The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-09-05
Cumberland Baptist Association

the Free street Baptist church in this city at
10 o'clock a. m. yesterday. Rev. A. O. Her
rick, of Freeport was elected Moderator Rev.
II. S Burrage, of this city, Clerk, and M. f.
Bartlett, of Auburn, Treasurer. Rev. L. A.
freeman, of Brunswick, was made Clerk pro
tenn Prayer was offered by Rev. E. Worth, Of
Kennebunk. After the appointment of tho
usual committees, the association listened to
the reading of the letters from the churches,
Rev. I. f. White, of Bath, assisting the clerk.
AT the conclusion Of the reading Of the letters,
Rev. j. Kicker, d. D., addressed the associa-s
ton in reference to the work of the Maine
Baptist Missionary Convention. He was fol-
lowed by ii. M. Hart, Esq, of Portland. A
collection was taken in aid of the work of the
convention, and after prayer by Rev. A. P.
Mason, D. D., of Boston, the assocatian ad-
journed.
In the afternoon, at o'clock, the delegates
of the associations reassembled. The hrst part
of the afternoon was devoted to prayer ser
vice conducted by Rev. N. G. French, Of
Harpswell. Subsequently the following ques-
tion was presented for considerations hat
can be done to make the prayer meeting more
fruitful in spiritual results?" The discussion
was participated in by a large number of the
delegates
At o'clock the annual sermon was preached
by Rev. f. w. Brakeman, of Auburn. Rev.
N. G. French read the Scriptures. Prayer was
offered by Rev. A. Harris, of Weston, Mass
The text of the sermon was Ephesians 4, 28-
''Let him that stole steal no more" The SER
mon was vigorous presentation of the prin-
ciple underlying this injunction to the early
Christians. 1t was urged that in these words
the great truth is revealed that christianity Is
religion of a right life, with holy character
for its end, and that the final test of christian
ity is a practical one, furnishing an answer to
the important question, "Am Christian"
Right believing is important; but more impor-
tant is right living, or, better STILL right believ-
ing and right living.
The Treasurer, Mr.. f. Bartlett, presented
his annual report, and collection was taken
for the Maine Baptist Charitable Society.
Rev. A. x. P. Small, d. D., presented res
olution commencing the work of the American
Baptist Home Mission Society in the Western
States and among the freedmen of the South.
Rev. A. P. Mason, d. D., of Boston, and
Rev. G. M. P. King, of WayIand Seminary,
w aohAustOus IL Os, duuEobooQ tu6 Ob4OCiAElOQ
and urged the claims of the society's growing
work. After prayer by Rev. T. f. White, of
Bath, the afternoon session closed.
10 the evening Miss Fielde, from China,
gave deeply interesting address upon the as
poets of missionary work in that vast empire,
where, under the auspices of the Baptist Mis-
sionary Union, she has labored so faithfully
and successfully. Miss Fielde spoke Of the
work which comes to the missionary among
the people with whom she has spent the past
seventeen years. The first duty is to learn the
language, which takes from three to five years
of effort. 1t is most important that the mis-
sionary should DO this work thoroughly, since
his usefulness will depend upon his correct use
of the language Miss Fielde gave some anus
ing illustrations of the mistakes made by those
who undertook to teach and preach before they
had acquired the language. We should be pa
tent therefore if the missionaries consume
much time in preparing for their work. Anoth>
er important work is to learn the customs OF
the country. We need to know these so that
we may not offend the tastes or preiudices Of
the people. Their social habits are 80 different
from ours that at least five years is needed TO
become fitted to do good work among the Chi
ese, and unless worker expects to remain
abroad longer period than this he had better
not go. The first immediate work after ac-
curing the language is that of evangelization;
then the converts are to be taught sound
theology. Training schools are established for
this purpose. But the converts must be taught
TO read, as not more than one in thousand
can do so. Hence the making of books takes
large part of the missionary's time. All kinds
OF knowledge will be useful to the missionary.
He will find all kinds of trades to be OF espec-
ial advantage to him. The building OF their
houses, the preparation of food and the general
care of health will call for many sided knowl-
edge. The missionaries live longer now than
formerly because they know better how to care
for their health. There are missionaries in
sixteen of the eighteen provinces of the en-
pire, and about 600 workers, male and female.
We may say that their work is appreciated by
the converts, but not so among the unbeliev-
ing pagans. These would gladly expel the
missionaries. The plane of Christian charac-
ter among the converts is not high, for time is
required to produce this yet there are some
noble Christians among them. The poor among
them give far more literally for gospel work
than we do here. In their poverty the grace of
liberality is wonderfully developed Moreover
they endure persecution with constancy
worthy of the old martyrs. The Chinese arc
excellent material out of which to make
Christians. The spiritual destitution is very
great. There is hardly one missionary to each
million of people. Could the gospel prevail
tnere ZUUUUU,UOU women would be set free
from the torture of foot binding, and q third of
the whole human family would be raised from
paganism to Christianity. Now is the time
for every lover of Christ to put forth all his
energies to win these millions to the Savior.
1t is impossible in the brief space allotted Us
to give more than meagre sketch Of the in
teresting address. 1t gave to the hearers the
experience of practical worker in that far off
land, and we are sure that all went away with
more intelligent view Of the work and their
own obligation in reference to it than they
previously had.
At the woman's meeting this afternoon other
missionary ladies are tolspeak, whom it will be
rare privilege to hear. The order Of service
for to-day is as follows:
Prayer meeting at 8 a. m.
Regular business of the association from $50
a. m. to IL.
At II q. m. sermon by Rev. G. W. Rowe, Of
Mystic, Conn.
Ladies' missionary meeting In the afternoon,
to be addressed by Mrs. Jameson, Burman
missionary, and others.
Time Of last meeting to be announced at the
morning session.