The Portland daily press., 1882-04-28
BY TELEGRAPH.
THE METHODISTS.
Fifty-Eighth Annual Session OF
the Maine Conference.
SEC l. DAYS PROCEEDINGS.
Dispatch to the Press3

Dispatch to the Press)
AUGUSTA, April 2.
Yesterday at 2.3O p. M, DIR. McKeown OF
Chestnut street, Portland, preached the annu-
al missionary sermon, assisted in the opening
service by W. S. Jones and Geo. D. Lindsay
TIE text was Rom. ii:12-"For as many as
have snned without law, shall perish without
law"
"The chance for the salvation of the heath
en- without a knowledge of the gospel was the
theme presented, as essentially necessary to be
clearly understood in order to estimate cor
rectly the importance of foreign missionary
work, The theme was handled with skill and
the tone of reasoning was clear, deepening our
conviction that the preaching of the Gospel in
"all the world" is essential to its salvation. AS
the argument proceeded the interest In the
sermon deepened, the speaker seemed inspired
from above and the congregation frequently
responded in old Methodist style.
At the close of the service thu Preachers
Aid Society held their annual meeting, Rev.
e. W. Hutchinson in the chair. The treas
urer's report was presented and adopted. IL
presented a very cheering prospect, as legaces
and bequests to the amount OF nearly
$4,000 will soon become available.
An amendment was made in the constitution
by which an auditor of accounts is to be annn
ally elected as one of the officers of the society.
Officers were elected for the ensuing year as
published in yesterdays PRESS.
In the evening the New England Methodist
Historical Society held a meeting, DR.. 3. Al
len presiding. DIR. Mallilieu, the expected
speaker, did not arrive and Rev. G. +. Allen
and Dr. B. F. Tefft addressed the meeting,
presenting many thrilling incidents drawn
from the history of early Methodism. The
theme was one of deep interest to the large au-
dience present
THURSDAY MORNING.
The second day of the conference opened
with prayer meeting at o'clock.
At $50 there was praise meeting, led by
Rev. D. B. Randall of Lewiston.
At O'Clock the conference opened, the
Bishop in the chair.
The Stewards were made the committee on
claims on the conference fund.
Rev. Messrs Lovejoy of the Kansas confer
ence Mcdonald of thu New England confer
ence, Dearborn of the New Hampshire confer
ence Palmer and Mitchell OF the East Maine
conference, were introduced.
Took up the list of Effective Elders on
Portland district on character and administra-
ton; passed favorably.
Took up the character of Effective Elders on
Lewiston district which was represented by
A. S. Ladd in place of G. @. Mason, Presiding
Elder, deceased.
The character and administration of the
Elders passed favorably.
Took up the character and administration of
Effective Elders on Augusta district. The
district was very favorably reported by Rev. S.
Allen, Presiding Elder.
The character and administration of the
Elders passed under favorable review Geo.
r. williams has died during the year, leaving
widow and four small children.
The report represents Kent's Hill Seminary
as in very aourishlng condition, and desefv-
ing of still fuller patronage by the church. Its
teachers number Ii, its pupils, by the aggre-
gate of terms, 537. The value of the grounds,
buildings, etc., is $1O1 ,OO0 Its endowment is
S42,642.26. 1t has library of $500 volumes.
There are fifteen students preparing for the
ministry.
The report recommended the appointment OF
conference tract and book agent to travel at
large in the conference. This part of the re-
port was referred to special committee con-
sisting of five 10 be appointed by the chair,
viz: Jaqu-s Martin, Luce, Munger, Bradlee.
Bepi. Freeman was added to the Board of
Stewards.
Took up the Eighteen Qaestion-"Who are
the supernumary preachers?' The following
were continued superDumary:
G. Fuller, C. G. Cone, N c. Clifford, G. K.
Evans, j. w. Smith, H. f. A. Patterson, j.
Mitchell, j. a. Strout, e. 81. EMcKinney, j.
Colby.
LIP. French aud I. G. Sprague were made
effectye G. r. Wilkins was reported de-
ceased; G. H. Zimmerman transferred to the
n Ohio conference.
Rev VIM. P. Fisher, delegate from the
Maine conference of the Congregational
church, was introduced and addressed the con-
ference, bearing the fraternal greetings OF that
body.
The Bishop in behalf of the conference,
gracefully responded to the very able and pert
inent address.
Mr.. Stilson, superintendent of the Bible So
ciety in Maine, was introduced and addressed
the conference briefly on the work of Bible dis
tribution.
| Voted that fixing the seat of the next con-
| ference be made the order of the day on Fri
| day, at 10 o'clock.
| DR.. McKeown read report of the condition
| of the Wesleyan Seminary. Referred to the
committee ON education.
| A vote of thanks was moved by G. j. Clark
| to S. f. Wetherbee for the tables of conference
chronology prepared and published in the min
utes of 1880, and on motion of Dr. S. Allen
voted Mr.. Wetherbee be requested to continue
this chronology annually.
Took up the Nineteenth Question-"Who
are the superannuated preachers?" The rela-
tion of the following was continued:
| j. Alien, G. W. Morse, j. S. Rice, 81. l..
| Linscott, s. P. Blake, A. P. Hiliman, q. q.
| Covel, e. Smith, j. Stone.
The relation of j. P. Cole was changed to
| supernumary; D. B. Randall's character
passed, his relation continued.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
| This afternoon at 2 o'clock there were con-
sidered the question of domestic missions, by
Presiding Elders l. Luce and P. Jaques and
preachers aid by S. f. Wetherbee and J. Col
lins
| EVENING SESSION.
This evening occurred the meeting of the
Women's Foreign Missionary Society, with an
l n MnTo