The Portland daily press., 1882-10-27
THE OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES.
Cumberland Conference at Falmouth.

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tuesday evening at O'Clock the conference
resumed its session with praise meeting for
nall an hour. Prayer was offered by Rev. FL.
>. Huntington. At 40 Rev e. S. Tead spoke
on the question. Glow can our feeble churches
DC revived and strengthened" Great en-
phasls was laid upon our need of the Holy
spirit. We get this strength by waiting for
u by desiring it, by asking for it, by honoring
us instrument make great use of the word of
Goa, which is the sword of the spirit.
AT o'clock w. E. Gould, Esq. discussed
the Questions, "How can we reach non-church
goers? The marked decline in church at
tendance at the present time was noted and
the fact was illustrated by reference to the
history OF Falmouth in this respect for the
last one hundred years and more. Among the
reasons given why people now stay away from
church were these:
1st-The church is too apologize We need to
emphasize more the duty of attending church
ana the sin Of staying away from divine
worship.
2d-There are now too many societies which
tend 20 take away mems attention from chu rich
worship and make them content with mora
ity instead of religion.
3d-Men have often become disguised and
even skeptical as to religion and so stay away
from church because of the unwisdom, if
not, the hypocrisy and cant of certain class
OF its professors.
At $50 o'clock Rev. j. G. Holbrook, D. d..
gave an address on home missions, dwelling to
some extent on the magnitude of the work
and Its Importance to our country.
After prayer by Rev. F. Southworth the
conference adjourned at 9.15.
wEDNEsDAY-HoRNINa SESSION
The conference resumed its session at $50
a. M, with prayer meeting conducted by
Rev. DR.. Holbrook
AT 1918 Rev. II. S. Huntington spoke al
length on the importance of religious instruc-
ton at home. Particular attention was called
to the following points:
We need to aid the Sabbath School and to
supplement its instruction with religious in
struction at home. Family worship can be
made great help in this direction. 1t is also
highly desirable to have good scripture COM
mentarles in every family and to use them.
Good reading is another important aid. Let
the Bible ilumine all your reading. Then, too,
we ourselves must have living interest in
the spiritual truths which we teach. Our reli-
gious instruction must be practical, we cannot
sever it from life
Rev. c. A. Dickinson spoke most effectively
on the Importance of home piety.
Rev. E. A. Harlow made important sag
gestions as to how the meetings of the con-
ference can be made more interesting and
helpful 1t was voted to have hereafter three
meetings year of one day each instead of two,
these meetings coming the second Wednesday
in June aid the fourth Wednesday in October
and January.
The conference adjourned at 10 O'Clock.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
AT 2.50 the conference sermon was preached
by Rev. w. Fl. Fem. Text: John IA: 20-"At
that day ye shall know hat am in my Father
and We in me and in you.''
Immediately after the sermon the sacra-
ment of the Lords Supper was administered
by Rev. f. Southworth and Rev. DR.. Seward
A vote of thanks to those entertaining guests
was passed to which response was made and
the conference closed with the benediction by
Rev. Mr. Fenu.
The next meeting of the conference will be
in January with the West Church, Portland.