The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1885-09-03
THE BAPTlSTS.
Meeting ofathe Cumberland Associa-
ton in Brunswick.

The Baptist church in East Brunswick was
organized in 1885, and it was happy thought
on the part of the members of the church to
invite the Cumberland Association to hold
its annual session this year in East Bruns-
wick. The meetings commenced on Tues
day, Sept /, and were largely attended. The
weather was delightful, and, with the gen
erous hospitality of the people, added to the
enjoyment of the occasion.
Rev. G. p. Mathews, D. D., of Brunswick,
was elected moderator, and Rev. W. G. Bar
rows of Lewiston, clerk. After the reading
of the letters from the churches, Tuesday
forenoon, Rev. T. f. White of Bath preached
the annual sermon; text: Acts Xxx, "a. 1t
was a thoughtful and earnest sermon
In the afternoon the first part of the ses-
sion was devoted to the woman's home and
foreign missionary work. Mrs j. A. King
of Portland presided. Addresses were made
by Mrs. Anna S. Hunt of Augusta, Miss
Abbie S. Russell of Portland. and President
G. NJ. P. King of Wayland Seminary, Wash
ington, d. c..
After devotional exercises, Rev. E. S. Fish
presented the report of the committee on the
work of the Maine Baptist Missionary Con-
yention. The report was discussed by Rev.
Dr. Kicker, secretary of the convention, Rev.
E. S. Fish Of Lisbon Falls, and Rev. N G
French, general missionary of the conven-
ton The work of the convention was pre-
sented, and DR.. Kicker expressed the hope
that the noble legacy of ex-Gov. Coburn
would inspire the churches to larger contri-
buttons.
In the evening Rev. E. F. Merriam of Bos-
ton presented the work of the American
Baptist Missionary Union, referring especial
ly to the field opened in Central Africa. Rev.
A. A. Smith of Yarmouth then preached an
interesting discourse; text: Gal vi, IA.
WEDNESDAY MORNING.
An interesting social service was held from
8 to O'Clock. The work of the Maine Bap-
fist Education Society was then presented
by Rev. W. G. Barrows of Lewiston. Rev.
G. M. Emery of Freeport presented the re-
port of the committee on publications. Rev.
E. c. Whittemore of Auburn presented the
report of the committee on home missions
Rev. ii. S. Burrage of Portland offered the
following resolution:
RESOLVED, That we regret that with the change
in management of the Maine Central railroad
during the past year, there has been a change in
the attitude OF the company toward Sunday ex-
curSOnS; and that the running of excursion trains
has been renewed during the past summer The
running Of these trains as they thunder through
our towns and villages is a disturbance, and con
sequently an annoyance to many people. 1t de-
stroys the reStful quiet of the day, and makes
many OF our places OF summer resort, both in
land and along the coast, scenes of pleasure
seeking and noisy excitement In the interest of
good order, no less than of religion, accordingly
we ask the managers of the Maine Central rail
road to discontinue all Sunday excursion trains
After remarks by Dr. Burrage, Rev. S. G.
Sargent, Rev. DR.. Small and Rev. G. NJ. Her
ring, the resolution was adopted by rising
vote.
Rev. Mr.. Dinsmore Congregational of
Brunswick, at the request of the moderator,
offered prayer with reference to this subject.
The centennial sermon by Rev. A. X. P.
Small, d. D., sof Portland, followed. The
text was Psalms xiv, /: "We have heard
with our ears, 0 God, our fathers have told
us, what work Thou didst in their DAYS in
the times of old" At the opening of the
discourse the speaker referred to the re-
hglous condition of the town century ago,
and sketched the parish minister, a graduate
of Harvard, in contrast with the early Bap-
fist preachers He then reviewed the efforts
made to establish Baptist churches in the
Province of Maine, referring first of all to
thelabors of Mr.. Potter. In October, 1888,
Rev. Isaac Case came into the State from
Massachusetts and became a yoke-fellow
with Mr.. Potter in this work. Their labors
in different parts of the State were greatly
blessed. Later Mr.. Case came to Bath,
Brunswick and Harpswell, and January 20,
1885, a Baptist church was organized-the
church whose centennial is now celebrated.
In October, 1885, Mr.. Potter was ordained,
and became pastor of the church, and re-
manned with the church three years. About
the year 1900 the church built its meeting
house at New Meadows, where the church is
now situated. Two brothers. whose name
was Holt, members of the church, became
ministers. Elisha Snow, Samuel Woodward
and Samuel Mariner were subsequently or
dained and the two latter became successive
pastors of the Brunswick church. Indeed,
for nearly half century the ministry of the
church was raised up from its own member
ship. The pastors who followed these men
were efficient laborers,-Owe Kendall,
Barrows, Tilton, Smith, Hutchinson, Nelson,
Wheeler, Newton, Bronson, Tucker, and
more recently Rev. w. L. Sargent, and Rev.
G. M. Herring Appropriate reference was
made to the deacons who have served the
church during its history. to the reyiyals ex7
men whom the church had furnished to
build and strengthen other churches. Not
withstanding its losses, the church still has
more than its original membership, and
gives today the association royal welcome.
What is needed in all of our churches is the
spirit of the fathers who established and
built up this church. The preacher closed
with an earnest appeal to the churches to
seek the indwelling of such spirit.
At the close of the sermon, which was
listened to with the deepest interest through
out. DR.. Small offered prayer, and then the
audience joined i'll singing 'All hail the
power of Jesus name"
Addresses followed from Rev. G. M. Her
ring, who gave interesting "reminiscences of
his labors in connection with the church,
Rev. W. t. Sargent who has preached at the
dedication of the present tasteful house of
worship and later was pastor of the church,
Rev. Mr.. Dlnsmore of Brunswick, Rev. Ira
Leland of Topsham, Jordan Snow of Bruins
wick, Rev. &. E. Tucker of Brunswick and
others.
1t was voted to have the discourse by DR..
Small printed
WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON.
At the opening of the afternoon service the
remaining business of the session received
attention Mr.. v r. Foss of Portland, pre-
sented the report on Sunday Schools. The
report of the committee on the state of re-
lIgion in the churches was presented by Rev.
T. f. White.
1t was voted that the annual sermon be
preached next year by Rev. E. S. Fish, and
the doctrinal sermon by Rev. G. M. Herring.
The thanks of the association were extended
to the people of East Brunswick for generous
inequalities, and to the Maine Central rail
road for reduced rates.
The remaining time of the session was de-
voted to social service in which many par
ticipated. Thus closed deeply interesting
and profitable series of meetings. The hos
pitality of the people of East Brunswick was
abundant, and highly appreciated by all of
the delegates.
The Rockland Courier Gazette says: T. B.
Severance, who was wounded by Joseph E.
Clinton Monday of last week, is apparently
very weak, but suffers little pain, and sleeps
well NIGHTS. Unless some uneynected reE