The Portland daily press., 1873-06-26
Congregational State Conference ut
GOrham.
SECOND DAY,

in the church. The meeting was presided over
by Rev. lothian Sewall of Chicago. Reports of
revivals in Elliot, Brunswick, Searsport and
other places were given. This meeting contin-
ued by common consent until 81, when the bus
mess meeting of the conference opened with
the moderator in the chair. Rev. DIR. Fisk OF
Bath, offered the following resolution
That the conference has learned with sur
| prise and regret that a passage in report on
| the national council, adopted by tue conference
| last year, has been misunderstood as rehectihg
| unfavorably on the theology OF the BLDG
DIR. Fisk said we need the truth. L have no
dasire to create an unpleasant CONTROVERSY, l
listened to the explanations of brother Hay-
ward yesterday, with infinite pleasure, when he
| stated that he intended no sneering at the BIZ
BILE. L am only man of average intellect, and
thought there were slurs in it. (meaning the
report) L don't believe the majority of our
church members are drifting away from the
Bible. Rev. DR.. Warren of Gorham, seconded
the resolution in few remarks, disclaiming
| any desire to enter into discussion on the mat
ter. Rev. j. M. Baker of Brewer, thought the
resolution should be more specific. Rev. Mr..
Ives of Castine, hoped it would be laid upon
| the table, The resolution was carried. A brief
time was spent in listening to reports from del
egates to other bodies. Adjourned until 2
o'clock p. m
| MAINE MISSIONARY SOCIETY.
At 9 o'clock the Maine Missionary Society
held its sixty-sixth annual meeting, with the
president, Rev. DR.. Fisk, in the chair. The
sermon was by Rev. John Fl. Quincy of Fox
croft, from Luke 9:29. His subject was "Com-
munion with God"
The treasurer's report was read by Hon, j. S.
| Wheelwrght of Bangor. The following is an
| abstract of it:
Total receipts from all, 81, 627; expenditures,
$17,317; deficiencies for the year. $500; lega-
c;es received the past year, $1,000. A vote of
thanks was rendered by the society to the
treasurer, Joshua Maxwell, ESQ.,, for his gratuit-
GUS services for the past seven years.
Rev. DR.. Thurston, secretary of the society,
presented his annual report No death has &C.
CURED during the past year, among the 40
persons connected with the society.
The following is brief summary of the do
ings of the society.
Number of missionaries employed $50 They
have preached to ten thousand people. Nearly
fifty students of seminaries are now at work in
| this State under this society. The receipts
have fallen of. nearly $1,000 the past year. We
have $4,000 on hand, and orders are already
| drawn on the treasurer for S5000 The society
was organized in 1907. The first year the IN
| come was $12221, and only one missionary
| was employed, The past nine years the aver
age receipts have been $4,000. Every church
in the State has been reached except forty-fve
| The society now assists one hundred feeble
| churches.
Hon. j. S, Wheelwright stated that the con-
tributions averaged $40 to every church.
| Hon. Nelson Dingley, Jr., being called upon
made able and eloquent remarks, placing the
work of this society as a necessary element
in the upbuilding of the State and general ele-
walton of our people. He was heartily applaud
ed.
Bev. lothian Sewell of Chicago, gave some
interesting "reminiscences of the early history
of the Society.
Rev. DR.. Chickering of Washington, D. c.,
added his tribute to the value of the Society's
/ labors, referring especially to his former mis-
| sionary labor at Hillside, Mass.
Rev. w. T. Sleeper of Fort Fairfield, gave
| some practical details of missionary operations
| in Aroostook county, and requested donations
for new church In fifteen minutes he raised
1865 by pledges from various churches The
Gorh am church had a $500 organ in their yes
try. Col. Frederick Robbie of Gorham, very
| generously offered 10 present the Gorham
church with 800 if they would don ate that
organ to the new church at Fort Fairfield
Catching the spirit of enthusiastic generosity
that then prevailed they agreed to the condi-
tions. Rev. s. P. Fay, Hon. j. S. Wheel
wright and others advocated the claims of the
| Society A collectian was then taken up for
the benefit of the Society amounting to 800.
After singing Hail to the Chief,'' the meeting
| adjourned.
| AFTERNOON.
At two CLOCK the church was crowded to
overlooking. The first half hour was devoted
to laymen's prayer meeting led by Mr.. w. E.
Gould of Portland. This was a spirited and
deeply interesting meeting. At 2.3O the claims
| of the following Benevolent Societies were
then presented. Bowdoin College was repre-
scented by Joshua L. Chamberlain, L. L. d.
| and Prof. Packard. Gen. Chamberlain was too
unwell to speak at length. He gave succinct
history of the formation of the Institution.
The religious character of the College was not
stamped upon it by its charter. Circumstances
brought it under the control of the Congrega-
tionalists. He referred to the wish of
some that the College should be disestablished.
There should be harmony among its friends.
There should be no question about its rank
among other colleges. He was severe upon
those who while protesting friendship for it,
went about whispering doubts. There is moth
ing manly or Christian about such course. Six
| IF no n 1ar oil of the BOARD
of Overseers, and four-ffths of the faculty are
members of our denomination. Prof Packard
eulogized the present condition of the College,
her library, cabinet of minerals and her facul-
| ty. The address of both of these gentlemen
were cordially received. Rev. f. Soushwerth
of Portland, briefly presented the claims of the
seamen. Rev. G. Gushing of Boston, advo-
| Gated the claims of the American Congrega-
tional Union. Rev. j. F. Cogswel of Strong,
urged the interests of the American Peace So
cety. Rev. G. L. Woodwork, presented the
| claims of the American Missionary Society.
Rev. w II. Gilbert, advocated the interests of
the American Bible Society. Rev. F. B.
Perkins, laid before the Conference the needs
of the American Tract Society of New York.
Rev. DR.. Chickering of Washington, d. c.;
made touching appeal in behalf of the Amer
lean Temperance Society. The claims of the
Educational Society were presented. The
Treasurer's report was rendered by j. b.
Sewall During the past year 1861 have
been received: $1,355.31 paid out. Sixteen
churches have contributed.
AT THE METHODIST CHURCH
An interesting address was delivered by Mr..
W. E. Gould of Portland. The society then
adjourned.
Prof. Tourjee of Boston, was introduced and
gave one of his original and enthusiastic
speeches on the true nature and paramount i'm
poItance of church music, after which the meet
ing adjourned till evening
A childrens meeting was held in the after
noon in the Methodist church. The church
was crowded. The singing was all done by the
children. Hon. S. P. Benson presided Re-
marks were made by the following: Revs d.
B. Sewell of Fryeburg, A. Blanchard of Cum
berland Mills, II. H. Burgess of Portland, Mr..
Rancher of Eastport, G. N. Marden of Farm
ipgton, and Mr.. Anderson of Bangor. The
meeting was of highly interesting character.
| Our space forbds us to more than mention it.