The Portland daily press., 1873-06-25

| ham.
TheT Congregational Conference OF Maiue
opened Monday evening at Gorham, by SER
| mon by the Rev. j. Ell. Ecob of Augusta, from
| the text ssFor God so loved the world that he
| gava his only begotteu son that whoseever be-
lievetb in him should not PERISH but have
everlasting Iife." The subject of the sermon
was. sInterpret God by his love-" and the dis
tinctive points in the sermon were that doctrines
came from wrong starting point instead of
Gods justice power, sovereignty, sc. Doc
trlnes should start from Gods love. The at
tendance was very large, and the audience were
evidently pleased with the sermon.
OPENING DAY.
Tuesday morning opened bright and cloud
| less with soft sweet air. At 9 o'clock the
Conference met at the church, the audience
completely filling the large edifce. After de-
votional exercises, Col f. E. Shaw and Rev.
j. w. III. Baker were appointed Committee
on Credentials. The constitution and rules of
| the Conference were then read by the scribe,
Dea E. F. Duren Of Bangor.
Rev. Mr.. Sleeper of Presque Isle, and Hon.
| G. B. Barrows of Fryeburg. were appointed
| committee to collect and count ballots for Off
| GERS. The following were elected officers
| Moderator (for three years;) Rev. S. P. Fay
of Bangor; Recording Secretary, Dea. E. F.
Duren of Bangor; Corresponding Secretary,
Rev. E. H. Byington of Brunswick; Treasurer,
Dea. j. S. Wheelright of Bangor; Auditor,
Dea. w. S, bennett.
| Reports of delegates to corresponding bodies
| were then listened to.
| Rev. W. w. Warren then introduced the
Rev. Mr.. Ferris, pastor of the church where
the Conference was being held, who in very
felicitious manner greeted the assembled
brethren.
The Moderator replied in brief pertinent re-
marks, and referred appropriately to the fact
that the church at Gorham was orgauized 123
years ago, and also to the last meeting of the
Conference in it just 45 years ago.
The Conference sermon was preached by
Rev. E. H. Byington of Brunswick, from Acts
p 81 The principle evolved by the sermon
was "The relation which science sustains to re-
ligion." The sermon was an able effort The
devotional exercises were conducted by Rev. j.
j. Abbott of Yarmouth.
AFTERNOON.
The Conference reassembled at o'clock p.
m. A half hour was spent in conference and
prayer. At half past two was sung aye SER
wants Of the Lord" Rev. S p. Fay, the Mod
orator, then resumed the chair.
The subject of ''Church work" was presented
for discussion by Rev. George N Marden of
Pennington. Mr.. NJ. began by asking how the
churches could increase their influence in the
several communities The religious reports of
Massachusetts say that two-thrds of the peo-
pie of that State refrain frum attending church.
We have no better record with us. Our churches
are drifting away from the masses. Ten MEM
bers in every church do all the work, the rest
| attend Sabbath services and consider their weeks
duty finished with that. Some men say let us
quit this grand farce of trying to save the world
by few ministers and all go to work. This is
the true method Two-thirds of christendom
are uncoEverted. AS many souls have been
sung to heaven as have been prayed there. We
are not in danger of over organization. In our
denomination things lie around loose.
Rev. James Cameron of Watervlle, followed
in brief remafks He thought large part of
the work depends upon the pastors. He scout
ed the idea of ministers looking so serious and
sour. The best test of pastor usefulness was
| the degree of pleasure with which the children
greeted his approach. Social life is a large part
of the force of the church.
| This gentleman is a nervous, earnest, pleas
ing speaker.
Rev. H. M. Perkins of Mt Desert, B. M.
Frink of Saco, w. 81. Baker of Brewer, and
Sister Cameron followed in brief remarks The
remarks of Mrs. Cameron were well received
though they were the first ever made by lady
| in a Congregational State Conference. The
lady was generally commended for her brave
innovation upon the established custom of this
denomination. She only said, THAT if the
men had failed to convert the men, as they con-
fessed they had it was time the women took
hold of the NATTER Rev. Mr. Gross of New
| Gloucester, led in prayer.
Rev. DIR. Carruthers of Portland, INTRODUCED
the second topic for discussion by reading an
able essay upon 'The means for kindling and
reviving the spiritual life His idea was that
the power was the Holy Spirit and our use of it
the agency for good. knowledge, is an essen
tal element. Christians Should also read and
mediate deeply on the penitental Psalms.
| The venerable Judge Shepley ON being called
upon then took the platform and made some
vigorous and timely remarks, being especially
| severe upon the demoralizng influence of the
current literature, closing with this pregnant
sentence, which was heartily applauded:-
christians preach about Christianity instead
of about Christ
Rev. DR.. Fisk of Bath, followed, taking his
key note from the Judge He wandered in his
remarks to the Oberlin Council, and criticised
the report on the matter in last years publish
ed minutes of this Conference, quoting the fol-
lowing passage, and denounced it in unmeasur-
| ed terms
Surely those who believe most firmly in the
| Old Calvinsm of the fathers have no desire to
| exclude those who have blunted the five points,
till in their theories they are scarcely points at
all. BY such an excsion, Congregationalism
would soon ''grow small by degrees and beauti-
fully less" till the idea of a National body
would become misnomer. On the other
hand, those who have discovered new light and
| hold to Calvin and Paul as they would have
meant, had they lived till this time, cannot GER
| tanly desire to exclude these who cling to the
/ old IDEAS Such are mostly getting old, and
| will soon have passed on out of the way None
| would deal hardly with them in old age.
| His remarks created an intense excitement
A dozen clergymen sprang at once to their feet.
The venerable DR.. Carruthers among them
Rev. w. H. Fem objected to the discussion.
| 1t is out of order, and we shall get into bad
blood. Rev. w. w. Warren urged that the
Rev. Sylyanus Hayward of South Berwick, be
allowed to reply to the structures of Dr. Fisk,
as he wrote the report referred to. The Moder.
ator declined to assume the responsibility and
left it to the Conference to decide if Mr.. Hay
ward should be allowed to defend himself. A
vote was taken, doubted, taken again, and Mr.
Hayward proceeded with his remarks. He de-
nounced the assertion of DR.. Fisk that he was
not Calvinist. He declared he stood by his
published report as strongly to-day as when he
wrote it. "There are men in this body who
have got good ways beyond Paul and Calvin
in their own opinion" Turning to Mr.. Fisk,
he declared that "some of the men in the min
istry hold the Calvinistic views as strongly as
you and 1 do" [Laughter.]
Mr.. Fisk exclaimed, 81 don't believe it,
| Continued laughter.) The Moderator hastened
to give out hymn, and then called upon Rev.
DIR. Chickering to lead in prayer. The burden
of the prayer was for harmony and unity.
The third topic introduced, was "Christ the
center, hope, and defense of christianity This
was introduced by Prof. Talcott of Bangor