The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1882-06-16
THE OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES.
Their Union Conference Held at FryeDurg
FRYrpuRa, June IA, 1882.

FRYEBURG June IA, 1882.
This body, composed of the Congregational
churches in Fryeburg, Albany, Brownfeld,
Denmark, Hiram, Lowell, Stow, Sweden and
Waterford in Oxford county, and of those in
Bridgton, Casco, Harrison, Naples and Otis
field in Cumberland county, held its annual
session in this town yesterday and to-day The
organization Tuesday morning was completed
by the choice of Dea. j. 2. Cobb OF Lowell as
Moderator, and Rev. j. S. Richards of Water
ford as Scribe and Treasurer. At IL O'Clock
the annual sermon was preached by Rev. j. S.
Richards OF Waterford-text. Heb. Kill.
Rev. l.. Goodrich OF Lowell read the reports
from the churches at the beginning of the af-
ternoon meeting. The entire membership is
1866; the increase As; loss IS. The number OF
scholars in the Sabbath school 81 less than last
year, although no report was received from
two schools. There is gain of $152.00 in the
contributions to benevolent objects. Nine of
the sixteen churches received aid from the
Maine Missionary Society to the amount of
5000. Total contributions to that society about
$500, and largely from the women'S organiZs-
ton. Nine ministers have the care of fourteen
churches. From statistics of several towns it
appears that in some of them only one-sixth
part of the inhabitants are in the habit Of at
tending meeting on the Sabbath.
Topics suggested by this report were dis
cussed by Rev. N Lincoln of North Bridgton
and by Rev. W. b. Hague Of South Bridgton.
The first half hour in the evening was given
to service of song, conducted by DIR. Mason,
in which the Sabbath school participated. The
remainder of the time was occupied by Rev. n.
Crowell of Hiram and Rev. j. S. Richards in
the discussion of subjects Of interest to the
school.
Wednesday forenoon, after tho transaction
of business and the return Of fraternal greet
ings in response to a telegram received from
the Penobscot Conference.-The topic, Wherein
les the necessity or propriety of g liberaiziug"
the doctrines held by our churches, was dis
cussed by Rev. L. Goodrich, Rev. ii. 81. Hutch.
inson and Rev w. B. Hague. Rev. 1. III.
Libby of Otisfield made suggestions to aid
Christians to make advanced movements
Miss E. B. Emery of Gorham, who has visit
ed the South as representative OF the Ameri-
can Missionary Society, gave a very interest
ing account of her exploration of this field,
and Of the ignorance and destitution which ap-
peals so strongly to the charitable sympathy of
the North. She mentioned as remarkable
fact that among the negroes individuals were
frequently found who could not read the Bible,
and who had received but little instruction and
yet they were nevertheless as well verSed in all
the essentials of religious life, and as truly
spiritual as the most enlightened at the North
plainly indicating the in-dwelling of the
Holy Spirit.
In the afternoon Rev. q. Crowell preached
from Ezek. 26:37, the sermon before the COM
munion service-which was administered by
Rev. S. G.. Norcross of North Conway, N. Fl.
and Rev. w. b. Hague.
The semi-annual meeting will be held at
Waterford in October.
Revs. q. Crowell and W. B. Hague; and @.
Fl. Gould of Bridgton, and John Pierce of Hi
ram were chosen delegates to the State confer
ence.
Beside the pleasuse derived from the religious
intercourse, much qualification was afforded
both hosts and guests by partaking together OF a
public dinner at the vestry-only few steps
from the meeting-house.
The weather was very pleasant and the at
tendance unusually large.