Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-04-27
MAINE nETnooIsTs.
opening Of the 58th Annual Conference,
OF the Denomination.
Large Attendance Of Clergy and Laymer
from all Quarters.
me Meetings characterized bv
Burning Enthusiasm.
BUSINESS session.-The Cause or w,s.;on.
"ethodfst Historical society.

The 5sth session of the Nai,a
opened at the Methods
church, wednesday morning At nine o'cloc,
'he HOLY Sacrament was administered which
was partaken of by large number-l57 min
isfers and laymen. Bishop Edward G. An
s'Presides over the deliberations of the
conference, in place of Bishop Foss who i.
Kept away on account of i'll health. Bisbor
Ahorewsis an intellectual-looking gentleman
with expansive forehead and massive head
covered with thin, silvery hair. and well.
trimmed side-whiskers. Generous living and
nigh thinking have left their impress ON form
and feature. He is an ideal Bishop.
| AT 10 O'Clock Rev. c. J. Clark, presiding
elder of the Portland district secretary o,
last year, called the names of the members O,
the Conference. Eighty-seven clerpvmen
responded, some 30 members not being in at.
tendance at this stage of the proceedings.
Two ministers have died during the past year
hev. Geo. X wilkins. who was stationed at
East Wilton, and who died early in the win.
ter, and Rev. c. c. Mason Of Hallowell. pre.
siding elder of the Hallowell district. who
died few weeks ago
| The following officers of the Conference
were chosen:
| Secretary-Rev. Geo. e. Andrews, West
| Baldwin.
| Assistant Secretary-Rev. w. F. Holmes.
Alfred.
Financial Secretary-Rev. A. W. Polite.
Wateryille.
Statistical Secretary-Rev. w. S. Jones.
| Bath.
| The stewards of the Conference are S. F.
| Wetherbee, L. Lord and NJ c. Pendexter
Committees were appointed on Public
Worship. Education, Temperance and Tobac-
co, Marriage and Divorce, Freedmen's Aid,
| Church Extension, Conference Relations,
| Memoirs, Bible Cause, Methodist Literature,
Duty of American Citizens, Admission to
| Conference, Home Religion, Domestic Mis-
| sions, Fraternai Relations.
Rev. DR.. ID. p. Kidder, secretary of the
Methodist Board of Education, was intro
duced by the Bishop, and addressed the Con
| of the Board. its interests and wants
Bishop Andrews stated that the Maine
| Conference was entitled to draw Sl64 as its
| proportion of the dividends of the Book Con
| Germ for the past year.
The Secretary read communication,
| stating that the amount of the Episcopal
| fund assigned to be raised by the Maine Con
| ference for the support of Bishops and the
widows of deceased Bishops was $500. Sew
| eral documents from the various central and
general organizations were received and
| referred to the appropriate committees; also
| a document from the Y. NJ. C. A. of Augusta
inviting the members of the Conference to
visit their rooms during their sojourn in this
city. This was accepted with thanks.
The Conference then took up the 10th ques
| ton regarding the characters of the effective
! elders. The name of Rev. c. j. Clark, pre-
! siding elder of the Portland district. was
called, ard he presented the following
REPORT OF THE PORTLAND DISTRICT.
| OF the A charges composing the Portland
district, 40 have been served the past year by
pastors appointed by the Bishop; two have
| been supplied by the presiding elder; one
has had no supply, and one that was aban
oned by its regularly appointed pastor has
been supplied by a member of another Con-
| ference. The presiding elder has travelled
the district as the Discipline requires, has
visited all the churches, has preached fire.
oueutlv six and occasionally eight times a
week, and has not missed an appointment
| during the wear. The health of the
| preachers has been excellent. None have
been seriously embarrassed in their work be-
cause of physical disability. The strength
If BROTHER ID. W. LeLacheur yielded few
| weeks ago to protracted overwork. but we
trust his recovery will be speedy and com
nlete. The condition of the charges, from II
denominational point of view, is not altogeth-
or encouraging. | am sorry to say that there
are charges where not single copy Of any
| of our church papers Is taken by any member
and where the only copy of the Discipline Is
hat of the preacher The presence of a few
| loval earnest intelligent Methodlsts would
| work a revolution in many of our rural
| ,b,rgas the influence of which would be
widely felt and would be productive OF great
| cood The financial condition OF the charges
| bas NOT materially changed from that OF
| f,rmer wears, except that in some cases tue
Indebtedness has been removed. There Is
| hut one church in the district--that OF ognn-
ouit-that is seriously embarrassed by DEBT
ar the present time. The estimated claims
of the preachers range from $500 to $500
In many instances the financial ability OF the
naonle is taxed to the utmost to afford com
for,ahe support to the preacher, and but III
,,e bevond that can be reasonably expected
larye part of our Conference territory Is
missionary ground; and the only way IN
which we can hope to maintain our position
i 10 90 increase the funds of our Home MIS-
s;onary Society that these strusgi'ne
ehargss can be relieved. The present
condit;on of things could be greatly
;mnroved. doubtless, if in some eases
,wp or more stations could be united u
.ne pastoral charge, provided the PREJUDICE s.nr
,g,;nst such course could be removed IRON
he minds of the preachers and people. "a
Kn;gbtyille very neat and commodloa i
,.h.nel. the cornerstone OF when was ia y
hiring the last Conference, was compisteu !.
October. 1t cost s2l00, and was dedica.es
fres from debt. A church edifee has pee pee,
nr.,c,ed at Woodford's. costing s99ou, "hic'
Iii he dedicated in few weeks For gen
rons help in the erection OF ooth 'hss'
1 ...l, tod N