The Portland daily press., 1875-05-29
Philadelphia Letter.
Baptist Anmiversaries-The Centennial,
Etc.
PHILADELPHIA, MAY 25, 1875.

PHILADELPHIA, May 25, 1875.
| To the Editor Of the Press:
A few jottings from citizen of Portland
| just now temporarily habitant of the City of
Brotherly Love may not be inopportune nor
entirely without interest to your readers.
The anniversaries of the various National
Benevolent Societies of the Baptist denomina-
ton opened at the First Baptist church on
Tuesday morning with the annual meeting of
the Missionary Union. The President, Rev.
Barnes Sears of Virginia, made an eloquent
and interesting address, recounting the expert
ences of his own early life and of other we'll
known dvines of the Baptist faith. The report
of the managers showed total income for the
year of $241, $40, against an expenditure of
S267, ,14S thus showing a deficiency for the
year of something over $25.OOO, which, added
to the balance of old debt unpaid last year,
gives total balance against the treasury of
$52, ,945. OF the amount contributed, $8,515
came from Maine-an increase of $657 over last
year and an average of forty-three cents for
each Baptist church-member in the state. In
1860 the average per member in Maine was six
teen cents. Verify the deficiency in the treas
ury is not chargeable to the Baptists of Maine.
The results of the mission work of the Union
during the year have been in the highest degree
satisfactory and gratifying. The Union now
has in its service 139 missionaries and 973 ma
tive preachers, and the latest reports from the
field give 741 churches, with a total member
ship of 55,567. The exercises have continued
during to-day with great interest and enthusl-
asm. There is in attendance at these meetings
g0odly representation from our city and state,
while the members present from less distant
localities is very large. Seldom has the attend
ance been larger or more energy and zeal been
apparent.
This evening the Educational (Centennial)
Commission has held its meeting. Earnest and
powerful addresses were made by men from all
sections of the country. The audience COM
petely packed the vast auditorium and re-
sponded to the appeals of the speakers in long
and hearty applause. 1t is proposed by the
Commission to raise the sum of $1,0O0,0O0 for
the endowment of institutions of learning, dur
ing the Centennial From the spirit apparent
at this meeting one would say it will be done.
Everything which is said and done in this
city is supposed to have relation, apparent or
hidden, to the great Centennial Celebration to
occur here in 1876. Indeed, the average Phla-
delphian seems to be con the celebrate al
ready so fully, earnestly and absorbingly is the
entire population devoted to the success of the
Centennial
l am collecting for your benefit, some mat
| ters of information on this topic which I will
arrange and send you shortly. | fear that the
people of Maine are hardly 'up" in this mat
ter, as is demanded by either our interest or
our honor and good name among the states.
In politics there is much to guess and little
to know. The cauldron has begun to bubble
for the fall campaign. The re nomination of
Gov. Hartranff, the selection of ex-Mayor
Rawle for State Treasurer, and above all the
full and outspokep anti-third-term resolution
adopted in their State Convention to-day. have
given to the Republicans a new measure of
hope and cheer. The streets of the city to-
night are brilliant with torch lights and fire.
works and resonant with music and shoutings
over the ausplcious opening of the campaign.