The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-06-18
Reported for the Press.]
Maine Baptist Anniversaries.
EAST WINTHRGP, June IL, Il

4
The opening exercises of the Baptist Ami
report of yesterday, the congratulatory OPEN
ing address of the President, j. c. White, esq.,,
of Bangor, and the address of welcome on be-
half of the church and people Of Winthrop,
| were eloquent and earnest expressions of feel
| ing and sentiment.
A recommendation of the board that the an
nual meeting of the convention be held in Sep
TENDER or October instead of June was referred
| to special committee consisting of Rev.
| Messrs. Burrage, Brown and Crane.
| A resolution presented by Rev. Z. G. Lyon,
| looking to thank offering of one dollar from
| each member ofathe denomination in he state
| for the promotion of the work of the conven-
| ton was laid on the table.
rev. Dr PorIard or MASS, addressed the CON
| vention in the interest of the Baptist Publca-
| tionsSociety with special reference to its work
| among the freedmen of the south.
A resolution presented by Rev. Dr. N. But
Ter "that in this convention and in its minutes
no honorary title shall be given to any pastor
| or minister belonging to the convention was
adopted by large majority. [Your reporter
will not feel bound to conform to this resolu-
| toni
The usual committees were appointed by the
President, and the morning session adjourned.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The convention re-assembled at 2 o'clock.
The Treasurer Prof. j. B. Foster submitted
his annual report This report shows the re
ceipts for the year as $S57257, and the expendi-
lures $8335.21. Present cash in the treasury
| $56S.71.
A general discussion of the work of the socie-
| ty ensued.
Rev. S. L. B. Chase of Rockland, read from
the minutes of the society for 1924, showing the
total receipts of that year as $375.4O, and the
total missionary appropriations for the quarter
ending Sept 80, 1924, were but $64, while the
present quarterly appropriations amount to
over $4,000. From this and similar contrasts,
the speaker drew the most fattering promises
of future progress.
Rev. Dr. Kicker spoke of the great law of
growth by which every new development lays
| the foundation for new and additional adyan-
| ces; and sought to enforce the application of
this law to the progress of the Baptist denomi-
nations in the state
| Rex. M. H. BiXby, a returned missionary
from Burmah, now pastor in Providence, r
l., spoke of the close INTERPOLATION of home and
| foreign mission work,
| Rev. S. P. Merrill of Watervle, made an
| earnest and telling appeal in behalf of the
| feeble churches of the state.
Rev. e. Nugent of Presque Isle, spoke of
| the work in the ArOOsto0k region.
| President Robins of Colby University, spoke
| of the unity of all departments of Christian eff
fort, and of the one indwelling spirit of Christ
as the inspiration of all such effort.
Addresses were also made by Rev. Messrs.
Mayo, Matthews, Conrad of H., and Emery.
AT this point business was suspended, and the
annual convention sermon was delivered by
| Rev. G. b. lllsley of Yarmouth; text.1 Cor.
l: rs. The discourse was an earnest and power
| full presentation of the doctrine of the cross.
In introduction the preacher briefly sketched
the circumstances and the occasion which led
| the Apostle to the declaration of the text. In
! these words he desired to hold up the Gospel in
its strongest light. He would have his readers
remember that man is a lost sinner, and that
his greatest need is salvation; and just this is
the doctrine of the cross; that while it carries
the fact of mans sin and danger, it also holds
up the glorious way of pardon and salvation.
The preacher then passed to consider the es-
| timaue which the natural heart puts upon this
dOctr. ne. To those who are not saved through
its powers it is ''foolshness," without form or
comeliness or beauty. The sinner looks upon
Chrsrs method of salvation as folly. 1t real
ly is Gods wisdom, but the prejudice and I'M
belief of the natural heart cause it to appear
| just the opposite of what it really is
Coming now to the view which the renewed
power of God" 1t is his effectual method of
salvation. There is in all of nature, all of
| science, nothing which can compare with the
grandeur OF that scheme. which has Christ on
the cross as its CENTER and the salvation of lost
souls for it's object
A laree audience listened with intense inter-
est to the close OF this eloquent discourse,
Inc committee on nominations submitted
| their report, and upon ballot the following
officers were elected for the ensuing wear: Pres
| ident, j. 9. White, Bangor; Vice President
| Rev. A. r. Crane, Halloweil; CORRESPONDENT
| Secretary, Rev. j. Kicker Augusta: RecordinS
| Secretary, Rev. S. L.. B. Chase, Rockland:
| Treasurer. Prof j. B. Foster; Auditor, Rev. "a
| E. Robins, both of Waterville, A board of
| some forty trustees for the management of the
| affairs OF the convention during the year was
also elected.
| EVENING SESSION.
The convention reconvened at II o'clock
| The Committee on the State of Religion re-
| ported. From partial reports from ten of thir-
| teen Associations report 438 baptisms. This
| record includes only small part of the Access
slons which have been made to the churches in
| the state
| The convention then listened to the Histori-
cal Sermon by Rev. w. III. Smaller, D. D., of
Portland, of which an abstract will be forward
| ed for your columns tomorrow.
| OF the effect of this eloquent and able pro-
duction upon the vast audience no words can
| give adequate idea. As the concluding SEN
| tence seI from the speakers lips scene OF en-
thusiasm was witnessed rarely seen in relig-
| ious assembly.
| AT the conclusion Of the discourse the con-
course joined in singing a semi-centennial hymn