The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1880-07-27
THE FREE BAPTISTS.
Saturday and Sunday Sessions OF the
Centennial Conference.

At 5.45 a. m. Saturday morning a prayer
meeting was held in the Concord House. Rev.
A. A. Smith of Minnesota leading. Two sim
liar gatherings was held at $50 and many were
present. The conference opened at o'clock,
President Cheney of Bates College presiding.
A very please Mt feature of the meeting was
the presentation of Rev. A. H. Quint, d. D.
of Dover, who appeared as delegate from
the Congregational Nat ional Council. This
gentleman spoke very ably and with great ac-
ceptance, and hearty and earnest reply came
from Rev. DIR. Bowers of Maine. There was
still more significance in the presence of Rev.
DIR. Quint, from the fact that he is q great
grandson of Rev. Benjamin Randall, the
founder of the Freewill Baptist denomina-
ton.
Papers were then read from Rev. Charles G.
Ames of Boston, delegate from the Unitar-
ians, and from Rev. W. II. Bellows, D. D. of
New York city. Rev. Mr.. Ames is expected TO
be present this week and to have formal in.
PRODUCTION.
Since the last co inference in 1877, seventy
nine ministers have died, their average age
being 70.
The Women's Sunday School meeting was
largely attended and was conducted BY Mrs.
W. II. Bowen. 1t was held at the grove,
where there was coed music and singing.
Miss Carrie Clark of Derry rendered several
solos. Mrs. G. F. Mosher read most credit
able paper entitled Influence of Sunday
School Literature" and Mrs. Mary latham
Clark presented an interesting essay upon
nj poxr NJ
Brewster of Rhode Island, conducted the
question box and called up Mrs. Burlingame
OF that State, Mrs. Bunker of Maine, Mrs.
True of Wisconsin, Mrs. Franklin of West
Virginia and others.
At O'Clock there was a children's meeting,
conducted by Rev. Mrs. Fenner of Rhode Is.
land
. The regular afternoon session of the con-
ference was devoted to the subject of Sunday
schools paper being read by Rev. o. E.
Baker, which was followed by addresses from
Rev. Professor r. Dunn, d. d., Rev, e, s.
Kicker, and Rev. e. W. Page.
The early conference of the evening was de-
voted to the discussion Of Sunday school work
and was followed by Bible reading by j. A.
Howe, D. d. The regular meeting of the
evening was led by Rev. o. d. Patch. wy
A sad shadow was cast over the conference
by the arrival of telegram for President
Cheney of Bates College, announcing the
death of a grandchild, son of j. F. Boothby, a
well known express proprietor.
The fifth day of the Free Baptist Centennial
was of great interest. 1t is estimated that
5000 persons were on the grounds. There was
social prayer meeting in the Soldiers Payil-
ion at a. m, led by Rev. Mr.. Tracy of Mass
achusetts. There was a sermon in the grove
at 1880 by Dawson Burns, D. d. of England,
from Cor. xiii, 10. Very many spoke briefly
at prayer meeting in the grove at 100 p. m.
There was sermon at 2p m. by President
Goodby of Chilwell College, England, from
Psalms tx. A grand Sabbath school at D. m.
was conducted by Deacon e. W. Page of New
York. fifty teachers and two thousand scholars
participating. At $50 sermon was delivered,
by special request, by Rev o. E. Baker of
Iowa. No trains ran to the grounds. The or
der during the day was excellent.