The Portland daily press., 1877-06-15
YORK CONGREGATIONAL CON.
FERENCE,


Biddeford, commencing Tuesday forenoon.
This flourishing society, including the largest
number of church members of the county, is
now under the pastoral care of Rev. Mr.. Mer-
rill, whose immediate predecessor was Rev
John D. Emerson, settled in 1863 This church
dates back to the separation from the first par
ish in 1897, when they erected their meeting
house; the first installed pastor being Rev
John Ferris in 1906. Following him was Rev.
Thos. Tracy in 1924, Christopher Marsh III 1928,
Henry A. Kimbal stated supply in 1887, Caleb
Kimbal in 1910, Rev. Thos N. Lord from 1842
to 1874, l.. s. Parker in 1851 and 1852. Samuel
L. Gould from 1853 to 1857, and by james M.
Palmer till the settlement of Mr.. Emerson.
1t was pleasant to see Rev. Mr.. Lord still
member of the conference and in vigorous old
age speaking in the same church where ne
preached so acceptably .thirty-seven years ago.
Though the same building occupied by Mr..
Lord it has been entirely changed both outside
in form and inside in appearance. being now q
costly and substantial structure, finished and
furnished with taste and convenience. For
this occasion it has been specially decorated
with flowers and vines; more bountiful and
tastefully arranged masses one seldom has the
pleasure Of seeing.
Dea. S. L. Boy nton, the moderator, and Rev.
r. D. Osgood, scribe, were in attendance, and
the conference was opened by prayer from Rev.
MI. Cole of Cornish, followed by scripture SO.
lections and reading of the last conference rec.
ord.
The roll of attendance from the churches
show quite number unrepresented, and con.
sidering the three large: Congregational socie-
ties within sound of the bell the audience was
small. The sermon of the day was by Rev. Mr..
Kimball of Wells from Matthew 9, 50: "Pray
ye therefore the Lord of the harvest that he
will send forth laborers in to His harvest"
The speaker first alluded to the great demand
for laborers, that the fields were white and
waiting, and gave an outline of a system fol-
the spiritual work. The word harvest signifed
hard wofk-limited time, lack of help. God
has set times for gathering-they are important
when they come. Work must be done prompt
ly-rain may come, the grain may soon be over
ripe; each man has his spring and his summer
He also answered the questions, How can
the great harvest be gathered? tHow shall the
demand be met? We need first more men and
more money, more spiritual life in the church.
es. There is no excuse for losing the crop when
the men and the money can be brought each to
help the other-while we have the Young Mems
Christian Associations, the Sabbath schools,
the religious press and books; yet above all we
need more for the ministry, for the work must
be done according to systematic machinery
must be put in motion.
There is difficulty in understanding the per
tenance of the word to the exigencies of the
spiritual demand. The basis of our ground of
hope is in the young; educate the lad Alright,
encourage the bent of boy in the right direc-
ton, set apart the children from their birth.
The church shall live by the divine as well as
by natural laws. The neglect of infant baptism
was lamented. The last part of the sermon
was upon the lack of means and embraced sta
tistics covering the contributions of this county
to the Maine Missionary Society and other be-
nevolent causes.
1t appears that this county not only receives
more than it pays out, but its contributions are
only about two-thirds of the average of the
state, and the speaker argued flor a system of
giving that should be more efficient than the
present collections from impulse or conven-
fence.
The discussions of the afternoon were limit
minutes for those following.
The first topic-The church and its members
was divided into three parts: First, Christian
growth. Rev. Mr.. Tuxbury of Lyman opened.
Christian growth in word is holy living-con-
version the germ, daily progress the develop.
ment. Growth is a necessity for our spiritual
comfort-the moral condition of the world re-
quires it, the times demand it; it must be pro-
NOTED by the church, by her ordinances, by re-
igious culture.
Rev. W. S. Thompson of Acton followed,
taking the ground that unless q man grows he
will go back; his growth will be indicated by
the results; he must be more interested in his
work. He illustrated by Paul's life, who worked
not only with his voice and his pen, but labored
with his own hands for Gods glory.
Dea. Emmons of Lyman spoke next to en-
force his precept that 'the way to growth is
faith in God"
Mr.. Merrill of the entertaining church fol-
loved
must school its members; to grow. we must
have air, food, exercise--for good Christian
growth givesa man spiritual air, pious food his
wants must be met. God gives sthe food, the
church must provide its proper distribution;
the food of books and a food of good conversa-
ton are essential.
Mr. Snow of Alfred remarked that all we do
should be in the line of growth, for Christian
growth is our necessity; the spirit of God is the
sap of our growth; it is the whole thing; it
should be.encouraged by all our powers, by
all our means.
Rev. Mr.. Lord urged the individual applica-
ton of the subject. Each one must look first
to his own increase. He suggested THAT
much in the line Of personal pleasurable pro =
ceedings tended to check proper. growth in our
selves, and, by example, to others.
Rev. Mr.. Chase of the Paivlionlchurch fol.
lowed in the line of gardening illustrations
and made points with cabbage plants and
weeds, as well as with bean poles and hoe.
Mr. Lawrence Jordan of Saco commenced on
a spiritual life as means of growth and ended
with coming down on the half day Sunday
service. DR.. Haley, of Biddeford encouraged
activity, denouncing the lazy, slothful Chris.
tian. The discussions at this point were closed
by further remarks from the Rev. Mr.. Gates of
Kennebunkport and Rev. Mr. Sewall of
York
The argumentsupon the "Grace Of Giving
was gracefully placed by Capt. J. T. Mason
upon Dea. Jos. Titcomb of Kennebunkport.
The benefit is larger to the one that gives, if
the giving of it is with the proper spirit. All
kinds of giving do not induce grace, such as
gifts to officials gifts of advertisers, gifts from
Importantly and from inability to say no. We
should give upon principle of Christian re-
sponsiblity, giving in a sy stematic and regu
lar manner, but always leaving opsn space
for Emergencies But in giving it is we'll to
give of our own and not that which belongs to
our creditors; there is no honesty in giving
largely and then compo unding honest debts so
per cent. Our giving should also contain as
principallconstituen the element of sacrifice.
The great givers are those who deny themselves
they are blest though the contributions be in
mites rather than millions. The giving shonld
also be an act of devotion; it should be of that
which costs and which we feel. The speaker
favored giving with worship and urged its i'm
portance as tending to eradicate selfishness and