The Portland daily press., 1881-09-30
THE UNIvnRsALIsTs.
Second Day Of the York and Cumberland
Association.

Association.
| The meetings of this association increased in
| interest and attendance throughout the day
yesterday. The conference meeting began
promptly at 9 o'clock in the morning, and was
| presided over by the Rev. Mr.. Rice. Mr..
Marston of South Berwick, one of the lay del
| egates, conducted the devotional services.
Interesting remarks were made by Rev.
Messrs. Hayden, Little, Thompson and Quinn
| by and Messrs. Howe, Marston and Clley.
The council was called to order at 10 o'clock
| The new delegates were Mrs M. e. Young of
Hiram, and Mr.. John Hatch, Mrs. Julia A.
Small and Mrs. John Hatch of Cumberland.a
The committee on adjournment reported
| that the next annual session would probably be
held at Upper New Gloucester
| 1t was voted to hold series of conferences
during the year and the Rev. Messrs. Hayden,
Little and Hamilton were appointed COM
mittee to make all necessary arrangements or
conducting them.
The Rev Mr.. Philbrook briefly presented
the claims of Westbrook Seminary, and at the
request of the executive committee of the
Maine convention urged upon the congrega-
ton the importance of the State missionary
work.
At half-past 10 Rev. DIR. Weston read his
address, which had been advertised, upon
"What is our standpoint as religious body
for effective work" The Doctor began by &C.
scribing some of the characteristics OF the pres
emit age There is conflict of opinion contilu-
ally going on. Perplexing questions are being
raised and doubts are expressed. In view 0,
these things conservative people are anxious
and fearful.
Upon supposition that the Universalist
church has reason for its existence and
mission to fulfil, the question is pertinent:
s.What is our standpoint as religious body
for effective work." We should stand as de-
tenders of religious liberty, and free investi-
CATION. In the second place we should stand
advocates of "a healthy progress, and thirdly
we should stand for faith. Without this faith
there is no effective werk for us. There should
be faith in God. in Christ, and in the Scrip
lures as a divine revelation from God. These
Scriptures should be accepted as authoritative,
but nationally interpreted. The ahectlonate
receivers OF the Word compose tne true
church Universalists should feel themselves
specially commissioned as ambassadors OF
Christ for the acc IN plishment of Christian
work. This work should be prosecuted in the
spirit of that charity which thinkesh no evil
The times demand high attainment. Hence
We should stand for sound learning and the
broadcast culture and for those instrumental
tiles which snail accomplish the greatest
amount OF good. We must also explain and
emphasize our position in regard to- expert
mental religion and our belief in personal pie |
ty aud individual conservation.
In closing, DIR. Weston said: "AbhorriDg, |
as we do, all cant and pretence, we do believe
in the necessity of turning from sin, IN the |
4 x,fsp xucr and N a
efficacy of sincere and earnest prayer. AS the |
strength of the church, the visible kingdom |
of Christ-depends upon the establishment OF
the kingdom OF heaven, the reign OF right
eousness in the individual soul, and as II was |
especially for this that Christ came and estab- |
lished ministry of grace, and as this is the |
salvation in which we believe, and which we |
anticipate will be universal, we must hold
no doubtful position upon this cardinal point, |
nor allow ourselves to be misunderstood before |
the world Nor must we disappoinJ those who |
need the helpful influence of such teaching |
and fellowship. A failure in this respect will |
be fatal one, failure TO do faithful, neces-
sary and effective Christian work.
This able paper was followed by an earnest
discussion in which Rev. Messrs. Little. Vail, |
Thompson, Hamilton, Mead and Hayden par
ticipated.
The ladies' of the parish provided a second |
dinner to the members of the association, |
which was excellent in quality and abundant |
in quantity.
The final session of the council was held at 2 |
O'Clock, at which the committee on resolu- |
lions reported the following, which were |
adopted:
RESOLVED, That this association gratefully |
accepts the indications of Divine Providence |
that the present is an encouraging and auspi- |
cious time for the advance of our faith in the |
would, and that we feel called upon TO 90 |
forth with increased zeal and self-sacritce 10 |
our appropriate labor in the Masters vineyard. |
ResolUed. That this association is encouraged |
and edited by The able addresses given by the |
Rev. Mr.. Vail and Dr. Weston, and that we |
desire 10 have them published in the columns |
of the Gospel Banner
ResotUed That We express grateful thanks |
for the satisfactory entertainments given the |
members Of the association by the pastor and |
people of the Stevens Plains parish.
Res0IUed That this association hereby en- |
dorses the present system of missionary work, |
as carried IN by the State convention through |
the State missionary, and we urge upon the |
parishes within our limits the necessity OF |
promptness in answering the appeals OF the |
convention for funds to carry on this work.
The Rev f. L Rice of South Berwick was |
appointed to preach the next occasional SER |
mon, and the Rev. j. H. Little, substitute.
On motion of The Rev. Mr.. Hayden, the |
sympathies of the association were extended |
to India street parish, in consequence of the
Calamity which threatens them in the proba-
BILE loss of their church edifce. Mr.. Hayden
and the moderator explained the situation of |
affairs in this parish, and showed that while |
the creditors meet with loss, the parish has to |
lose all it contributed-some $4,000 or 10000 |
During the session Of the association, gen |
erous collection was taken for the benefit of |
a clergyman of this denomination, VINO has be- |
come insane in consequence of poor health |
and overwork.
Before and after the regular service, on IT, |
vitation of DIR. Weston, the delegates and |
strangers visited the Seminary. Much pleas |
ure was expressed by them at the excellent |
condition in which they found every thing. |
Some of them expressed surprise at the prog |
ress which has been made in the school since |
their last visit.
The Rev Miss Waltze of Brownfeld preach |
ed in the afternoon. She was assisted in the |
services by the Rev. j. III. Little of Brunswick.
The church was we'll filled and Miss Waltze
held the closest attention of the congregation
for three quarters of an hour. Her manner in
the pulpit is very pleasing and her method of
sermonizing is unexceptonable. She is earn
est and has no peculiarities that offend good
TASTE In her public efforts she seems never
to forget that she is a lady The Impression she
F. IL 4l1I