The Portland daily press., 1882-05-02
BY TELEGRAPH.
THE METHoDISTs.
Fifty-Eighth Annual Session Of
the Maine Conference.
FIFTH AND SIXTH DAYs-CLosING
EXERCISES THE APPOINTMENTS.
lSnacial nisnatch to the Pressl
Special Dispatch to the Press.)
AUGUSTA, May l.
STJNDAV

"
Conference Sunday, the only day Of rest in
the year for Methodist minister, is
always season of peculiar interest, to those
who have been separated for a year, and are
on the morrow to separate again to "felds un-
known" The presence of 50 many prominent
ministers makes the occasion one of unusual
interest. DIR. Buckley, editor of the Christian
Advocate in New York, William Taylor the
man who puts so many missionaries into the
foreign field, DIR. Vincent, corresponding sec-
retary of our Sunday School Union, DR.. Hart
zell, superintendent of our work among the
Freedmen, DR.. Kidder, editor of our Sunday
school and tract literature, and chaplain Me-
Cabe, secretary of our church extension socie-
ty, with Bishop Andrews and many other visi-
tors, presents an array of ministerial talent
seldom seen at our annual conference, and the
services have been Of deep interest in all the
churches.
The conference services were held in the
Granite Congregational church, which is very
large and was kindly offered for our .accommo-
dation. At O'Clock the church was we'll fill
ed for the love feast, conducted by DR.. $. Al
len, and was very joyful occasion
At 1870 Bishop Andrews preached a power
full sermon on Faith, taking his text from
Mark xi, 22-"Have faith in God"
1t was very clear and instructive to those
who are seeking to live life of faith, and was
delivered with great JUNCTION and power.
The sermon was followed by the ordination
of Bros. Berry and Emerson as deacons. A
collection Of sixty-four dollars was taken for
the supsrannuated preachers and widows of
the conference.
Ats o'clock Or. Buckley preached from
Daniel 2, 44-"In the days Of the Kings,
God shall set up kingdom, etc." The theme
was the permanence anG indestructibility of
the kingdom of Christ, indications of which
are seen in its progress and triumph over
all opposing influences.
After the sermon Bishop Andrews, assisted
by four Elders ordained Gardiner D. Holmes,
George L. Burbank, Everett s. Stackpole,
William F. Marshall, Melville E. King, and
publicly recognized the parchments of James
Robinson as local elder received from the
Free Baptist Church.
Interesting services were held in the evening
in nearly all the churches in the city which
were supplied during the day by prominent
visiting clergymen.
MONDAY.
At o'clock the conference opened with the
Bishop in the chair.
S. f. Wetherbee reported for the Steward
fund distributed among the needy preachers or
their widows $1831.00 leaving in the treasury
of the Preachers Aid Society as contingent
fund S193.00.
James Nixon's character passed. D. Perry
j. Hawkes. and Isaac Lord were made super
numeraries without appointment. Bro. Lord
addressed the conference and explained in a few
words with much feeling his had been a
continuous ministry for ffty-two years. He
was now eighty years old and he felt he needed
rest
The case of Bro. Murphy was reconsidered,
and he was made supernumerary without an
appointment.
Leave of absence was granted to x. Atkin-
son and Joshua Frost.
d. B. Randall asked that his relation as su-
perannuated may continue. 1t was granted.
Voted-That the pastors at Ogunquit and
Madison Bridge be permitted to solicit funds
ing.
Took up II Question-aWho are admitted
on trial?'
Charles f. Parsons, Charles S. Cummings,
Herbert A. Floss, Frank R. Butler, Walter
Canham, Robert E. Bisbee.
These were all examined and admitted. VIM.
G. Kitchen was voted elders orders for
missionary work in japan. j. G.. Bond was
elected also to elders orders for missionary
work in New Orleans
George D. Lindsay reported for the commit
tee on marriage and divorce:
The committee re-emphasized their resolu-
tions of last year, that ministers should preach
at least once on the snbJect to their churches
during the current conference year; that no
person should be employed by presiding elders
as a stated supply who has been divorced for
any other cause than that specified by our
Lord that it is wrong for any minister to mar
ry couple when there is suspicion OF either
of the parties having been divorced for any
other cause than breach of the seventh COM
mandmenr; that the pastors OF the three
Methodist Episcopal churches TO be stationed
in Portland be committee to cooperate with
the other committee in furtheriDg endeayors
to improve our laws in this regard.
Voted, That the three preachers stationed at
Portland with Bro. Wetherbee be a committee
ject.
Adopted.
Bro Corey for the committee on fraternal
relations reported the nominations of the fol-
lowing delegates. Report adopted:
To General Conference of Congregational
churches-G. ID. Lindsay.
To Maine Baptist Convention-I. Luce.
To Maine Conference Free Baptist yearly
meeting-F. G. Rogers.
To Maine Eastern Free Baptist yearly meet
ing-E. s. Stackpole.
Voted to accept the report of committee on
memoirs.
G. f. Allen reported for the committee on
education the following nominations:
Visitor to Wesleyan Association-T. lyric.
Visitors to Maine Wesleyan Seminary-R.
Sanderson, W. f. Holmes.
Visitors to Boston University-A. W. Pottle,
W. F. Berry.
Visitors to Wesleyan University-C. F. AL
len, A. f. Chase.
DR.. Buckley, editor of the New York Chris
tian Advocate, addressed the conference on
the influence of the press.
Chaplain McCabe addressed a few kind
parting words to the conference.
C.J. Clark reported resolution from the
committee on the Sabbath.
E. S. Stackpole, I. Luce and j. f. Hutchins
were appointed committee of conference as
provided for in the resolution.
/. Luce reported for the committee on the
Freedmen. Report adopted.
N. G. Clifford reported for the committee on
the Bible couse. Report adopted.
The committee on Metropolitan church re-
ported a conference pledge of $3.50 to aid them.
Report adopted.
The committee on church extension reported
and the report was adopted.
The committee on home religion reported by
John Collins. Report adopted.
Voted to adjourn to 2.30 this afternoon.
Saturday afternoon the trustees of the
Maine Wesleyan Seminary held a meeting. A
committee consisting of j. A. Locke, Esq, and
Gen. j. j. Perry of Portland; Rev. Il. P. Tor