Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-06-23
winthrop Locals.

Carpenters very busy now as there is more
than the usual amount of building and repairing
being done.
There are now some eight or nine Catholic fam-
lies here, making a congregation Of about thirty,
which is about equally divided between the Irish
and Canadian French. \ priest from Watervillc
comes here once in two months to look after them.
The Maine State Jersey Pure Blood Association,
which was chartered last winter by the legislature,
meets here next Saturday to organize There has
been an increased demand for this stock OF late.
Mr.. G.. \. Longfcllow sold his badwius and
greetings last fall but retained his 1ussttts, winch
he has lately sold for 81 200.
The Congregational Conference.
The first session of the forty ninth annual meet
ing of the General Conference of the Congrega-
tional churches was opened in the Granite church,
at nine O'Clock yesterday. The attendance at the
beginning was not large, but with each successive
hour the number increased.
The Rev. :. =. Fay OF Bangor, occupied the
chair, and the efficient recording secretary, pea.
T.. +. Duren was in his place.
A short time was spent in devotional services.
The roll of the conference made up Nar-
GUS items Of miscellaneous business were transact
Ell. As the next meeting OF tIlt coalt4cdNt WIN
be its ifticth anniversary, it was voted tia;
mittee should be appointed to cooperate with the
local committee Of the place where t1c meeting
may be held, IN the arrangement OF the exercises.
Rev. +. II. Bvington OF brunswick, delegate
to the National Council held last October IN New
Haven, made verbal report. He spoke OF the hap-
py effect upon the denomination, likely to en,ue
from the Council, in stimulating and comforting
the body.
Rev Dr. Lawrence of Marbleheatl, Mass. was
introduced to the conference as the representative
Of the Peace Society. lie offered to the confer
cnce the greetings of all peace-makets upon the
EARTH
The Moderator made brief remark, concerning
the changes which had taken rlace in the confer
cucc since the former meetings OF the body IN
augusta.
An invitation was given to any present TO speak
Of matters of special religious interest with which
they acquainted.
Rev. DR.. Flskc OF Bath spoke Of powerful re-
vval of rel 9ion in Lancaster Mass. Rev. Messrs.
Emerson, blanchard, Mason and Others both min
ister sand laymen made remarks relating to rehg-
lOus awakcnings.
At eleven O'Clock the conference sermon was
given by Rev. A. p. Tinker Of Auburn. Reys.
j. b. Wheelwright Of South Paris aud J. X. Ma
,on Of Thomas.on conducted TIE devotional ser
vices.
Mr.. Tinker took for his text j 1b. % 3, so that
knew where might find him" deriving from It
the subject OF mans iced of God. He remarked
that there i. natural thirst of the human soul
for its Maker. This is especially manifest in con
nection with the disappoinments and grets OF
life. The needs are universal and clamorous.
y belief in such a God is revealed in the
Scriptures is exactly adapted TO the needs OF the
soul. As an infinite and eternal Being, God meets
the necessities Of the human mind, which reaches
out after One who is in all things perfect.
The belief in the God OF the ocrptnIes promotes
most powerfully the progress OF the race IN morals.
The effect of this belief was contrated with that TO
be reasonably expected from the theories of the
philosophers should they be put in practice
A belief in God advances the happiness of
Scepticsm tends TO clothc the world with dark
ness. 1t takes away the treasure OF hope and
makes of human life desolatc wilderness.
Since the tendency of all truth Is to ennoble and
of all falsehood to degrade, it may be inferred
from the effect of christianity that faith IN il Is
well founded.
The sermon abouudcd IN noble thought iorcibly
stated and finely illustrated.
AFTERNOON.
The first exercise of this session was a PRAISE
meeting of half an hours duration conducted by
Rev. Mr.. Obeas of Newcastle. The leader IN
spired the audience with his enthusiasm, and the
followin. I,trcs were sung with much animation
PRAISES the Trinity" "Oh could speak the
matchless WORTH Long as live, III bless thy
NAME" "There is fountain filled with blood
This exercise was followed by reading otthe third
chapter of Ephesians by the moderator, Mr.. Fay;
singing Of "Our dwelling place in all genera
tions," by the congregation; and. prayer by Rev
DR.. Pond.
The second regular business i'll order was the
Byington. From his able report we CATER the
following statistics
Number of churches reported, PAL, III of which
have ministers. There are l60 minister's 80 of
them being pastors, 10 licentiates, and the re-
mander stated supplies. There are 1919 COM
municants SOP males, and 1917 females in the
Congregational churches Of the above number
1906 are nonresident members. There have been
added to the churches 529 on profession, and 30i
by letter. 367 have been removed by death, 3639
by dismission, and by discipline. Comparing
the above figures we shall find that there has been
an increase of % members during the last year.
There have been 339 adults and Al infants bap-
tized during the past year. There are 1870 schol-
airs in the sabbath schools. The contributions
amounted to >37053. In speaking of the churches
of Kennebec Conference, the Secretary said these
fourteen churches have added to their numbers
thirty three new members daring the last year.
lie says these are among the most earnest anu
vigorous in the State.
The report being completed, the Rev. Geo. +
Dickerman opened the discussion Of the following
question: "Does the condition of our churches
indicate the need Of any change in our methods OF
management and labor !" lie compared the
present with the past age. Thought that the min,
stcrs of to-day were using methods far behind
the times. In an advanced age they were using
worn out tools. God blcsscs the labors OF those
who go down among the people and BRING them
in far more highly than He does those of the
distant ministers-cited Moody, Sankey and
Marley as examples. lie recommended that eld-
ers, deacons, or some such officers should be ap-
pointed from among the permanent members of
the church, who shall take living, active part in
managing the church and its affairs and who shall
be empowered to administer the sacrament and
perform certain other rites and ceremonies now
reserved to the ministry.
Mr. Dckerman was followed by Rev. Mr.. Hincks
of Portland, on the same question. HIS remarks
were eloquent and emnently practical.
Rev. Mr. Ives of Castine also spoke on the same
theme.
On motion of Dr. Fiske it voted to defer
the farther discussion of this subject until O'Clock
this evening.
Rev. Mr.. Harding then gave the report Of the