The Portland daily press., 1875-10-11
Y, M. @. A. state Coavention.

The services of Friday evening were held in
the Main street Free Baptist church, and con-
sisted of praise meeting conducted by Geo. F.
French, Lewiston, followed by welcome
meeting, presided over by j. R. Learned, Pres
ident. Brief addresses were listened to from
G. f. French in behalf of the local Association,
Rev. DR.. Bowen in behalf of the churches, and
Gov. Dingley in behalf of the citizens, and re-
of the convention.
Gov. Dingley spoke in substance as follows:
Brethren of the Association and Christian
FIiends:-The pleasant duty of welcoming you
in behalf of the citizens, L perform not as an
act of Christian courtesy merely, but with
heart beating in sympathy with you greet
you as brethren in Christ, as followers of
common Master and as cO-lab0rers in the
cause AS such l extend to you the welcome
Of these cities, homes and hearts. greet you
as men ordained to be gospel workers, taking
the lead in aggressive work for the Master.
The tendency of church organizations makes
many hearers and not doers. Is it not true
that the members of the church put too much
confidence in the pastors and are too willing
for them to do their work? If there is any Or
ganizatiOn that the church can use in bringing
out the lay element of the church, it is this AS
sociation. greet you as members OF an Orga
nization, all the members of which love the
Lord Jesus Christ and unite their prayers Do
not understand me to depreciate church orga-
nlzations. They serve to strengthen the cords
Let us remember the saying, 'in essentials
unity; in non essentials, liberty; in all tn ings,
charity" With this spirit, go forward hand
in hand. greet you as members of an organi-
zation, the object of which is to go forth into
the highways and hedges and gather them in.
Scarcely one half of the people are reached by
the church. Is there not then field for work
and an opportunity to exercise a missionary
spirit? Go on in this grand and glorious work,
bearing in mind that glorious triumph awaits
you.. thank you for your presence. greet
you in behalf of the citizens OF Maine, and may
this meeting be instrumental in awakng new
interest in the cause of Christ.
Before closing, the topic, "How can we in
crease the membership and efficiency of our
Associ ations?" was briefly discussed.
The exercises of Saturday began with de-
votional meeting at 8 o'clock, led by G. A.
Wing of Winthrop. At 10 o'clock reports from
Associations were listened to and many encour-
aging incidents were related. At 2 o'oclock a
promise meeting was conducted by David
Douglass, at which the Hutchinson family
sang several of their entertaining songs.
The topic, "How shall we use the Bible in
evangelistic work among young men," follow
ed, Rev. Mr.. Dckerman of Lewiston being the
uIoU opCdhoi, IolioWcu NY hs homluSIOu VI
Fall River, Mass, John Allen, McKenney,
Burgess of Lewiston, Staples, Douglass and one
of the Hutchinson brothers. The following
deas were presented Present it in sunshine,
in its simplicity, lovingly. Live the Bible.
The last question of the afternoon, "How
| may the latent energies of the churches be de-
veloped?" was opened by f. E. Shaw.
ITO the Associated Pressl
LEWISTON, Oct. 10.-Last evening large
meeting of the Y. M. G. A. was held at Main
street f. B. church Sunday nearly all the
| pu pits in Lewiston and Auburn were occupied
| by members of the convention, and interesting
meetings held. Praise meetings were held in
| City Hail. and an enthusiastic reform meeting,
lasting till five. Evening farewell meetings
were held at Pine street Congregational and
Main street Free Baptist churches. Meetings
have been we'll attended and of very interest
| ing character.