Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-09-22
Town Conventions i'm Maine.

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| Town Conventions i'm Maine.
kennebec is the banner county of Maine in
Sunday school work. Nearly all its towns
are organized into town conventions holding
their sessions from one to four times year,
and have done great work in quickening a
wider and deeper interest in all Sunday school
labor. 1t has been our privilege to attend FIVE
of these conventions, and to see something of
the work they are doing. The first was at the
Baptist Church. in Monmouth (Aug. l9th).
A country parish of intelligent Christians,
old school in theology and puritan in their
morals. The school OF this church, though
Baptist, is superintended by Congregational
| list, Mr.. IL. .. Pierce, who also has charge OF
one or TWO mission schools, and seems to be
one of those men who by nature. culture and
grace are fitted for such work one proof
being that the congregation all remain in the
school.
| The next convention (Au9. 20th) was at
the Methodist Church, in Readfeld, decid-
| edly missionary ground, and IN the hands of
an earnest and Intelligent band ofmen and
women, who know how to do their work and
are determined it shall be done As a result,
the Sunday school outnumbers the church
| congregation. This school is living illustra-
ton OF the power OF the Sunday school to
reach and bless the people.
| Friday. the 2lst, a convention was held at
the Baptist Church. in Mt. Vernon. This
was rather mass-meet.ng, Tor the people
! from all the region round came out and filed
the church with eager hearers. The church
| is blessed with a pastor, Rev. w. II. Clark,
who knows how to DO it-talented, discreet,
devoted, earnest. genial, and with unusual
executive power, he has marshalled the
htisti an forces Of the community as few men
can. Give each of our County and village
churches such pastor, and our home mis-.
sionary societies would have little to do, and
feeble churches would be les. Why cannot
more Of our young ministers wake mp from
mere book worms and essay writer's and con.
vince the whole community they love them
and are seeking their good. II our Baptist
/ brethren are wise, they will give Bro Clark
/ place better suited 10 his talents, and where
he can do more for the cause. The writer has
! no personal acquaintance with this brother,
/ but from admiration Of what he saw and heard
from those of other denominations. The
! convention was success. The village band
/ added much to the pleasure Of the basket pic
ME, at noon, and the evening session.
Tuesday. 10th, convention was held at
the town-house in Pittston, and nowhere W ere
the good results of such conventions more
!
which has been in the town for the last i've
years, and the advanced ideas and broader
conceptions Of the work which the teachers
present had, was grand testimony to the ed.
ucaiing power Of such meetings. Though all
the schools connected with the meeting are
small. yet they are up to the times In their
ways and means.
The last convention was held Aug. 26th, in
the Baptist Church, at Windsor. This
also delightful gathering, increasing in spir-
itual power from the first hour to the last.
One attending these gatherings could but
praise God for the work which is being done
tor the youth of our land, and that there is
more hope than ever of an Intelligent Chris
tianity.
These meetings were mainly under the di-
rection Of A. Baker, Sunday-school Commits.
sioner of kenne bee County. Addresses were
made in each upon the conversion of children,
and upon poor and good teachers by Rev S
! Baker, of Lowell, Mass. In connection with
each a basket picnic was held which added
much to the enjoyableness OF the gatherings.
( SILL another large and enthusiastic meet
ing was held on the 22d in the grove, at Lambs
! Corner in Winslow, at which time tn, re was
a general turn out OF the friends Of the cause.
Rev. John Dinsmore presided and interest
ing addresses were made by the Pfesle Mt and
! the venerable DIR. Adams, OF Wa,ervilie, and
| Rev. Messrs. Crumlin and Nichols The
schools in this vicinity hold four conventions
a year, and have found them great help and
blessing. s. b.