The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-04-28
nIETHODIsTs.
Fourth Days Session of the Maine Con
ference.

The Conference opered Saturday as usual
with half hour of prayer, and at O'Clock the
Bishop took the chair and announced the death
of Bishop Ames, aged "a years, which event
occurred Friday morning. A communication
was read announcing the gift of bond of $500
from friend to the Preachers Aid Society of
the Maine Conference.
A vote of thanks was given to the unknown.
and yet well.known donor.
J. W. Murphy was received to full connec.
ion in the Maine Conference.
Took up the Sth question: who are the
Supernumer aries.
S. M. Vail Relations continued.
j. Mooar, Given supernumerary relation in
the conference.
J. P. Weeks, Continued with request to To-
cate.
O. Fuller, Relation continued.
@ @ Gone, Relation continued.
j. r. Maslermau, Relation continued
G. Zimmerman, Relation continued with
request that be ask location.
N. G. Clifford, Relation continued.
f. A Robinson. Relation continued.
Q. w. Averill, Relation continued with re-
quest that he locate.
S. M. Emerson, Relation continued with
request to locate.
Y. X Evans, Relation continued.
n. Andrews, Relation continued,
n. f. A. Patterson, Relation continued
|. Hill, Continued in the supernumary re-.
latiop.
The Bishop announced the transfer of J. r.
Day to the New Hampshire Conference and
the transfer of J. B. Hamilton to the Maine
Conference.
The location of N. D. Wilton at his own re.
quest was announced.
j. r. Day reported from the committee on
lions Herald.
d. B. Randall DELICATE to Wesleyan Publ sh-
ing Association in Boston, reported.
DR.. Pierce, editor Of Zion's Herald, spoke 10
reply to the report in very felicitous manner
He referred especially to the opposition he
found m his earlier labors, to Methodism in
New England. He referred with happy feel
ing to the change produced by the educating
influences OF our literature and literary insti
tutes He referred to the fine prospects of the
University in Boston and said as a publishing
house it has given us position and influence
that cannot be estimated by those living far
away; while its high literary reputation has
given rs far-reaching and acknowledged in.
hueuce on the cultured intellect of New Eng.
land, even.
he spoke modestly of bis own relations to
the paper, and expressed his desire to make it
suit every body. but also gave his fears of sue
cess. A S. Weed, agent of Z,on's Herald, said
he always felt, in following DR.. Pierce, as
Mark Twain felt when he entered a hotel and
found but two psgs on which to hang his
clotbe:-one of them was broken off and tbs
other was pulled out!
He spoke of the cost of publishing religious
paper like lions Herald and claimed that
there was no cheaper religious paper in New
England OF equal size and matter. He COM
pared the present size, price ard paid CORES
pondence, with former papers, and some 9TH
ers OF the present times in which correspondence
is not paid; for he compared it with the Con-
gregatioDalist, National Baptist, lions Advc-
cate, and other leading papers, showing that
lions Herald is not higher than other publipa-
tions. The present circulation is about Il, 600.
The report was adopted
DR.. G. D. Foss. President of Wesleyan Uni.
versity, Was introduced and addressed the con.
ference on the claims and merits of that il Sill
tuition. He gave high endorsement of Zion's
Herald. 167 students are in process of train
ing for literary and religious work at the co.
lege at this time. A short time ago we lost in
six months time $4,000 of annual income;
but this breach has been repaired so that we
are again in successful operation with only
IS, 900, and this is being rapidly reduced and
does not hinder our progress. DR.. Foss spoke
with great feryor and power, but cur limits will
not permit full report of his speech This
one college has sent out 1900 graduates, $50 Of
them Christian ministers.
DR.. Smaller was introduced.
The stewards made final report of the base
of claims which was adopted.
V0ted-That hereafter each preacher shall
report every conference collection at the con-
ference.
The Bishop congratulated the conference in
taking this noble position. that 10 other con-
ference had dared to take.
Bro. Potter reported $9588 cents in his
hands for educational interests, and the con-
ference directed one half the amount b, paid to
Kents Hill, the rest to N. E. Educational
Society.
DR.. Reid, Missionary Secreatry, was introduced
and addressed the conference. The debt on
our society has been reduced but it is still in
our way and should be cleared off. Our mis-
sions are prospecting, but the fields are widen
ing; they are white, they are ready, within the
last two years $4,000 psgaDs have become
Christians. One hundred men are called for,
for Japan alone. One is going from the confer
ence, the son of DR.. S. Vail. Our mission
buildings in New York, built by private funds,
are paid for and the rents are sufficient 10 pay
nearly all the expenses of our agencies, print
Ing, &C., leaving not more than one and half
per cent. at most for incid entail expenses to be
deducted from our general fund.
plan Of missionary effort was presented by
W. S. Jones and referred to special COM
mittee of three.
Bros. Randall, Munger and Jones we're ap-
pointed.
Rev. Asa Dalton, Rector Of St Stephens
Episcopal church in this city, was introduced
and presented the claims of the Young We
mans Home in Portland, now 10 charge of
Rev. G. Andrews of this Conference.
Notice was given that the Conference will
finally adjourn On Monday.
Adjourned.
SATURDAY AFTERNOON.
AT 2.30 occurred the anniversary Of the Sun
day School Union, under the direction of o
M. Cousins chairman of the Sunday School
Com mittee.
The centre of the church was occupied BY
children from the three Methodist Sunday
schools of the city.
The exercises commenced with singing by
the children, f'Here in love we meet"
Rev. John Allen (better known as Camp
Meeting john Ailen) reci.ed appropriate pas
sages of scripture, Rev. W. J. Murphy offered
prayer and the children sang, "Must GO, and
empty handed"
Rev. Thos. lyric was the first speaker, who
delivered an excellent address on "rhs import
anee of Sunday school work." He deprecated
the little time devoted to the work and the
scant attendance of the people. upon the week
ly exercises of the Sunday school, and in elo.
quent terms exhorted his hearers to use dill
gently this most important means of church
growth.
The next speaker was Rev. I. Luce, whose
theme was "The spiritual qualification of the