The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-02-21
PORTLAND MINISTERIAL AssocIA-
TON.
AFunRepors of Yesterdays Proceedings


A Full Report OF Yesterdays Proceedings.
The Portland District Ministerial Associa-
tion met at Pine street church on Monday
evening A half hours praise service preceded
the sermon which was preached by Rev. w.
f. Holmes of Alfred from the words of Paul
None of these things move NO." The SER
man was an appeal to the church to stand by
the principles of the gospel which the great
apostle preached,
The Association was organized at a. m.
yesterday by eleeting Rev. G. j. Clark chair
man and Rev. J. NJ. Williams secretary. The
opening religious services were conducted by
Rev. n. r. A. Patterson. 1t was voted that
speakers after the first one, be limiteo to five
minutes.
Rev. s. F. Wetherbee read paper on the
| topic, Church Records; of what do they consist?
How and by whom kert? The following is a
brief synopsis of Mr.. Wetherbee's paper:
CHURCH RECORDS.
First-The records of the trustees who hold
our church property should be kept with great
earefulness by. secretary duly sworn, SO his
Second-The historical record and registry
of membership. This record should include
brief history of the church from its origin, If
possible, its building operations, successive
pastors, the name and time of joining of every
member, the changes that occur by marriage,
removal, admissions, death or otherwise. Nom
resident members after two years absence
without report, are to be marked Removed
without letter, and be not counted in our re-
ports.
This reonrd sbonld contain lists of the nroha-
tions time of joining and whether baptized
marriages aud deaths with brief reference to
the deceased. This record should be kept by
the pastor.
Third-A careful record should be kept by
the recording steward of all quarterly con-
ference business including a financial record
SO far at the claims of the PASTOR presiding
Elder and Bishops is concerned, together with
all other current expenses of the church. This
record should be passed over to his successor
in office.
Fourth-The secretary of the Leaders Meet
ing should keep a careful record OF all the
business transacted in the meetings held from
time to time and pass to the hands of his suc
cessor in office.
Fifth-The treasurer of the church should
keep in a substantial book his accounts with
the church showing clearly all claims on the
funds, all moneys received and from what
what source and how expended; carefully
closing his account annually and passing the
book over to his successor in office.
Slxtn-It is the duly of the pastor to see
that each class leader is furnished with class
book containing the names of all members
committed to his especial care designating
their relation to the church, revising their
class books every six months. The foregoing
records should be annually examined by the
committee on conference record.
Seventh-It is the duty of each pastor to
furnish his successor pocket manual contain
ing the names of members, probatoners, places
OF residence by streets and numbers, the Off
ciary OF the church, times and places of Sun
day and weekly meetings, together with such
other items of interest as win aid the new
pastor in entering upon his new work among
strangers.
These points were discussed, as were all 9TH
ers, after the reading of the essayist, by several
members of the association.
The next stion,-"The duty of our
preachers in relation to the enforcement of the
Sunday law''-was introduced by a paper
from Rev c. w. Bradlee of Saccarappa. Mr..
Bradlee was of the opinion that good judg-
ment must be exercised in the enforcement of
the law, and that much depended upon the
place and people as to how stringent the law
or its enforcement should be.
The paper of the most general interest, and
one that elected much discussion, was read by
Rev. e. s. Stackpole of Woodford's, on "Heal-
ing by Faith The following is tolerably
full report of this paper:
HEALING BY FAITH.
A steadily increasing interest in all that per-
tains to faith cures has for some years
been manifest in the general church. Quite
an amount of literature has sprung up around
the subject. Unbelief is giving place TO the
full asst MT, and with many, it is to be feared,
to credulity. Exaggerated claims are being
made. Belief is demanded and yielded on too
slight evidence. Many asserted cases of heal
ing are proving to be imaginary. Erroneous
doctrine is taught in respect, especially to the
faith necessary to healing. Hence fanaticism
arises. and injury is done TO the truth. Many
have placed these cases of healing in answer
to the prayer of faith on a par with the mira
parison of the New Testament miracles of heal
ing with those that are said 10 have recently |
occurred, may afford the best opportunity to
say what we desire to upon this subject.
First Christ and the apostles healed all |
the sick who came or were brought to them.
No case was found too difficult. Though at
Nazareth Christ could not do many mighty
works because of their unbelief, yet He laid
his hands upon few sick folks and healed
them They healed all manner of diseases
and no applicant went away disappointed.
This is far different FROM the practice in re-
cent days. Those who profess to have the gift
of healing can exercise their gift only on few
exceptional cases, and they are most successful
in the healing of exceptional diseases, Many
affected with nervous diseases seem to be
benefited for short season, but often their
last state is worse than their first.
Second-Tbe cures wrought by Christ and
the Apostles were in every case instantaneous
and complete. No cases are recorded of grad
ual recovery. The case of the blind man is
not proper exception, since the time that
elapsed between the partial and the perfect
cure was but moment and the work of heal
ing was not progressing during that moment.
Moreover with the healing there came full
vigor of strength.
On the other hand most of the cures now
Wrought are gredual and partial. The subject
grows better and stronger from day to day, and
in many cases does not claim to be fully re-
stored. We have noe read of any case that
parallels that of Simon's wife's mother, who
straightway rose from her fever and ministered
unto them ,or that of the lame man at the beau
tiful gate of the temple.
Third-No cases of relapses are recorded in
Scripture The plain Inference is that there
were none.
But now many of those who assert that they
have been healed in answer to the prayer of
faith, are in few days or weeks found to be
no better or even worse off than before.
Fourth-The cures wrought by Christ and the
apostles were done in the presence of the null
titude, and were of such character as to COM
pei belief in the fact. However they might
reject the true explanation of the facts, the
Pharisees could not doubt that the blind did
see, the lame did walk, the sick we're healed.
Announcement was boldly made beforehand
that the miracle would be wrought.
Now it is for otherwise. No one dares to
predict that another will be cured. The public
are not invited to witness the healing. The
healing is not such as to compel assent. The
multitudes are still skeptical as to the fact.
We have read few marvellous cases of heal.
ing, but they have been away off somewhere,
where the evidence for and against can not DO
we'll secured.
Fifth-No applicant was ever told to believe
that he was healed whether he felt any better
or not Healing was not matter of belief,
but of knowledge. Faith in Christ's ability
and Willingness was generally shown or re
quired, but the miracles were specially wrought
to awaken aud strengthen faith rather than to
reward it. Confidence in Christ, not assent to
sylloglstc conclusion, was the faith then ex-
ercised.
< Now almost all the advocates Of healing by
faith urge the subject to commit the case to
God and then to believe, in spite of evidence
to the contrary, that he is healed. This is the
rankest kind of fan atheism, and leads to inf
deity on the one hand and credulity on the
other. The absurdity Of this doctrine ought to