The Portland daily press., 1875-05-07
Maine M. E. Conference.
FIRST DAY.

FIRST DAY.
The Fifty first annual session of the Maln'
Conference of the M. E. church, was opened II
Wesley Church, Bath, Wednesday May 5tn
9 o'clock, Bishop Andrews presiding. In tn
opening religious service and administration o.
the Lords Supper, the Bishop was assisted by
the Elders of the conference and nearly Zo'
presented themselves as communicates at tht
altar At the close of this service the confer
ence roll was called by the Secretary OF las
wear and about so responded to the call. There
was deep silence' as the name of j. Mcmillan
was called. He has responded to higher cal
during the year and now rests from his laoors
P. Jacques was reelected Secretary and Geo
G. Andrews assistant The hour of a. m. was
fixed for the business session to be preceded 5y
one hour of devotional service and II for the
time of adjournment
On nomination of the Presiding E deIs the
standing committees were elected with the FOL
lowing chairmen: Stewards, S. f. Wetherbee
Education, S. Allen; Tracts, w. S. Jones; Sab
bath, j. Collins; Temperance, Hon. j. j. Per
ry; Tobacco, j. Fairbanks; Church Extension,
D. B. Randall; Freedmen, F. GROWER; Bible
Cause, c. Munger; Amusements, w. HI. Eos
ter; Memoirs, G. w. Morse; Family Worship
J. c. Perry: Post Offices, A. R. Sylvester; Sta
tistics, B. Freeman; Cashier, A. w. Pottle
Conference inmates, r. Day.
A special committee consisting of S. +.
Jones, A. S. Ladd and X. atkinson, was
appointed on Conference Centenary matters
DR.. S. Allen, S. Vail and S. f. Wetherbee were
appointed special committee to reply to leu
ter of Dr. Weber in relation to his failing
health, sc. Took up the 8:h question: Whe
are the supernumerary preachers. The char
acters of the following brethren passed ana
their relation was continued: S. M. Emerson
E. Shaw, J. Allen, S. M. Vail,IN G. Clifford, .
Mooar, J. B. Weeks, q. Fuller lC.C. Cone,C. IL
Evans, w. Fl. Meredith, j. Rice, j. E. Walker
T. Hill, j. Armstrong. j. III. Pillsbury wa:
made effective and D. o. Halleson was located
at his own request. DR.. G. Weber was
made superannuated at his own request on &C.
count of failing health.
Took up the 9th question: Who are the su-
perannuated preachers? The character OF the
following brethren was examined and their 10 a
ton continued, B. Burnham, P. 9. Richmond
S. W. Pierce, N. D. Witham, j. s. Rice, u.
COPELAND, H. L. Linscott, S. P. Blake, A.
2. Hillman, f. Masseure, B. Lufkin, A. b
Lovewell, E. Smith. G. g. Covell, y. stone; II.
FL. Ford, j. Gerry, E. Fl. Mckinney. n: ROBIN,
son. A. Sanderson was made efectiVe ana
will take an appointment.
Took up the Sd question: Who remain on
trial? j. w. Johnston, q. w: DeaItry, D. r.
Pease, d. Pratt Jr., aud d. M. De Hughs
were all examined and continued. This closed
the morning session.
At two o'clock Sunday School anniversary
was held, d. B. Randall presiding; After in
troductory services conducted by j. U. Perry,
the congregation and Sunday School joined IN
singing Gall hail the power of Jesus name,
the new splendid organ leading off in old Cor
followed, by Rev. Messrs. Bolton, Bartlett,
Bean of the East Maine Conference, Pottle
and others.
SECOND DAY.
Last evening Rev. Mr.. Pitblado preached
from l. Peter 1, "a, "The grass withereth the
flower fadeth, sc" The gas failed just as the
service was to commence, and delay caused by
having to procure lights was not very inspiring,
Init the sermon was-well in Mr.. Pitblado's
peculiar vein.
The morning prayer meetings at 81 and
o'clock are we'll attended. Strangers, book
agents and so ~-rollers' are beginning to ar
rive. There is tremendous crisis just al
this time in the affairs of most every church,
and if they do not have the one pastor they
ask for they are ruined forever, and it happens
that some of those so 'loudly called by ProVi'
dence" are called for in other conferences by
the Lord or by some body else, and such strange
calls will make even minister prick up his
L. Lo, Of
The conference was called to order at nine
o'clock. Took up the third question-"Who
remain on trial" After due examination, j.
w. Johnston, P L. Smith were continued, and
G. w. Dealtry was discontinued.
Took up the sixth question-"Who are the
Deacons of the second Glass; The candidates
were examined and J. W. Smith, r. Vivian, j
E. Walker, G. X. Evans and HI. G. Sheldon
were continued; G. X. Evans was voted su
perannuated relation.
Took up the 9TH question. "Who are elected
to Elders orders The list was called and r
F. French, f. NJ Pickles, D. Perry, D. Church
and E. w. Smith were by vote elected for ordi
nation.
Took up the examination of the effective
Elders.
Portland District.-Mr. Luce represented tn {
district as in very fourishing condition. Some
new societies have been formed and fine prog
ress has been made in church building Abou
600 conversions have taken place during the
wear. The character of all the preachers
passed without challenge. II. B. Chase asked
and received superannuated relation.
Gardner District-E. Martin made favor
able report of Gardner District, and there was
no arrest of character as the list of Elders was
called. Ira. b. Sprague was made supernu
merary, on account of failing health.
Readfeld District-J. Colby spoke in high
terms of his district and the PREACHERS will
whom he had labored for years. and while his
term of Office expired by rule of discipline, he
felt deep interest in them still. There was
no challenge as the names were called; they
were all men of good report
Howard B. Abbott asked and received a
superannuated relation. His health has utterly
failed. L. P. French received a supernumerary
relation. 1. Armstrong requested change O
relation and was made superuannuated.
Took up the twenty-third question. When
shall our next conference be held? Invitations
were received from Portland, Winthrop, Wa
terville, Gardiner, Pennington and Lewiston.
The conference decided to hold its next session
at Lewiston.
Several resident pastors were Introduced and
addressed the conference. Mr.. Gilbert, New
England agent for the American Bible Society
and Mr.. Whtiker, secretary of the New Eng
land Education Society, were introduced ant
urged the claims of the institutions they repre-
sented.
Mr. Burgess from Lewiston, delegate from
the Maine Central F. W. B. Association, ad
dressed fraternal salutations to the conference
At half-past two R. Sanderscn preached the
annual missionary sermon.
At half-past seven this evening DR.. Vail ad
dressed the conference on the "Wonders of thu
Orient" He has spent some years in thu
East, and forty days in the great desert
SELECT READING.-A reading was given by
Consul Murray at Kents Hill on last Tuesday
evening, listened to by an attentive audience
of 300 students, male and female, when TIT
following pieces were read:
IdyS OF the King. ..................,.. Iennys0n
A Senator Entangled. 49,. DE Mile