The Portland daily press., 1877-02-22
Portland District Conference.


Wednesday morning the conference was call.
ed to order at 81 o'clock, l. Luce IN the chair.
The minutes were read and approved
The question "Who shall be licensed to
preach?' was taken up and the following were
duly recommended and licensed: j. N. Svl-
vester, e. s. Uford, j. M. Roberts, G, r.
Barstow.
After considerable discussion a motion to
abolish tae District Conference after the preg-
emit session prevailed
The consideration of the third question of
the programme was resumed and Hon. j. J.
Perry addressed the conference, presenting a
very forcble argument against reduction of
the ratio of representation in the general con-
ference
The license of Isaac Wiggin and JOS. Parker
as exhorters, were renewed.
S. r. Leavitt, j. j. Perry and A. W. Pottle
were appointed a committee to nominate lay
delegates to the annual conference
j. ID. Trask addressed the meeting on the
third question and awakened lively interest
in the minds of his hearers on the subject.
j. o. Thompson presented the various mer-
Its of the pastors study Bible published by the
American Tract Society
The committee appointed to nominate lay
delegates reported as follows: For delegates
james Andrews, S. r. Leavitt, Freeman Hatch
Aternates-S. Littlefeld, Henry Nutter, R. G.
Harding.
The committee on resolutions reported the
following, which were adopted:
Resotred, That the time has come when the church
should discard the use of alcoholic stimulants for
medicinal purposes and make earnest efforts to
the temperance work on that line.
RESOLVED, That the use of tobacco in any form by
the members of our church is great evil to soul and
DodY and we earnestly entreat them for the sake of
cleanliness, good example and larger means to dis
charge their obligations in supporting the benevolent
interests of the church, to abandon the vile weed for
with such sacrifice God will be well pleased.
The following offered by Rev. D. B. Randall
was adopted
Resolred That we rejoice in the increased special
efforts OF the church at the present day for the rev-
val of the work of God in the land and we earnestly
pray that Gods smile may, be upon all to whom he
has given special call in this great work.
Rev. J. r. Day presented the following,
which was adopted:
ReSolved, That the Methodists of Portland Dis.
trct hold two camp meetings the coming season, one
at Old Orchard and one at Fryeburg, to be supern-
tended by the Presiding Elder of the District.
The following was presented by Rev. D. B
Randall and adopted:
ResotUed, That we are grateful to God and to our
presiding elder Rev. Israel Luce for the able conrte
aable and kind manner in which he has discharg-
ed the duties of his Office during the four years now
nearly closed, and we tender him our love and symp-
athy and him that wherever his lot may be cast
in tne future we shall continue to pray for him and
love him; we also feel ourselves honored by the
presence OF his amable companion and worthy fam
lily in our midst, and tender to them our sympathy
and love.
The President responded in feeling and ap-
propriate manner
Rev. John Collins read an essay advocating a
faithful presentation of the plain teachings Of
the Gospel against fashionable and popular
sins.
Rev. E. w. Hutchininson presented an argu-
ment in favor of a literal resurrection of the
body.
The conference adjourned and the benediction
was pronounced by Rev. /. Luce