The Portland daily press., 1875-06-25
Reported for the Press.1
General Conference of the COngrega-
tiOnaI Churches.

AUGUSTA, June "a, 1875
Your reporter regrets that his letter of yester.
day failed to reach you in season for yesterdays
paper. The denomination regard the Classical
School at Hallowell, Bowdon College, and the
Theological Seminary at Bangor, as their insti-
tutions, and hence the most interesting discus
sions related to them. Some reference has
already been made to the first. The claims of
the college were forcibly urged by Messrs. Brad
bury and Benson, as representatives of the
Trustees and Overseers. and Prof. Sewall and
Mr.. Palmer, who had solicited additions to the
fund. To complete the sum proposed nearly
$4,000 are lacking; some clergymen present
pledged 800, 5000, each, toward the deficiency
The bravesJ speech and the one most in the
real interest of the College was made by Rev,
Mr.. Hincks of Portland, who, in the midst of
laudations of the institution, said that he feared
that the reluctance to endow it arose from the
general distrust with regard to its religious tone
and character.
The truth that "a good name is rather to be
chosen than great riches" is not confined to
individuals. Endowments will not always re-
store confidence or fill recitation rooms. The
public demand that all such seats of learning
should be not only without reproach but above
suspicion. A definite and permanent policy
should be adopted, the control of the institu-
ton should not be shared with it's students, its
true friends should not be alienated, and time
should be fixed when all begging operations
should cease. 1t is quite positively asserted
that the attendance upon conferences and COM
mencements has been affected by the latter's
frequency. Recognizing heartily the ability
and earnestness and good intentions of the col
lege government and faculty. it is not unchari.
table to say that the oue-man power of Bates
College is worth them also far as increase of
funds is concerned.
From the report of the committee which WIS.,
tied Bangor Seminary, and from the remarks
OF DR.. Pond and Prof. Paine, it is clear that it
is doing good work. The students represent
six nationaities; more than half come from
the Queens dominions. Quite number of
Welchmen attend from the Middle states The
Education Society aid many of its needy stu.
dents, supplying for their wants about $4,000
year. The Christian Mirror received endorse.
ment and commentator as a valued organ for
the above institutions and especially for the
established. Although DR.. Thurston resigned
his secretaryship of the society, he was re-
elected over several other candidates
Rev. e. N. Marden read valuable paper on
Sabbath Schools, full of statistics. 1t appears
that when pastors are present, the attendance
of children and outsiders is nearly doubled.
The one service system works admirably and is
fast finding favor with the churches
Among the strangers from abroad and dele
gates from other bodies there were present
Revs. MIR. Ashley of Louisiana, of the Amer
lean Missionary Society, Dr. Lawrence of the
Peace Society, Mr.. Penney of the Maine Free
Baptists, Mr.. Morse of the Methodists, Mr. Lane
of Iowa; and Mr.. Tenney of California and
Oregon
Rev. DIR. Lindley, for forty years missiona-
ry among the zubus of Africa, was a very in
teresting speaker, particularly when he describ-
ed the changes wrought in his field of labor by
Christianity.
The Women's Board of Missions held meet
ing by themselves in the vestry. 1t was large