The Portland daily press., 1878-04-30

Resolred, That in the judgment of this body
the work of the conference can be better prose-
cuted by the establishment OF three districts in-
stead of two, when it found practicable.
The committee on the Hymnal of the church
presented report warmly endorsing the new
hymual book soon to be issued by our publish
ers and urging upon the entire church.
AFTERNOON.
Rev. Israel Luce of Saccarappa, preached
the annual missionary sermon at o'clock. 1t
was an earnest, stirring appeal to Christian
hearts, calculated to awaken tho enthusiasm of
his hearers and influence missionary zeal 1t
was founded upon Matt 5, 49,
At 3 o'clock occurred the anniversary of the
Woman's Foreign Missionary Society. Roscoe
Sanderson presided.
Miss Clara Swain, returned missionary, was
introduced and entertained her hearers with
an outline of thu work of the society in India,
and related several very touching incidents
which came under her observation while en-
gagged in Christian labor in that distant field.
Dr.. McCabe sang tTf were voice."
Mrs. A. c. TraftOn, WIN is at the head of the
WORK Of the society in this Conference. and
ed the meeting, and in very feeling manner
urged upon the preachers and their wives the
necessity of organizing auxiliaries on every
charge.
Mrs.. Trafton is an able and attractive
speaker, and it is to be regretted that her health
and circumstances will not permit her to de.
vote her time and her superior abilities to the
work in which she feels so deep an interest.
DR.. McCabe followed and delivered charac-
teristic address, dwelling upon the grand posi-
bilities that are before the church if her forces
spread of the gospel.
EVENING
The temperance anniversary occurred in the
evening. Rev. j. r. Day of Portland, chair
man of the Temperance Committee, led the
exercises Rev. E. f. Adams offered prayer.
In few appropriate remarks, the chairman
stated the object of the meeting and intro
duced j. P. Osgood of Gardiner, one of the
leaders of the Reform movement, who spoke of
the "Cussedness of Rum" His excellent
address was followed by brief and eloquent
speeches by Revs. o. M. Cousens, John Collins
and DR.. G. G. McCabe.
SUNDAY.
This being the great day of the feast, all the
services were fully attended. Not outstanding
the rain, which fell copousiy, people from the
adjoining towns came in large numbers, and at
very early hour the church was filled to its
utmost capacity
At quarter before nine love feast was held,
led by E. Martin. 1t was season of unusual
powor md intarost Tn tho hnur ond rolf
devoted to it, 1888 spoke and sixteen songs were
sung
At 10A o'clock Bishop Merrill preached an
able, thoughtful sermon from John xvii, %:
''And the glory which thou hast given me,
have given them," &c.
| His theme was "the glory which the Father
gave the Son." and he stated that it includes;
| 1st All the glory of human character.
We conceive of human character as marked
with weakness and failure. From what we
see, we Can form no other conception. But
when Jesus came into this world, it was for
the purpose of showing what God intended
human character to be.
3D. That glory includes also all the glory of
His mission and work, fulfilled and completed
Before He could say "Father,. glorify thou
me-" He must say, II have finished the work
thou gavest me to do"
This glory which the Father gave the Son,
Christ gives only to His disciples.
We are not born perfect; we are not made
perfect by creation. We accept perfection as
the gift of Christ
The idea that God is our Father, because He
made US, is not scriptural Our sonship is
predicated not on Creation, but on Redemption.
The filial relation is produced only by new
birth on the part of such as receive Christ
The true brotherhood is brotherhood in Christ,
and they who are born of the Spirit are those
for whom the Saviour prays "that they may be
sne." We become sons of God, not by crea-
ton, but by new creation; not by generation,
but by regeneration; not by being born of the
flesh, but by being born of the Spirit.
At the conclusion of the sermon, Oliver S.
Piilsbury, Walter s. McIntire, Merritt g. Pen
dexter and Loring p Gould were ordained
deacons.
AFTERNOON.
At 81 o'clock Rev. c. G. McCabe preached a
powerful sermon flom Ruth iii, Is and 16,
which made a very deep impression upon the
hearers, who were intensely interested in his
fervid utterances.
David Pratt, George d. Lindsey, Roscoe L.
Greene and Peter e. Norton were ordained
elders.
EVENING
An "open meeting was held at u o'clock,
conducted by Rev. 1. Luce. 1t was continual
ton of the morning love FEAST and meeting
of profit and spiritual power
The Sunday at Pennington" will be long
remembered by those who had the good fortune
to enjoy its privileges.