The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-06-15

Rev. f. e. Clark read a letter from deacon
of the church in Burlington soliciting money
from the denomination for the purpose of fin
ishing a church building
Mr.. Gould in behalf of the committee on di-
vorce reported that a memorial had been laid
before tho Legislature and then indefinitely
postponed.
On motion of Rev. G. J. II. Ropes of Ellis
worth the printed order of exercises was made
the official order of the Conference.
Rev. f. e. Clark read resolution of greet
ing to the Friends now in session at the City
Hall, which was unanimously adopted, and
Rev. H. f. Harding of Hallowell was chosen
to bear them the message.
At 1890 Rev. A. E. Dunning the Sunday
School Secretary from Boston, stated that the
special object of his appointment was to revive
an interest in the work by organized effort, by
holding conventions, and by purifying our
Sunday School literature. Also to supplement
the Home Missionary Society in its labors at
the West. In accordance with his suggestion
the following committee was chosen to CO.
operate in the work: Rev. w. Woodbury.,
Gardiner, Rev. G. FL. Pope, Thomaston, ]. S.
Crosby, Bangor, Prentiss Loring, Portland, r.
Woodbury., Castine.
The conference sermon was preached by
Rev. w. P. Fisher of Brunswick
The Conference sermon, preached by the
Rev. DIR. Fisher, was an admirable exposition
of the principles of Congregationalism, in
formed with genuine christian charity and Wig
orously defending as wise the form of church
organization which he and his fellow Congre-
gationalists prefer. The solidity of the true
church was acknowledged and emphasized
while the benefits of tho conventional divis-
ions were urgently advanced. The texts were
Ephesians iv. 8: "Endeavoring to keep the
unity OF the spirit in the bond of peace" and
Mark tx. 46: "For he that is not against us is
on our part" So reads the old version. 1t
may be interesting to compare that reading
with the language of the new, Sewing dill
gence to keep the unity of the Spirit in the
bond of peace;" and "For he that is not against
us is for u.s.
We regret that we have not the available
space for full abstract of his excellent doc
trinal discourse.
WOMAN'S MISSIONARY SOCIETY
The Woman's Auxiliary to the Me. Mission
airy Society held its first annual meeting in the
parlor of the church, Mrs. w. E. Gould pre-
siding. After the reports of the Secretary
Mrs. L. L. Paine, and the Treasurer Mrs. J..
L. Crosby, both of Bangor, were read; the
vice presidents from each county conference
reported personally, or by letter, the progress
of the work in each field, plainly indicating
that an active interest in the cause Is excited
IA Of ho ol, I,x,
of this organization.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
Rev. Fl. s. Huntington of Gorham, the AS
sistant Corresponding Secretary, presented the
annual report of the state of the churches, full
Of interesting and valuable statistics complied
from the returns from the several conferences.
We could fill column with details were space
given-ranging from the snccessful efforts of a
circle to obtain church bell, or of others to
build a parsonage, or some more favored ones
| about to erect stone church-the missionary
spirit in city church that brings in scores OF
| girls to sewing school, and Chinese by the
dozen to study the word of God in the English
tongue-the conversion oflpupils in the CLASH
cal school who will by spiritual gravitation pass
| through the college and thence into the Theo-
| logical Seminary.
The existing churches of the denomination
number 243; ministers 1872, of whom Ga are pas.
tors, 100 acting pastors, % without charge; adj
| ditions to the churches Cos; removals by all
causes 1853; entire membership 21,239; males
6,34S; females IA 1891; 1857 absentees baptisms
256 adults, Ill infants. In the administration
| of this ordinance there has been steady de-
cline since 1856 There are 1880 familie,
connected with the churches The confirm
lions have been for foreign missions, $9,973;
college and educational societies, 81 ,271; Con
| gregational Union, 81 ,065; home missions. S1I
547; American Missionary Society, So oO7
other objects, S13, $751; total, SAL, Iii; for home
expenditures, $179,725.
Rev. A. w. Moore of Pennington discussed
the question-Shall we seek largely by 1eyiy
ais, the upbuilding and increase of Oh
churches? maintaining the following positions
That we are not using all our power; that W,
are not reaching by our organizations all tn,
| persons that we might that we do not get al
| those we reach.
| Rev. G. II. Pope Of Thomaston thought tina
usually a resort to the ordinary revival agen
|
In the use OF established methods. Rev. C. Fl
Gates of Kennebunkport believed that it was
safe to convert men by any of the ways tina
had received tho blessing of God in thu
past.
The relation of the church to children, an,
OF children to the church" was considered by
kev. w. Il. Richards of Bath, one of tn
youngest ministers in the state and one of tn,
most promising. He was followed by Rev. W
Woodbury., Rev. A. P. Tinker of Auburn an,
Rev. A. E. Dunning, in a most animated dis
cusslon. All the speakers recognized tn
rights Of the children in the church, for which
they should be educated and into which the,
should be led. The church are too faultless i
TINS matter and too reluctant to feed the lamb
and give them their place in the fold. Rev