The Portland daily press., 1881-06-16

1otdI......-. .........$OOZ.oo
All sent to the parent society to be distri-
buted in sums of $75 "a year to the benefi-
Charles. a.
7.45, W. e. Gould introduced service of
praise, assisted by the Welsh Singers of Lii
gonia. AS the church was filled by its largest
audience-more than 1900 having been count
ed-the volume of song and praise swelled up
ward to the roof, ascending without doubt
higher STILL The music furnished on this oc-
casion as throughout the conference, was by
the admirable choir of Williston, consisting Of
Mr.. Murray, organist; Mr.. John Morgan,
tenor; Mr.. F. G. Payson, bass; Miss Merrill
soprano; Miss Pratt, alto.
At $50 Gen. j. L. Chamberlain thanked the
committee for assigning him an informal place
and topic He said: 9e Fa
The care of the church for the schools, for
education, is a matter of great Importance.
There is a great movement the world over in
this direction. Look at France Just now rising
up for free schools, free from the control OF the
churches, and for this reason the Jesuits are
expelled. Books are introduced in the schools
and not only are traces of the Catholic religion
eliminated therefrom, but of all religion in
some cases. In Holland the movement is
somewhat similar-to make instruction such
las not to wound the religious convictions of
any person" In both countries thew do not SO
much manifest dislike to the religion of the
Gospel as to ecclesiasticism. In England on
the contrary school boards urge oil the teach
ers to bring religious principles home to the
hearts of the children. One old practice-I
fear gradually going into disuse-they revive,
that of committing to memory passages of
Scripture. Blackstone says Christianity is a
part of the law of the land If that is true
there is much more here. 1t is not considered
hardship here to recognize the power OF the
Gospel in civil and social life Shall we not
see that it is not disregarded in our systems of
education. The church, the school, the town
meeting and the militia are our foundation
stones. I do not argue for an enforced studyof
Christian dogmas in our schools, bu. the study
of the spirit Of Christianity would not be OBJ
pressive # not practicable to secure this end
by law, it can be done by influence, and this is
must sow by all waters. Is there not a falling
off of zeal in our churchiin educational matters.
We see others going forward ;lGod speed them
in their work. There may be something un-
pardonabe in our independence and freedom
OF thought in not making us sufficiently az
gressive and progressive. Our college has
welcomed your committees, and will all of
you. and we trust you will also send your sons
well principled and firmly established, and
thus build up themselves and US.
AS the audience slowly left the house it was
pleasant to seas a all the sessions-the de-
hshtfui exchange OF greetings, at the meeting
of old and new friends.
The following will be the order of exercises
tomorrow, which is the closing day:
6.00-Prayer meeting.
S30-Devotional meeting
/ 9.OO-In memoriam; reception of delegates and
reports of delegates; business.
9.30-American Missionary Association; Woman's
Aid, in ladies' parlor. Wiliston church.l
1O.0O-College, Seminary and Classical School.
1l.O0-Tho New Revision; essays by Prof. S. L.
Stearns Bangor, and Rev. G. jill. Ropes Ellsworth.
Up. m.-General discussion-Is more liturgieal
form of worship desirable in our Congregational
churches? Professor L. L. Paine, D. D., Bangor.
adjournment.
This Thursday evening, the train leaving
at 515 for Augusta will run through to Bangor
for the special accommodation of persons liv-
ing east of Augusta who may have been in at
tendance at the conference 1t will be due in
Bangor at TO- As p. M, and will stop after leav
ing Augusta to leave passengers only.