The Portland daily press., 1878-06-26

| Ifeaeurer-If0f. y. Is. roster OF WaterVlle,
| Also large board of trustees.
Adjourned with prayer by Rev. E. Nagent
of Fayette.
| The Uaiversalist Convention.
LEWISTON, June %.
The Universalist state convention met with
the Elm street church in Auburn today. This
is the fiftieth session and Is to be observed as
| semi-centennial.
me convention was called to order by Rev.
Mr.. Mead OF Hiram, and Mr.. Sargent of Port
land was appointed temporary chairman, and
| Rev. 81. G. Munson temporary secretary. The
| several business committees were appointed.
Hon. Rufus Prince, the chairman, arrived
and took the chair.
At 10.30 sermon was preache by R3v. w.
s. Vail of South Berwick, from 1st Cor. iii, H.
The theme was the progress of liberal theoI-
ogy.
Some changes Were made in the programme
for Wednesday, and the convention adjourned
to 2.30 p. M.
ATT o clock the convention was called to or
der.
The secretary presented the report of his
work as missionary which was referred to
committee consisting Of Rev. S. Goodenough,
S. r. Sargent and DR.. Fuller.
The executive committee made report.
They report having established several cirenits
in which pastors have been installed, and that
the system has worked successfully.
Rev. Mr.. Snow presented an amendment to
the constitution relative to a change of the
basis of representation, which was referred.
The committee on nominations reported as
follows:
Presidential. p. Frank, Esq Portland.
Vice Pfesident-Hon. Henry Lord. Bangor.
Secretary-Rev. j. j. Mead, Hiram
Treasurer-Richard Dresser, Auburn.
Sunday School Secretary-Allen Merrill,
Dexter.
Preacher of Occasional Sermon-Rev. E. w.
Preble.
Alternate-Rev G. A. Hayden
Committee on E. o. and D.-Reys. W. R
French, Turner; L. Goodenough, Belfast; D.
F. Stevens, Auburn; Messrs. J. G. Greeley,
Bangor. and j. o. Bradley, Portland.
Auburn.
Delegates to General Convention Clerical,
Rev. Geo. W. Qainby, D. D., Augusta; W. E.
Gibbs Portland; Costello Weston, Bath; Lay,
Richard Dresser, Auburn; Joseph M Hayes,
Bath; Judge Philo Hersey Belfast; DR.. G.
Lndwig, Portland; Mrs. g. W. Quinby, Au-
gusta Mrs. s. Perham, Paris.
Trustee of Universalist Publishing House
heV. w. 3. ValI, South Berwick.
Judge Dresser of Auburn made some state
ments to the convention relating to the finances
connected with state missionary work. Rev.
Mr.. Seitz Of Norway, Ex-Gov Perham of
Paris, and DR.. Quinby of Augusta, spoke of
the feasibility of adopting the mission boxes
provided by the General Convention, one-half
OF the proceeds to be devoted to the State Con-
vantion and one-half to the General Conven-
tor, and Mr.. Seitz introo uced motion to per-
feet arrangements with the General Conven.
tion to adopt this system Of gathering funds.
Mr.. Weston of Bath moved to refer the matter
to special com mittee. The chair appointed
Rev. G. Weston of Bath, S. Perham of Paris,
and L. T. Bradford of Turner, to constitute
that committee.
Rev. j. j. Mead the secretary, read his re-
port. The following churches have pastors and
pulpit services each Sabbath, the figures ac-
companying each indicating the number of
families connected with each parish:
Auburn, 275; Augusta, 100; Bangor, 100;
Bath, 100; Belfast. III; Biddeford, 30; Calais
Fairfield, 60; Gardiner, So; Haliowell. 45; Lew
ston. 121; Mechanic Falls, 80; North Auburn,
15; Norway, 100; Oldtown, 80; rono. IS;
Paris, 80: Pitts6eld, 60; Portland, Congress
Square 300, India street 1863; Rockl and, 13O;
South Berwick. 81; Stockton IS; Turner Cen
tire, 95 West Waterville, 76. Whole number
of parishes reported to the secretary, 101.
Whole number of families, 1875. 80 organized
churches have reported to the secretary men,
bership of 1915. 75 church edifices and other
church property are valued at $5S5,O5O. Re-
ports from 5S Sunday schools show 6102 mem
bers.
The secretary stated that this report does not
represent the full number Of churches and par
ishss in the state. Many have not reported
and hence the figures do not show the strength
Of the denomination in the state.
In the evening occurred mass meeting
Ex-Gov. Washburn addressed the meeting on
the Last Fifty Years"
The Convention of CongregatiOnalfsts.
LEWISTON, June 25
The Maine Congregational conference COM
menced its ffty-second annual session at
Auburn this morning The convention was
called to order by Deacon E. E. Duren, and Dr.
! Warren of Portland was appointed temporary
| moderator.
After singing, Rev. W. Fl. Fem, the moder-
| ator, arrived and took the chair.
A letter from the East Maine Conference was
munication from the Secretary of the National
| Conference was received and referred. A
letter from I. r. Hayes, asking a decided
| opinion on the observance of the Sabbath was
referred to committee consisting of Rev. DR..
Fiske, Rev. Mr.. Parks and Rev. Mr.. Lock.
wood, and Messrs. Larrabee aud Bolster.
Adiscussion, 'The weekly soffering as part
Of worship" was opened by Rev. G. r. Merrill
and Rev. Mr.. Dickerman of Lewiston. The
discussion occupied the forenoon session.
| The convention reassembled at 2 o'clock
Rev. Mr.. Byington of Brunswick presented
the fifth annual report on the state of the
churches. We give the following abstract:
Five years have brought very marked i'm
| provement in the condition of our churches
| and in the tone of our annual conferences.
Five years ago the removals from the churches
exceeded the additions by 65. The additions to
churches ON profession had been but 443
with our churches on confession of faith and
| 1918 by letter, and in this period there has been
| a net gain Of 1880 in membership. There has
been gain of 10 per cent. in five years. There
| has been change in church attendance and
contributions. The ministerial element is less
predominant than it used to be in revivas and
the lay element more prominent. This veal
had sweeping revivals. In the Ia conferences
there are 244 churches. Three new churches
have been organized during the year. Sixty
churches have pastors and 81 acting pastors
81 are supplied by lcencates and 65 are desti
tute. We have 1856 ordained ministers in active
service. There are also 80 ministers withou
pastoral charge. 20 theological students are il
| oE oh nh ol,x ~