swcdenbor-
gan pulplts, provoked some discussion. The
chairman said there was no written rule eXcud-
ing them but usage had usually done so. Mr.
Sewall thought the New Church should not be
an exclusive one: he thought salvation was for
all, and that other ministers and persons of other
denominations should be. admitted. Mr.. Ger
IRISH said he had thought much upon this ques-
ton. If he believed in Mr.. SewalPs views, he
should see no use of the establishment of New
Church. He said he didn't sympathze with
those men who believe the New Church doctrine
but preached them in the Old Churches because
they thought tteir influence would be greater.
He said he had always opposed the Introduction
of ministers of the Old Church into the New.
In regard TO social intercourse, we are not to set
ourselves up and tell others that we are better
than they. In social society he would not set
himself apart from his neighbors.
Mr. Sewall begged leave to remind Mr. Gerrish
that the facts he had elciied 10 argue in favor of
dstinctiveness, he thought were not sufficiently
proved. He said it was a amentable fact that as
soon as we get a society organized, that society
begins to die. There are exceptions as the one
in this city; but most of them rs soon as chris
tened have become infirm and decrcpit
Rev. Mr.. Hayden then said that societies who
had no distinctiveness, that didn't know whether
they were old church or new church were the
ones which declined. Those which came out
squarely were the ones which thrived, and lie
thought that the great reason Swedenborgian
declined, was because they were not distinctive
enough. He thought men who believed the New
Church doctrines did not perform their duty ia
God and truth if they remained in the Old
Church The New Church was not sect but 9
new dspensation.
Mr.. Gerrish asked, if we believe the New
Church doctrine ought we to invite those who
did not believe our doctrine, who did not beliey,
| in the divine nature of our God, who rank hin
with Moses and Elias, or are idolaters belieyin.
| in tri-personal God.
| After further discussion of this subject, the
meeting adjourned till afternoon.
The afternoon, until o'clock, was occupie,
| in listening to the reports of the various soce
ties in this State and New Hampshire.
At 4 o'clock discourse was preached b
Rev. G.. +. Stearns, Of richmond, Me-, fror
Matt. 7I6; "Ye shall know them by thei
fruits" SC. The plan of the discourse was tn
proof that man is spiritual being.
| In the evening Rev. Mr.. Bernardo, of Pitts
burg, Pa, preached from John 1:1.5