The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-06-30
CongrcgatIonaIist state Conference.



Conference met at the Payson Memoria
Church. Prayer meeting, led by Mr.. Boswortl
of Deering, at O'Clock.
AT 8 Conference convened. Prayer by Rev
Mr., Wiswall of Windham. Reading of scrip
lures by Rev. Mr. Fem, of Moderation.
Rev. Mr.. Oben, of New Castle, from the
Committee on Nominations reported as fol
lows:
Standing of Minister'S: Revs. Enoch Pond
Stephen Thurston, ii. j. Carruthers, J. O.
Fiske, and S. Tenney
Sabbath Schools. Rev j. B. Wheelright.
To Visit Bangor Seminary, Aroostook Con.
ference, Rev. E. Bean; Cumberland do, Rev.
Hancock do, Rev. E. r. Osgood; kennebec
do, j. II. Ecob; Lincoln and Sagadahoc do,
Rev. A. j. Mcleod; Oxford do, Rev. d. Gar
land, Bethel; Penobscot, Rev. M. c. Fernald,
Orono Piscataquis, Rev. A. Redlon, Abbott;
Somerset, do, L. G. Mitchell; Union, do. Rev.
B. n. Stone, Fryeburg; Waldo do, Rev. G. W.
Jones, Winterport; Washington do, Rev. Chas
Whittier, Denneysville.
Delegates to Corresponding Bodies, Free Bdy.
list, Rev. W. R. Cross, Camden; j. "A. Ross,
Belfast.
Maine Conference, Rev. A. L. Park, Gardi-
ner; w. G. Curtis. Richmond.
East Maine Conference, Rev. j. X. Mason,
Thomaston Lewis Goodrich, Warren
Maine Baptist, Rev. A. H. Wright, Portland
Rev. S. z. Fay, Bangor.
Place of next meeting of Conference, Calais.
Committee of arrangements-Rev. G. G.
McCurdy, Calais: Rev. Chas. Whittier Dem
neysvllle, DR.. Chas. Swami, Calais
LIST preacher, Rev. A. L. Park Gardiner.
Alternate, Rev. VIM. Hort, Bath.
Rev. A. Blanchard reported in relation to
the printing of blanks.
Rev. DR.. Smaller of Portland from the Bap.
fist Convention rendered the salutaticns of that
body.
A letter was received from Rev. VIM. L.
Brown, from the East Maine Conference
A letter from Rev. DR.. McGregor, from the
Congregational Union of Nova Scotia and New
Brunswick, was read.
Rev. G. S. Dickerman reported that he visit
ed the Maine General Conference
DR.. Pond of Bangor made report of the
Maine Branch of Education Society.
The board of officers of the previous year
was reelected.
The Treasurer's report was read by Dea. Du-
sen. Receipts OF the year $870.10-expenses,
5000. Balance on hand, $4,000. Receipts
since report, 1913 80.
Rev. c. G. McCutty Of Calais opened the dis
cussion on the Study of the Bible in our
churches.
Rev. J. B. Wheelwright of South Paris, re-
ported the condition of our Sabbath Schools.
AT IL o'clock Mr.. Russell of Bradford, Mass,
was called upon to preside during the consider
alton of the subject of Foreign Missions.
The Foreign Secretary of the American
He made very able presentation of the work
of foreign missions lie expressed confidently
the belief that the world will be evangelical
(not converted) in the next fifty years. He
was followed by Rev. G. III. Wheeler, late mis-
sionary at Rapport, in an earnest address.
Rev. Mr.. Hincks followed in forcible and
able address, The last address was by Rev.
DR.. Cyrus Hamlin of Constartinople, and was
replete with interest.
AFTERNOON.
Conference opened at q p. m.
Ex-Gov. Dingley submitted the following
resolutions which were adopted:
ResolUed, That the Maine Missionary Society
hereby expresses its high appreciation of the
services of its retiring secretary, the Rev. Ste
phen ThurSton, D. ID, during the twelve wears
that he has filled that position, and extends to
him its most sincere and hearty thanks for his
fidelity to it's duties for his careful and impair
tial administration of the various interests en-
trusted to him; and for the uniform courtesy
and kindness which have characterized all his
relations with the missionaries and board of
trustees. This society expresses its earnest
hope that for many years to come he may be
permitted to rejoice in the continued prosperity
of the cause to whose advancement his efficient
agency has so largely contributed.
ReS0tUed, That the above resolution be COM
muncated to Rev. DR.. Thurston and entered
on the minutes.
Rev. A. Blanchard submitted the report re-
lative to printing blanks. Adopted with
amendment of Dr. Thurston.
Rev. S. L. Bowler submitted the following
on temperance:
Res0t0ed, That as members of this confer
ence we recognize the good hand of our God in
the recent religious movement in the interests
OF temperance reform; that we especially re-
Joice 10 the elements of permanence and
we render thanks to Almighty God for the
great and GROWING success he has given to
the efforts made in his name for this interest
during the past year. Adopted.
Rev. DR.. Fske submitted the following in
relation to the observance of the Sabbath:
ResolUed, That this conference views with
extreme regret the employment of steamboats,
and railroad trains for excursions of pleasure
on the Sabbath and that they cannot regard
the purpose of attending religious services a
sufficient iu stiication for this dissertation of
the Lords day.
COL f. e. Shaw, secretary of the executive
committee of the Y. M. c. A. of Maine was in
troduced as delegate and gave report of the
state census.
Rev. Ray Palmer of New York spoke in the
interest of the American Missionary Associa-
ton, especially as to supplying houses of wor-
ship in the West.
Rev. B. Southwnrth of the Seamen's Bethel.
spoke in behalf of the sailors,
DR.. Fiske of Bath followed In an interesting
address.
Elk Gov. Dingley, by request, gave an alb
stract of letter from Rev. E. L. Cutler. now
in California.
The moderator then called on DR.. Carruthers
of the Second Parish church, who responded.
S. o. Donnellson of Limington, formerly of
Portland, spoke of his memory of DIR. Payson's
preaching.
G. A. Lord, esq, referred to the fact that
fifty years ago the contributions for the Maine
Missionary Association were over $500, while
yesterday they were only about 800. He had
in his hands sermon preached by a minister
So years old.
DR.. VIM. Warren of Gorham referred to in
cidents forty years ago, and spoke earnestly of
the benefit of the Christian Mirror to the Con-
gregatonal interests of the state. He attend
ed the conference forty-fve years ago, an ire
liglous man; saw then Samuel johnson and
heard his musical voice; saw then for the first
time Judge Shepley and Others The confer
ence was a spiritual one, and with others,
war struck with conviction.
Rev. d. d. Tappan of Weld related incl
dents of Rev. Mr.. Freeman of Limerick and of
Dr. Payson.
Rev. DIR. Tenney of Ellsworth followed with
interesting "Reminiscences of Payson,
Rev. j. Durham of Pennington spoke of
Rev. James Cogswell of Saco and DIR. Payson,
and Rev. Geo. Payson of Kennebunkport At
the ordination of tue latter it was proposed to
have strong drink upon the table, but owing to
the earnest objections of DR.. Geo. Paysop, it
was not done.
DR.. Thurston said his ministry covered the
whole existence of this conference. He had at
tended most of the meetings, and endorsed
what had been said about the differences Of
opinion among the members and causing no
aliena ton.
Rev. Mr.. Halves added few words.
Dr. Chickering also spoke, referring to the
fact that it was common thing to look for a
reviva. of religion after session of the general
conference.
Dr. Storrs being called upon, said he was not
among the ancients, and had no "reminiscences,