The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-06-29
MAINE UNIVERsALIST CONvEN.
TION.


| by Rev. S. S. Fletcher Of New Gloucester.
| Shortly after o'clock the convention was call
ed to order by the secretary and the president
and vice president elect being absent, Hon.
| Sidney Perham was called to the chair.
Prayer was offered by Rev. G. P. Nash OF
Rockland.
An application was received from the Uni.
versalist Society of North Berwick to be re-
ceived into the fellowship of the conventions
which was granted.
A petition from the Uulyersalist Society in
Lee for aid in maintaining public worship was
received and referred to the special committee
upon the organization of preaching circuits.
Committee on unfinished business reported
that there was nothing on the minutes of the
preceding annual session requiring their atten
ton.
A letter was received from the President
elect, Hon. Rufus Prince Of Turner, declining
the position to which he had been chosen, on
account of illness. The letter was referred to
committee on nominations, who Immediately
reported, recommending that Hon. S. Perham
be chosen to fill the vacancy, and he was unan-
imously elected.
Committee on fellowship, ordination and dis
ciplne presented their report for the past year,
which was accepted. There have been no cases
of discipline before the committee. Letters OF
transfer have been granted to the following
ministers who have removed from the State
Rev. j. f. Simmons to Springfield, Vt F; Rev.
G. E. Tucker to Titusville, Pa, and Rev. M. 81.
Houghton to Hyannis, Mass Certificates of
transfer have been granted to Rev. w. a.
Dearborn of Augusta and Rev. E. w. Preble
of Bangor, who have moved into the State dur
ing the year. License to preach has been
granted to G. M. Dodge, A. NJ, and letter
was granted May 16, 1876, authorizing the call
ing of council for considering the ordination
of Rev. G. E. Angel of Kittery-
1t was voted to take a collection at the close
of the occasional session for the purpose of
aiding the families of INDECENT clergymep.
Committee on nominations presented the fol-
lowing further report of nominations for off,
GERS of the convention:
Trustee for three years.. Pope Vose of
Rockland.
Preacher of occasional sermon-Rev. G. w.
Quinby, D. D.; substitute. Rev. w. r. French.
Committee on fellowship, ordination and dis
cipline-Revs. W. R. French, S. Goodenough
anu l.. OltNcuS, duu uAOoolPs u OLcClCy
and j. V. Bradley.
Rev. J. o. Skinner, from special com mittee
on organization of preaching circuits, made a
statement showing the necessity of the propos.
ed work, and the subject was further discussed
by Rev. DIR. Quinby of Augusta, when the
subject was laid on the table, the hour assigned
for the occasional sermon having arrived.
The convention then listened to the OCCASION
al sermon by Rev. S. -Goodenough of Belfast,
from the text: Acts 2, 81, and John Z, IT,
The subject was "Slips in Christian Faith and
Duty" and the discourse began by showing
the likeness between the needs and the duties
of the church and of Christians. today and at
the time it was founded. We have as faithful
ministers now as then; the work to be done is
the same in kind; and there is the same need
of earnest workers There is also the same
earnest asking for instruction in duty low as
then; the same determination to push the
work of the church to a more and more effect
i've fulflment. 1t is hopeful sign that, de-
spite the indisputable and Unreasonable gain
already made, we are apparently as far as ever
below the level of just criticism. People are
no longer misled by.specious pretenses, whether
lgion; they scan results and adopt the best
methods. They want good government; and
the church that shall do the best work is the
church of the future.
Faith is also staked on the practical efficien-
cy of religion, and the active duties of prac-
tical Christian life were urged as the sure an
tidote for skeptical tendencies. 1t is hard work
that leads to conviction in the domain of
science. The same method must be pursued in
religion. There is no royal road to Faith, with
gilded chariot and liveried outriders for the fa-
vored soul; it is weary and sometimes foot.
sore Journey Instead. Tho onlJ satisfactory
test is incontrovertible experience, only exper-
mental religion will prove equal to our needs.
We cannot play at religion and find it satisfsc-
tory. Hope itself is at stake. If we wonld
know that God has told US this truth about i'm
mortality, we must verify his gospel 10 practi-
cal life. There we shall knoD that death is not
humiliation. There are spiritual Mount
Pisgahs, from which God will show his obedi-
ent ones the glad field of immortality. Of
soul thus anchored the full energy of a Christ
Ian purpose may be expected.
Our practical objective is rot merely the
souls safety, but development, character. The
Christian has set for himself lifelong work.
He will make it appear that the soul is worth
saving, and that the "Gospel is the power of
God unto salvation" in the fruits of his own
experience. The worth of the human soul and
The glory of the Gospel are not known until
united in the perfect relations of the Kingdom
of Heaven. This marks the line of the Univer-
I;.t,s I,tu w ba
feet opponents of the Redeemer's Kingdom or
cease to cumber the ground. This is our duty
as patriots in the Centennial period, for good
Christians make good citizens But the road
to victory is humble and affectionate one; it
is "More love to thee Oh Christ, more love to
thee.
AFTERNOON.
at 80 o'clock p. m. Rev. Miss Lorenza
Haynes of Hallowell preached to a very large
congregation, from 1 Tim. 2, Ito The SER
mon, which was doctrinal in character, setting
forth the Universalist idea and its claims of
superior adaptation to the wants of the human
soul, was listened to with much attention.
The convention reassembled at o'clock and
the discussion of the question of organizing fee
BILE parishes into preaching circuits was re-
sumed and continued by Rev. j. o. Skinner,
Mr.. Chas. Gusts, Revs W. E. Gibbs; q. Wes
ton, j. G. Snow, S. Goodenough, A. Bosser-
man. E. w. PEBBLE and others, after which the
hour of adjournment having, arrived the subject
was laid on the table.
A meeting of the Woman's Centenary AS
ISOLATION was also held in the vestry of the
church at o'clock. Mrs G. w. Case of Rock
land, vice president for Maine presided, and
Miss Lizzie Thompson of Fairfield was chosen
secretary. Prayer was offered by Rev. Miss c.
E. Angel of Kittery. Reports were presented
and remarks were made by Mrs. G. w. Quin-
by of Augusta, Mrs. j. A. Stockwell of Ban
gor, Mrs. Oliver Newman of Lewiston, Mrs
Merrill of Dexter and others. The object of
the association is to raise funds and aid the
cause by the dissemination of Universaist lit
erature.
EVENING.
An educational meeting was held in the eve
ming to hear reports of the condition of West
brook seminary. The meeting was addressed
by Prof. Dodge, DR.. Weston, Isaac Jackson
aud Rev. j. G. Snow. At the close of Mr..
Shows remarks contributions for the seminary
were asked for. At this point lady arose in
the audience and remarked that she should