Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-05-01
CAPTURING THE CONTINENT.
How Shall Christs Kingdom Over
spread the Earth2
Saturday and Sundays Proceedings Of
the Maine Annual Conference.
pulpits Of All Denominations o.
cupied by Eloquent Methodists.
ANXIOUS Hearts Waiting for the READING
Of the Appointments.

S.0U
Lewiston.
Bishop Andrews took the chair at nine
o'clock.
The 18th question, "Who are the travelling
aeacons of the second classi' was taken up.
IA. Corey and E. w. Simons were passed
to that relation.
Question IA, "What travelling deacons
have been elected elders?" was taken up. G.
n Holmes, G. L. Burbank, E. S. Stackpole,
WI. Marshall and NJ. F.. King were elected
TO elders orders.
DR.. j. G. Hartzell. DR.. B. f. Tefft and
BRO. J. B. Housted of the Providence Con-
ference were introduced to the Conference.
III. Snow and NJ. s. Vail were continued
on trial, and W. F. Berry was admitted to
full connection and elected to elders orders.
S. NJ Emerson was continued in the super
numerary relation.
Question 3, "WhO are continued on trial?'
was taken up. T. F. Jones, W. +. Holmes,
J. NJ Frost were so continued.
William J.. Murphy was made effective.
Sam'l F. Emerson was elected to deacon's
orders.
John Robinson, formerly elder in the Free
BAPTIST church at Scion, applied for recogni-
ton Of orders in the NJ. E. church. He was
received.
Rev. J. Fl. Vincent, ID. D., corresponding
secretary of the S. s. Union and Tract
Society, was introduced to the Conference,
and spoke upon the Importance of the Sabbath
School, its special work, and the best method
to increase its usefulness. His remarks upon
what constitute true teaching should have
been heard by every teacher in the city.
Rev. C. F. Penney. of Augusta, pastor of the
Free Baptist church in this city, and delegate
to the Conference from his denomination.
brought the greetings of the Free Baptists of
Maine to the Conference.
Rev. II. w. Tilden of Augusta ably and
eloquently expressed the respect and affection
with which the Methodist church is held by
his denomination.
Rev. J. C. Hartzell, d. D., was introduced
as representing the Freedmen's Aid Society
of the NJ. +. church. We have on what was
a few years ago slave territory the magnif-
cent membership of over 100000. In the
past Is years we have built over 8, 900 churches
in the South; our church property has in
creased there over SIG, 200, 000-over $1,000
for every "a hours. At the close of the war
the Church had in the Southern border States
Of Maryland, Delaware, the Virginias, Ken
lucky, and Missouri, among the white people.
67,SO4 members, and $3.50, 693 of property;
and among the colored people 10000 men,
bers, and s25O,OO0 of property. To-day on
that same Southern border territory the
Church has 22l, 797 members, and Sc, 693,s46
in property. being gain of l23, 1893 members,
and Alb, 153 in church property. This
border increase includes $4,000 among the
whites and 80 900 among the colored people.
In our new Southern conferences, which now
cover the whole remaining South. the Church
has grown from nothing to membership of
fully 100000, with church and parsonage
property valued at 50, 169, $40. The Church
now numbers on what was slave territory
4lO,s99 members, and has church and par
sonage property valued at IS, 500, ZIG. The
net increase in the whole territory in 10
years has been 3l3, 095 in membership. and
S6,2s2, 1913 in property. This is an average
Of more than 90. 900 members and more than
$4,000 each year. On the border the in
crease has been $1,000 among the white, and
$4,000 among the colored people; that is,
more than twice as much among the former
as among the latter.
In 1879. the Church baptized 40. 406 per-
sons in that territory.
In lS7S19, 249 new Sunday schools, with
2,4l6 offic, RS and teachers, and 26.644 scho-
lars were added, making in all then in the
South 1896 schools, "a, 800 officers and teach
ers. and 264 1898 scholars. These numbers
have been increased since. In 1879. $61,-
655l3 were contributed to the benevolent
causes of the Church in this territory. In
1879, 4S3 churches and ~ parsonages we're
Quilt being more than four churches week
and parsonage every three weeks. VI the
2,Z25 ministers in that territory, fully nine>
tenths were born in the South. So this
church in the Southern States is not an exotic
plant, but is indigenous to the soil, rooted
among all classes of society.
More than any one church is the Methodist
Episcopal responsible for the salvation OF
the negro population of America. 1t had
most to do with giving them their freedom,
and the honor of that work is followed by
'he largest share in responsibility of their sal
vation. In all the nation there are 6.55a, lol;
that is, two out of every Is Of the whole pop
uiation. ethirteenths of these multi
tudes are in the South. They are increasing
more rapidly by births alone than are the
whites of America by births and immigration.
During the past 10 years the negroes ia
creased by births 30 per cent, and the whites
oy birth and immigration so per cent. With
numbers have come increase of character
and property, and home proprieties, and
all the elements of rapidly rising people
How God has thus in a manner not to be
disputed, swept away all the false theories
framed by the apologists for slavery or race
~