The Portland daily press., 1874-06-19
sG Reported for the Press.l
The Baptist Semi Centennial.

Reported for the Press.]
The Baptist Semi Centennial.
Abstract of the Historical sermon deliver
ed by VIM. III. Shailer d. D., at the Semi
Centennial Anniversary of the Maine Baptist
Missionary Convention at East Winthrop
June 16, 1874.
The preacher remarked in opening that in
the preparation of historical discourse com
prising review of fiftv years the difficulty is
often greater to determine which facts and in
cidents shall be presented than which shall
not. This difficulty he had experienced at
every step of the work Of preparation.
lsERMoN.
Text, Lev. 25: 10; eye shall hallow the
fiftieth year." These words are part CT the
civil law of the Jews. We do not ae
knowledge them as obligatory upon us, yet
we observe fitness in regarding the different.
points by which the divisions of time are no
ted. They are to us like waymarks on the
journey of life at some of which we may ap-
prOpriately pause and carefully consider the
way in which the Lord our God has led us.
Lessons of wisdom may thus be deduced
which shall serve to correct our errors, to en-
courage our hearts, ,enliven our zeal strengthen
our faith, give fresh vigor to our hopes and
new warmth to our emotions OF gratitude
Said Young:
And ask them what report they bore to heaven;
And how they might have borne more welcome y
news"
In this way we may ''hallow the fiftieth
year."
The plan of the discourse was announced
as to speak of the origin of the Convention,
notice the leading events OF its history of fif-
ty years and make some general remarks IL
Illustrative of the position and outlook of the
Baptists at the beginning of the period as
compared with their position and outlook at
the present time.
1. The origin of the 'Maine Baptist Con-
vention." At the meeting of the Cumberland
Association held in Bridgton, October I'd and
3d, 1922, the initiatory steps were taken in the
appointment of Committee to consider the
expediency of State Association. Rev. S.
Chaplin of N. Yarmouth was chairman of
this committee which reported the following
year at the meeting of the Association held at
Brunswick and as result of their labors
and of the subsequent action of the ap-
pointing body the first session Of
this Convention was held at Winthrop
June 23, 1924. Delegates were present at
the organization from York, Cumberland,
Bowdoinham and Lincoln Associations. A
Constitution and ''Statement of the objects
of the Convention" were adopted. Among
the latter were ''to promote more general
acquaintance among the churches" ''tO
afford more effectual assistance to feeble
churches and to syrathize with aged or
infirm ministers" ito better assist those
entering the ministry" ''to promote domes-
tic and foreign missions" and to concentrate
the wisdom aud efforts of the churches for
the general interests of Zion in the state"
1t was emphatically declared not the inten-
ton to create an ecclesiastical tribunal or to
infringe in any measure on the independence
of the churches. Such briefly stated were
the facts pertaining to the origin of TIE Con-
venrion. 1t was an advance movement
planned wisely and with discriminating fore
thought for the future interests of the de-
nomination in the state. At this time there
were in the state 179 Baptist churches, 105
ministers, and 9971 communicates. The
Maine Baptist Missionary Society chartered in
1928 was in existence spending few hum
dred dollars per year in the employment of
different men TOR few weeks each to labor
in different localities. The Institution at
Waterville was also in operation, having been
started as theological school in 1919 and
obtained a college charter in 1920. 1t was
without endowment and its classes were
small but it was an encouraging commence
ment of something which was to 5e,and COM
manded the warmest interest and effort
of the Baptists of the state. The
historian who analyzes carefully and
pbilosophicaIly will find in the SYM
pathies thus concentrated in the college at
Waterville, and in the desire for general Con
vention which should bring the ministers into
closer acquaintance and sympathy and have
regard to all the churches and waste places
the most encouraging features OF the Bap-
lists of Maine fifty years ago,
Prominent events in the history of the
Convention. as matter Inconvenience
will be grouped into decades. From 1924 to
'34,we find marked advance in all our inter-
ests. The organization of the Convention
was generally endorsed by the churches, new
yigor and hope inspired the leaders, the mis-
siGnary spirit gained strength rapidly, provis-
ion was made for a more systematic supply OF
the feeble churches with preaching and also
for carrying the gospel to the regions beyond,
and throughout the state there was more
intelligent and concerted activity than ever
before. 1t was in this decade that the Ia
mented Boardman, the first Baptist missiona-
| nv from Maine, commenced and completed
not only his missionary labors but all his la
b9rs, and entered into rest. From the events
connected with him, his life and death, a new
impulse was given to the enlarged benevo-
lence manifested during this period.
Another event was the establishment in
1928 of weekly religious paper which should
be faithful exponent of Baptist principles
and chronicler o! such intelligence as per
tanned to the interest of our churches. This
| paper was under the charge of Rev. Adam
| wilson, sheet of small size, modest in APP
| pearance but sound in the doctrines it advo'
Gated and adapted in good degree to the
| wants of the denomination at that time, il
| did good work in harmonizing the view
| and guiding the polty of the churches. Th
was the origin of the Zion's Adrocdte, tn,
| publication of which still continues.
1t early became apparent that the chiefes
| work of the Convention was substantially tn
same as that of the Maine Baptist Missionar
Society, an organization of much earlier dats
and as early as 1928 the propriety of unio
of operations was discussed. No such unio
was however effected during this decade an
both organizations prosecuted their effort
but without rivalry or jealousy.
The subject of educating young men =. io
the ministry commanded increasing attehtol
during these years. Waterville college wa
still beloved and cherished, but u nau @ @pt
come a purely literary institution ana tne nc
cessity for school where young lnen wlsnoo i''.u
the time or tbe means for protracted cours
of study might be fitted for their work SCENE
annsrent. No definite results were, howeve