The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1873-01-16
Cumberland Conference.
ruEanAy AFTFRNO0N

After half hour prayer meeting, Rev. G. B
Richardson read paper on the relation o
strong and feeble churches, showing that i
should be one of mutual acquaintance, sympa
thy aud generous cooperation. Copious illus
traIions were introduced from methods among
Massachusetts, churches and county organic
| alton advised.
DR.. Warren made motion, which was car
ried, that a committee be appointed to confer
| with the State society and report at the june
conference Pastors Toothaker, llsley, Har-
low, Bartlett and Wiswell followed. Dr. Thurs
ton did not favor county organizations ne re-
called weak churches. Ress. Kinks, Richard
son and w. E. Gould, Esq, were appointed a
| committee
Rev. John C. Adams read paper on the Re-
lation of the Chureh and Sabbath School. 1t is
| one of oversight and mutual help. The pastor
| should keep out of it, if he has two sermons and
| prayer meeting. Revs. Bowler, Bartlett, Har-
| low and Leavitt, added remark on the lack of
| knowledge of the Bible and teaching; the need
| of home piety and the responsibility of parents
Adjourned after prayer by DR.. Balkan.
EVENING.
Rev. A. Blanchard, of Cumberland Mills
preached on the y seension of Christ as related
to our views of his character, position, work of
our future destiny. An able suggestive dis
course.
The exercises closed with an address of great
interest, by Rev. Josiah Tyler, of the Zulu Mis-
SION, who painted the social life there and the
marvellous change wrought by the gospel.
WEDNESDAY
The conference assembled at am, and after
devotional exercises, the following questions
were discussed ',How shall The 5 a aggressive res
! matte effort" Rev. Mr.. South worth, of the
| Bethel chapel, opened the first topic and OBJ
| served in the outset that he feared there was
I.x4I1 1T, IL
ceeded to the discussion of the subject proper,
and remarked that the world is an enemy to
Jesus and that Christians must endeavor, by
personal contact, to bring. the unconverted to
Christ. He then spoke of the a. gresSive mis-
sionary work and stated that the Sailors libra
ry had done much for the benefit of its readers.
In this connection he observed that a sea cap
tain told him few Gays since that the library
had done an enormous amount of good and one
Incorporate sailor had been converted by read
ing certain work Mr.. Southworth believed
that the aggressive work is the question of
questions.
Rev. Mr.. Boulder next followed He differ.
ed somewhat from the gentleman who preceded
him, as to addressing people personally upon
tact and delicacy, 1t is pleasanter to address
the masses from the pulpit, and in the prayer
meeting. He observed that an illiterate mem
Der OF his parish who was full of Christ, started
religious exercises in village and great good
resulted from his efforts
Rev. DR.. Balkan of Lewiston, took part in
the discussion He did not believe with brother
Southworth that this aggressive work was the |
question of questions The world, in his opin-
ion, is getting the better of the church, and he
thought that we should go back to apostasy
unless there was some special power i'm parted |
1t is not greater spreading of teaching or
church expansion that we need, but self conse-
Grafton, and it is best to wait for fresh and
peculiar visitation of the spirit
Rev, Il. Y. Hincks was of an entirely differ |
ent opinion from DR. Balkan. He thought
that the cause of religion languished from the |
thought it would be well for the churches of |
Maine to remodel their theories After some |
further discussion the next topic was taken up,
viz, Systematic Effort" Rev. DR.. Bowler |
opened the subject and thought it was a part
OF Christian actsvity to give. Rev. DR.. Car |
ruthers spoke of the custom of Scotch tithes. |
Rev Mr. Fay of Bangor, Rev. E. P. Thwing, |
Mr.. Thurston and others participated.