The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-06-23
reported for the Press
Congregational State Conference.

Congregational State Conference.
TUESDAY
The 44th 9nnual meeting at Yarmouth Tues
day morning organized with Hon. Nelson
Dingley, Jr., Moderator, E. F. Duren, Scribe,
and Rev. d. Garland, Recording Secretary.
The fine cool weather and central location con-
tributed to attract large number to this pleas
ant town. After several reports of delegates
to corresponding bodies discussion was OMEN
ed by Rev. j. o. Fiske, ID, D., of Bath. upon
the danger of ignoring the need of divine help
and relying on human agency; followed by w.
Warren, J. Sewall and others. Rev. Prof Her.
rick preached an able discourse upon the text.
"Tbe people had mind to work" Rev. Prof
Barbour then offered a report on the ministry
and its sources of supply and support Rev
w. III. Fem added remarks The evening
session of Tuesday was devoted to mission
work. Rev. DR.. William Barrows presented
the work of the Congregational Publishing
society, Boston, especially in its bearings to
Inc work OF this, the Jubilee year of the de-
nomination. DR.. B. is an able advocate. and
the society is feeling the benefit of his extend
ed influence. The business department under
the supervision of Mr.. M. H. Sargent, 10 Corn
hiil' is in state of gratifying prosperity, and
the publications issued theretron are steadily
increasing in value and timeliness.
Rev. w. Warren then briefly introduced the
topic of Foreign Missions, this being the list
audience he had addressed the past eight weeks.
Messrs. Allen and Snow, returned missiona-
rles, reviewed their respective fields in eastern
Turkey and Micronesia. The latter narrated
particulars of the loss of the Morning Star; of
the baleful influence of American and English
sailors ard the self sacrifice of native converts.
The latter were passionately fond of tobacco,
but in his church of 200 not more than six now
yield to this form of self pollution. Shall not
chewing and smoking Christians here as cheer
fully sacrifice their indulgence in this vicious
appetite? Loud applause by the audience ans
wered this appeal.
At 3 O'Clock Wednesday morning Rev. S. III.
Merrill of Portland led an hours prayer meet
ing. At $50 business resumed Treasurer
Wheelwright reported $51s receipts, and $40
balance in the conference treasury. A recon-
mendation of Nation Cou aci and another on
the Bible Society were presented and referred.
DR.. Carruthers gave an interesting account o.
his reception by the Presby teriaus at Philadel
pha.
THE MAINE MISSIONARY SOCIETY
held its 63d anniversary at 9 30 a. m. Rev. DR..
George E. Adams conducted the devotional
services. Rev. j. X. Mason preached from the
words, eff thou hast 1un with the footman,''
&C., showing the need OF a religion of princi-
pie, elastic and vital, adapted to all times. He
characterized the moodiness and caprice of
worldly Chris tians, the constitutional fatigue
of of tho fio 1oa1 M ofh md,
more intelligent, heroic and steadfast life.
particularly in view of the inroads of infideli-
| ty, intemperance and vice. The discourse was
full of thought and delivered in quiet, unm-
| FASHIONED style, hardly in keeping with the en-
| ergy of thought i. embodied. Treasurer Max
wells report announced $3.50 now in treasury
and $24,223 total receipts. A vote of thanks
was passed for his gratuitOus services, for which
three TO five hundred dollars have been paid to
| others in some former years. Rev. DR.. Thurs
| ton reported in behalf of the Trustees that SO
missionaries have worked among 95 churches
55 years of aggregate labor; 2OS conversions
and two new churches formed, one at Green
| vile, Moosehead Lake, over which the artist
| Cameron is now placed, leaving his profession
| as a Scotch painter, with an income of $4,000 a
| year, and taking bare support among the vii.
layers as a preacher. He is descendant Of
John Cameron, the cOvenanter and after the
report was finished gave an address of great in.
terest, showing the good accomplished, espec.
tally in the observance of the Sabbath during
the season of summer travel to this delightful
lake.
lev. Dr. Thurston presented for sale to thu
assembly two silver salt cellars, perhaps 20
| years old, given by poor widow for the benefi
of the society. Rev. e. P. TIL wing offered So
| and took them
A number of spirited speeches followed
Various countries and nationalities were rep
resented. An impromptu collection for thu
church building at Sherman was taken by
Rev. Horace James. A colored man from
Washington and German made admirable
speeches, also Missionary Snow and others.
Tue following officers were then elected: Rev
DR.. Harris of Bowdoin College, President
Rev. DR.. Fish, Vice President; DIR. Thurstor
oeUrot"ry; Joshua Maxwell, Treasurer.
The preacher for the -nAxt- meatng is Rev
Albert Cole, and the place Bath. The anniver
sary services were of unusual interest, and tn
generous offerings that accompanied the word
OF encouragement were highly gratifying t
its many friends and patrons
In the afternoon the report OF the commtte
on the Bangor Seminary was read, and tn
claim of the Maine Congregational Chartabl
s. ciety was presented by the Rev. Uriah Balk
am of Lewiston, and the Rev. Edward F. Cut
ter of RockIand.
At the Central Church meeting was hell
in behalf of the Womans Board of Missions
for ladies exclusively. Addresses were mad
by the President, Mrs. Bowkor, of Boston, ant
by Mrs B. G. Snow and Mrs. o. P. Allen, tn,
wives of the missionaries who spoke last even
ing.