The Portland daily press., 1882-06-21

BANGOR, June 20.-The 56th annual meet
tional churches of Maine opened in Bangor this
forenoon in Central church, and will continue
through Wednesday and Thursday There
has been large arrival of delegates, and the
attendance promises to be large.
The opening session was devoted to organ
ization and the conference sermon. preached
by Rev. George S. Dickerman of Lewiston.
The organization of the conference was per-
fected by the choice of the following officers:
Moderator-Rev. f. e. Clark, Portland.
Corresponding Secretery-H. s. Huntington,
Gorham.
Treasures. S. Wheelwright, Bangor.
kilograms of fraternal greetings were sent
to Massachusetts,
The officers elected to the conference will
serve three years. The committee on oreden-
tials reported that in addition to delegates from
the various churches some sixty delegates were
present from local conferences. The text of
Rev. G. S. Dickerman in his sermon before
the conference was Isa 62-10-"Go through, go
through the gates"
AFTERNOON SESSION.
In the afternoon Rev. II. S. Huntington of
Gorham, Me-, read the annual report of the
state of the churches. A summary shows
there are 66 pastors, 8 more than last year,
S5 acting pastors, which is more, and 40 min
listers without charge, which is II less. The
total number of ministers is 1911. Our churches
number 244, one new church having been
formed during the year; of these 81 (same as
last year) have installed PASTORS 101 against
103 of them have acting pastors and II are su p
piled with licentiates. The total membership
of the churches is 2l,3l8; non-membershlp,
1858. Additions to the churches have been
by profession of faith 496; by letter 299; total
7S7. Removals by letter 440; transferred to
other churches 298; by discipline 80; total ISL.
Cumberland North Conference, Hancock,
Kennebec, Lincoln. Sagadahoc, PenobScot,
Somerset. Waldo, and Washington report loss i;
Aroostook, Cumberland. Franklin, Oxford,
Pscataquis, Union and York have gained
Baptisms of adults 343; infants III; number in
Sabbath Schools, 20 445; families in congrega-
tions 3,613; gifts to foreign missions 0,2l2;
gain over last year of $198; to the American
College and Educational Society 1854; to the
CONGREGATIONAL Union church building $945 ;an
icrease of $39S; to home missions $10,363;
to the American Missionary Association
S333S; TO the Congregational Sabbath School
and Publishing. Society. $79; to other objects,
$40, ,725; total benevolent objects, $3S, ,043; a
gain this year of $780, A review OF the year
shows that in spiritual blessings it has been
comewhat better than its predecessor. There
are fifteen local conferences.
During the afternoon there were addresses as
follows: Present Special Dangers to the Spirit
uality of the Church, by Rev. G. A. Dickinson
of Portland.
Dormant Power of the Church, by Rev. G..
w. Huntington of Ellsworth, and
Christian Nurture of the Young by the
Church-Special Methods, by Rev. It. e.
Clark of Portland.
EVENING SESSION.
The 54th annual meeting of the Maine Con-
gregational Charitable Society was held this
evening, Rev. D. Tenney in the chair. Rev.
F. v. Norcross of Union, Secretary, and Rev.
j. E. Adams of Bangor, Treasurer, read their
reports. Seventeen families of ministers who
have deceased have been aided during the year
to the amount of $745.
The conference resumed its session and Rev.
W. H. Fem of Portland delivered an address
on The Best Method of Dealing with Prevalent
Scepticism.
The address of Prof. Campbell, on account
of the lateness of the hour, was postponed till
tomorrow evening.