The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-11-26
THE CHURCHEs OF THE CITY.
The Past Years Record of Successful
Work.


The following review Of what has been &C.
land in the past year is very encouraging:
The Chestnut Street Methodist church re-
ports its debt of % years standing extinguish-
ed, 155 added to the membership and the cur
rent expenses met by pew rent The Sunday
Cbrist's Faith Church, of which Rev. S. f.
Pearson is the hard working pastor,
mas record of 577 meetings
for the year ending Nov. 1st., 1917 signers of
the pledge, 81 baptisms and 402 persons re-
quested prayers. The Sunday School has 10
teachers and 157 scholars. Most of the latter
mad not previously attended Sunday Schools.
The Congress Street Methodist church has
entirely freed itself from debt, and reports
such an increase in attendance upon Sunday
school as to make necessary division of the
classes.
The debt of the Casco Street Free Baptist
cnurch mas been extinguished, and the first
payment has been made on the new church
edlnce corner OF Cumberland and High streets.
High Street Congregational reports
prosperous Sunday school, and 10 additions to
the church membership.
The New Jerusalem church is in prosper
Gus state and supports State missionary.
Since the Rev. T. A. King assumed the
pastorate the attendance has gained % per
cent. Twelve additions to the membership.
Eight additions the past year to the member
snip OF the st. Lawrence street Congregational
church, making l57 during the 10 years of the
pastorate of the Rev. A. 81. Wright.
The Vaughan street Methodist church, Rev.
ID. w. LeLacheur pastor, started less than
year ago with 30 members, now has 100. The
Sunday school has nearly trebled, and at
tendance upon services has increased from
about 90 to nearly 400.
Rev. It. T. Bayley was installed pastor of the
State street Congregational last March. Since
May, the time OF the first communion, nine
have been admitted to the church by letter,
and IL on confession of faith.
The Pine Street Methodist reports gain of
80 members. A parsonage has been purchased,
before.
The Bethel church reports general prosper
ity and gain of nine in membership.
The Friends meeting announces freedom
from debt, membership Of &c. Sunday
school Of 30 and large attendance.
Church OF the Messiah-Rev. @. A. Hayden,
pastor, has within two years reduced its debt
OF vi 600 to $1,000, and gain of 8 members
The First Universalist, Rev. Henry Blan-
chard pastor, has gained 10 in membership,
and is out of debt.
The Abyssinian church (colored) has gained
3 in membership. and the Sunday school is
very prosperous.
Preble Chapel (Unitariap) reports large
increase OF attendance, and the noteworthy
feature of an average attendance of $50
scholars out of total membership of IT'S in
the Sunday school.
st. Stephens Episcopal church is very pros
porous. A membership of 175 is reported;
Sunday school membership, $780,
st. Luke's (EpiscopaD has gain of COM
municants, with accessions of AZ in the Sunday
school. Since January, 10 persons have been
confirmed and 80 baptized
St. Paul's (Episcopa) has reduced the debt
during the past year. Since January 48 have
been baptized, So confirmed, and 10 received
from other parishes A gain of AZ has been
made in the Sunday school.
In the Faith Work, under charge of Mrs
Annie u. Smith, who breaches at Carleton
Hall, 40 conversions have SO far been accom-
plished.
The Young Mems Christian Association has
nearly doubled its membership within the past
year. There are now LOO in the adult, and
nearly 800 in the boys department. Several
conversions reported.
The First Parish, First Baptist, First Luther
an, Free street, Second Parish, and Union
colored church are highly prosperous, but
make no special report
The Disciples of Christ, Liberals, Spiritual
lists and Second Advent Society hold regular
and well attended meetings.
The above review represents only the regular
growth OF the churches, special revival
agencies having been but very little employed.
The pastors of the city regard the outlook for
the coming year as most encouraging,