Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-04-25
BIDDEFORD. April "a

BIDDEFoRD. April "a.
The sixty-frst annual Methodist confer
ence was organized here yesterday morning,
Bishop w. l.. Harris presiding. The roll
was called bv Rev. G. c. Andrews, secretary
officers were elected:
Secretary-Rev. G C. Andrews.
Assistant Secretaries-J. NJ Frost and II.
E. Foss.
FINANCIAL Secretary-F. G. Rogers.
Statistical Secretary-W. S. Jones,
Assistant Secretaries-T. F. Jones and w.
+. Marshall
The regular committees of conference were
appointed.
Rev. c. j. Clark presiding elder of the
Portland district, submitted his report, which
showed falling off in membership during
the past wear of about 2500 in his district
Rev. A. w. Pottle, presiding elder of the
Augusta district, also submitted his report.
A preparatory prayer meeting was held at
$50 A. M, led BY Rev. w. II. Foster, and
at 8 o'clock an able and interesting Fast Day
sermon was delivered bv Rev. c. Munger, of
Oakland, Maine, from Rev. ii, 10. This was
tollowe ed by the holy sacrament.
The afternoon session opened with a very
able and interesting discourse by Rev j. C.
Hartzell, ID. d., secretary of the Freedman's
Aid Society, on the work of the Woman's
Home Missionary Society. In closing he ex-
planned the work of the Freedman's Aid So
ciety and solicited a collection of 500 for
the purpose of fitting Up room in the New
Orleans university. The sum was contrib
uted.
communication from BOSTON University
was referred to the committee on education !;
a communication from the Board of New
| York Va rpfprred IN Ia mo
communication from the treasurer of the
Episcopal Fund, announcing the sum of 1892
for the book committee, was referred to the
presiding elders for appointment.
| The committee, which was raised at the last
conference to confer with delegates of the
Maine Wesleyan Seminary and Female Col
lege at Kent's Hill, submitted a report which
created lively discussion. motion dis
senting from the report of the committee was
carried, and also a motion to refer the same
matter to the same committee. Rev. c. j.
Clark, presiding elder of the Portland dis
Ltrict, was reappointed.
A very large audience assembled in the
evening to listen to an address delivered by
Rev. VIM. Butler, ID. D., the first Methodist
missionary to India, under the auspices of
the conference missionary society upon mis-
sionary.
The $50 o'clock prayer meeting Friday
morning was led by Rev. S. l.. Record of
Ogunquit
At $ o'clock Rev. C. L. Libbey of North
Augusta preached an interesting sermon
from Rom. l2; l.. =
AT o'clock the business of the confer
ence was resumed. Bishop w. l.. Harris
presided The secretary called the roll of
members not present Yesterday. com
munication from the American Bible Society
| I'm ba n,p,itt on hitlos nr
| Hartzeli addressed the conference in the in
terest of the work in which he is engaged,
receiving much attention and creating much
enthusiasm The statistical secretary then
| read q list of those churches not having rend-
cred any return. Rev. DR.. Pierce, editor of
the Zion's Herald, addressed the conference
in the interest of the New England Historical
Society and also gave a brief history of the
Zion's Herald and spoke in its behalf.
Reports of fraternal delegates to Congre-
gational and Baptist conventions last fall
were received. Rev. c. f. Andrews, pastor
of the second Congregational church of this
city, addressed the conference as fraternal
delegate in very earnest manner. Rev. ID,
b. Randall of Kent's Hill, made reciprocal
remarks. Rev. Thomas. N. Lord, pastor of
the Calvinist Baptist church of this city,
made brief but eloquent remarks as fraternal
| delegate from his denomination, which was
responded to by Rev J. Nj. Williams of
Portland. Rev. G. w. Parsons of Saco,
made brief remarks as delegate from the
Free Baptist denomination. Bishop Harris
then made some brief and witty remarks
DR. Beach, President of the Wesleyan Uni
versity, followed by presenting the interests
of the institution and the work of the Metho-
dist denomination. He held the audience in
rapt attention and created much enthusiasm.
Ofb bu no.
the conference of the next year should be
held Arguments were made in favor of
having the conference at Auburn, Bridgeton
and at Chestnut street, Portland, and il was
voted that it should be held at Bridgton.
| Rev. c. f. Allen then submitted his report
| as presiding elder-of the Lewiston district.
Reports of the pastors miss ionary collections
in the Lewiston dstrich was rendered.
| Camp-meeting John Allen, over ninety
years old, manitests great interests in all the
meetins of the conference.
| A. S. Ladd, delegate to the Congregational
conference held in Bath, submitted his re-
port, also ]. NJ. Williams, delegate to the
Baptist conference held at Houlton, made
report.
DIR. Hartzell in his remarks to the confer
ence, in behalf of the Preachers Aid, asked
for $1,000 next year. The church collec-
tons this year amounted to S2S4 SO. The
conference adjourned at IL o'clock.
| At o'clock this afternoon the Maine Con-
ference Home Missionary Society held its
annual meeting, Rev. S. Allen presiding.
Rev E. Martin offered prayer, Rev. E. S.
Stackpole was authorized to audit the ac-
counts of the treasurer for last year. The
| following officers were elected for the ensu-
ing year:
President-Rev. S. Allen, d. d.
Vice President-Rev. E. Martin.
| Secretary-Rev. r. S. Stackpole.
Treasurer. B. Donnell
Board of Mansgers-Presiding Elders Revs
| /. Luce. S. F. Wetherbee, Messrs E. r.
Drummond, Joseph A. Locke, James Moves,
| B. Nj. Eastman.
Auditor-Rev. NJ. c. Pendexter.
The afternoon session of the conference
was opened by reading of hymn by Rev. j.
w. Bashford Of Portland; reading OF scrip
lures by Rev. G. ID. Lindsay of Auburn
PRAYER by Rev. w. S. McIntyre of Water
| vile. The annual missionary sermon was