The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-09-05

growing plants loaded with flowers are al
ranged SO as to add their beauty to the scene.
The neighbors very kindly loan the tender
plants from their gardens and manifest much
interest in the proceedings. The uniform
for them mahy friends.
A beautiful reporters tent has been erected
near the stand and your correspondent having
been invited to occupy the same can testify to
the kindness of this people.
The sun has been inclined to hide his face
at intervals and then shine forth in all his
beauty, but his rays being broken by the leafy
covering overhead have failed to Cypress.
fine organ has been brought to the grove
and the people having suspended labor for
brief season made the grove echo and re-echo
with sweet waves of harmony. There are
many fine singers here and the song-services
cannot fail to attract much attention.
At o'clock session of the Maine con-
ference was held in the mission tent The
meeting was called to order by the President,
Elder j. B. Goodrich Prayer was offered by
Elder Weber and delegates from churches In
the following towns went forward: Deering,
~ OoihNiAiO' AeiOhiiiOiho' oN-'A'
South Norridgewock, Lnneus and Somerset
Mills. There are sixteen organized churches
belonging to the conference and three in the
State that do not belong to it. Committees on
nominations, resolutions, auditing and Gre
dentials We're appointed. The report of the
last conference was read and the meeting ad-
Journed to the call Of the chair.
AS the shades of night began to settle over
the encampment swinging lanterns were hung
from the trees land their mellow subdued
light made the evening hours glorious.
Public services began at 7.30 p. m. The
opening discourse was given by Elder Good
rich of Hartland. (The ministers in this
denomination protest against the use of the
title Reverend believing it should be applied
only to the Deity, hence the term Elder IS
used in these reports) The sermon was de-
signed to show the object of the camp-meeting
and the necessity of making the most of the
time. Prov s: IS, was used as a text-"I love
those that love me and those that seek me
early shall find me-" In one sense God loves
everybody, John 81 16. Besides this univer-
sal love he has special love for certain ones
among the children of men. This love is
based on conditions. If those who have done
wrong turn from the evil and reform their
lives God will have mercy Jer. Is: s. Ii we
honor Good, he will have Especial love and
care for us. The clause-''Those that seek me
early shall find me- is especially applicable
to those assembled on this camp-ground. The
word seek implies separation from God. Sin
separates us from the Lord, lisa. SO: l. The
object of our coming here is to seek God.
There are none Of us so good that it is impossi-
BILE for tbs to get nearer the Lord.
tive commence early in the meeting to call
upon God, He will manifest Himself to us in a
special manner. We believe in the second
coming of Christ when the dead will be
raised and all things pertaining to this life
have an end, yet do we realize it? We want
to let the salvation of our God come upon us,
until these hills, groves, plains and valleys,
echo and re-echo with prayer and groans.
that spirit of labor for them might be
awakened! The neighbors and friends in this
vicinity have given us the use OF this grove
and showered favors and kindness upon us.
We want to leave them a lasting blessing.
We can do this by getting the spirit of love
deep down in our hearts and then breathing it
out to others. The speaker dwelt with feeling
words upon the time when men will seek and
not be able to find, and exparted the people to
make sure work for eternity.
Elder Goodrich is q very earnest, energetic
speaker and takes holm of the feelings of his
audience in a remarkable manner.
REPORTER