The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-01-24
THE Observation-Disclosures.
Nesting of Cumberland Cenferenee-IE
teresting Sessions.

The Cumberland Conference of the Congre.
gational churches, met in State Street Congre-
gationai church, yesterday. at 8 O'Clock a. M,
and organized by the choice of Mr.. Prentiss
Loring as moderator, and the appointment Of
usual committees. There was full attend
ance of delegates, and the meetings through
the day were very full and interesting. A
delightful devotional meeting of thirty min
utes was led by Rev. #. Southworth.
The first topic-"The layman's part In our
Conference, was discussed by Mr.. W.. E.
Gould, Rev. E. e. Bacon and others. This
discussion took wide range. By some, the
Importance of seeking the conversion of the
men of our congregations, of not neglecting the
men and women while we try to save the
young, was emphasized. Much was made also
OF the value OF active religious work on the
part of business men, in order that the man
may be broader and greater than his business
The remainder of the morning session wss
occupied in the discussion of the relation be-
tween the church and Sabbath school, which
was opened by Mr.. G. A. Woodbury. and Rev
81. s. Huntington. Others continued the dis
oussion. The Sabbath school is the church,
teaching and studying the Bible. 1t is very
important that the Sabbath schoolIbe appreci-
ated, cared for and supported by the church.
The church members should be in the Sabbath
school, not only to teach, but to study.
At 3 p. M, the conference sermon was
preached by Rev. R. S. Whidden of Standish,
from Gal. 6: 9-"Let us not be weary in we'll
doing; for in due season we shall reap if we
faint not"
The communion of the Lords supper was
observed by an unusually large number.
The topic, individual effort for the saliva
tion of SOULS" was opened by Rev. e. T. Pitts
and Mr.. H. A. Burgess. Others followed, and
interest in the discussion became 50 great that
the remainder of the afternoon was devoted
to it.
The first half hour of the evening was de-
voted to praise service of song. Mr.. Richard
Abbott and Rev. e. NJ. Cousins discussed the
topic, christian Fellowship" There is
natural fellowship. We are all SO constituted
that we get pleasure by opening our hearts to
each other, and mingling our sympathies.
This is apparent everywhere. But christian
fellowship is something higher, dearer and
more intimate. 1t binds all the body of Christ
into peculiar unity. We do not choose our
fellows, but they are chosen for US by the re-
generating power of God.
All christians being one in Christ are there
fore one with each other. And as in the fami-
ly brothers and sistersiare drawn toieach other
because of their relationship, so in the family
of Christ, each is dear to the other, because Of
their kinship in Christ. The closing topic of
the meeting, Spiritual Power" was discussed
by Mr.. Prentiss Loring and Rev. L. III. Hal
lock.
The lack of spiritual power in the church is
confessed. Spiritual power is distinct from
physical power. The frailest person physically
often has great spiritual power. So also men
OF great intellectual power are sometimes
babes-nay, even idiots, spiritually 1t is dis
tinct even from moral power. 1t inheres in
that in man, which olives gloriously forever,
because it is organicslly joined to Christ.
Spiritual power is not born in man; is not
gained by training. The source of spiritual
power is the indwelling spirit. The Holy
Ghost abiding in man as a masterful energy
endows him with spiritual power.