The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-06-17
reported for the Pressl
Maine BAPTIST Anniversaries.

EAST WINTHROP, June 10.
The semi-centennial of the Maine Baptist
Missionary Society, which is held in this beau
tiful village this week, was introduced last
evening by services appropriate to the installa-
ton of Rev. w. 7. Whitmarsh, the recently
settled pastor of the church in this place.
The services last evening were of the most in
teresting and impressive character. The order
of exercises was as follOws
Voluntary by the Choir.
Invocation and Reading Of the Scriptures by Rev.
w. o. Thomas of Gardiner.
Prayer of Recognition and Installation by Rev. A.
r. Crane of HallOwel
Hand OF Fellowship by Rev. A. v. Tilton Of Au-
gusta.
Charge to the Pastor by w. II. Smaller, D. D., of
Portland.
Charge to the Church by j. Kicker, D. D., of Au-
gusta.
Address by Rev. G. Allen of the Meth. Episcopal
Church, Winthrop
Prayer BY Rev. 3. F; Shaw of waterville.
Benediction by the Pastor.
The various addresses were able and elo-
quent presentations of the practical duties of
pastor and people in the intricate and mani
fold relations they sustain to each other, and
were interspersed with frequent music by an
excellent choir.
Rev. Mr. Whitmarsh is native of England,
of high education and large culture, and enters
upon his first American pastorate under cir
cumstances of unusual promise
This morning at nine o'clock numerously
attended prayer meeting was held prior to the
opening of the formal work by the convention.
1t was session of unusual interest and gives
promise of a convention session long to be re-
membered.
At ten O clock the convention was called to
order and the annual report of the board was
submitted by Rev. DIR. Kicker, the Correspond
ing Secretary.
The report briefly refers to the contrast be-
tween the position and operations of the Socie-
ty fifty years ago and at the present time; al
ludes to the long steps in advance which have
been taken in all movements for the elevation
of the race, and glaIces at the mighty changes
which have TRANSFERRED in the half century.
But amidst it all, the true foundation abides.
The tide of change, almost of revolution, has
been seething and surging around it for how
long! but to no purpose save to show how firm
and enduring it is. Like Him who fash oned
it, it is ''The same yesterday, to-day and for
ever" A glowing tribute is paid to the men,
DRY of the Baptist fathers in the Stakeholder,
Case and Trip and their co-laborers and COM
peers who nobly stood for the truth and nobly
have fallen in its defence. But it is in the
prospect, not the retrospect that our chief in
terest is to center. Supply creates demand and
if in the past a supply has been created and
enlarged the demand for work worthily prose-
cuted has also grown upon our hands,, The re-
port then explains in detail the operations of
the year. The total expenditures of the board
for the year in aid of weak churches in the
State and in the full prosecution of its opera
tons is $S,270.91, distributed among 30 churches
and so pastors and missionaries. The results
of this expenditure and effort are given in ref
erence to each of the churches visited and in
nearly all are of the most encouraging charac-
ter.
The number..of the clergy and laymen pres
ent is unusually large and an interest rising al
most to enthusiasm is already developed. The
hearts and homes of the citizens of this beauti-
full town are wide open in generous hospitali-
ty, which promises to be taxed to its utmost.