The Portland daily press., 1870-09-21
Maine Stale Conferences.

The largest and most successful catherine
ever had by this body took place this week at
Saco. The churches tn ough the State were
well represented, and the discussion, were
earnes, and effective. The exercises began
with sermon on Wednesday evening. bv Rev
U. Z. Vinal, OF Kepnebuuk, which was very
comprehensive and well fitted as an iptroduc-
ton. Rev. Mr.. Elder, of Houlron. conducted
the devotional services.
The proceedings of Thursday were opened by
the Communion conducted by Rev. DR.. Pal.
frey, which began at IL o'clock, A. NJ, and
continued for an hour. After brief interval
the Conference was called to order bv the
President, Mr.. +. M. Sabine, OF Bangor, who,
IN 2 orlef and hitting speech, bid the members
welcome. Rev. Mr.. Nichols, out OF his heart,
added few words which touched every hear
er. Rev. Z. q. Vinal was then chosen Re
cording Secretary pro TEN. A committee on
nomnation was elected. The Treasurer re-
ported t5at the amount received and expended
dnrins the year was 81 ,057.
The efficlent Secretary, Rev. DIR. Wheeler
next made an-Axceedingly interesting and
practiSal report ffoS tlis we learned that
missionary work. From twenty to twe..y va y,
new places had been occupied, in many se
which there was the promise of permanent So
ceties at some future time. Considerable mis-
sonary work had been done by the Students of
the Divinity School during vacation Five
ing the year. In several cases the Secretary
had been aided in his missionary work by the
preaching of laymen. This had grown to snch
an extent that the Secretary recommended the
appointment of Committee of Ways aud
Means, who should consider the best methods
TO meet the new wants arising from these en-
larged missionary operations.
The report throughout, though highly fa-
vorable, was carefully guarded in its state
ments, and doubtless much OF the success in
This State 10 The inAustrv xy;ed IL,
and zeal of the Secretary. He is emphatlcally
the right man in the right place.
Rev: DIR. Palfrey followed by reading very
carefu1y prepared paper on the Communion.
The remainder Of the day was spent chiefly
~ lne discussion oil the subject opened by the
essay, IN which the whole ground was covered.
The objections OF the Radicals were urged
WIN iorce and earnestness, but with q rever-
tnt spirit. The entire tone of the debate was
hberaiiand We have rarely heard days dis
cusslon better sustained, as whole than this.
Rev. DIR. Sheldon, Rev. Messrs. Vinal. Elder
Bailey, Savary, Lowe, (Sec. A U. A. Nichols,
| 5. w. Bush and others participated.
AT noon the members of the Convention and
the heads of families of the Saco parish partosk k
of collation. at the chapel The following ofii'
| GERS were elected for the year:
L. Nj. Sabine, President; Sames White vice
| President; Rev. A. ID. Wheeler, d. d., Secre-
| tary; Rev. G. G. ViDal, Recording Secretary;
| Mark Z. Emery, Treasurer; Rev B II. Baiey,
| r. G. Hersey and Rev. d. n Sheldon ExFcu-
| tive Committee; Rev. Q. Palfrey, u; d, Sam
| Committees Rev. A ID. Wheeler, ID. D., L.
| Sabine, A. e. Stevens, Committee Of Ways
aud Means
Rev James DeNormandie, of Portsmouth.
preached on Thursday evening, report OF
which, together with the session of Friday,
has not reached US, and will therefore be given
rext week. Every way the Conference was a
success. Christian Register.