The Portland daily press., 1885-04-13
PULPIT AND PLATFORM.
PINE STREET CHURCH.

| Rev. j. M. Williams, announced the first pa
| per on "Reminiscences Of Methodism", by Mr.
| B. f. Eastman, who introduced his subject by
| few historical facts. The New England Con-
ference met in Lynn, August l. 1913. Jesse
| Lee was appointed to the province of Maine.
| His outfit was two berses which he rode alter
nately, being too heavy for one horse all Ithe
time, saddle bags and overcoat. September
| 10th he preached at Saco, and September
| 18th at Portland. From this point he secured
the State, preaching almost daily. The first
| church was built at Readfeld, where the con-
ference was held in August 20, 1898. Bishop
| Asbury presided. There were only 10 minis
| ters and 200 members The work grew, and
| circuits increased.
| My earliest recollection was about 1905 and
| 1906. lived In the upper Sandy River region,
/ which was then part Of Livermore circuit. Just
before, three young men living in this region
had been converted. One of them was Joshua
Soule, afterwards bishop, who began to preach
when only about II years old. In those early
days people went long distances to meeting and
| always on horseback. All members were re-
auired to dress plainly. Salaries Of ministers
were small. A married preacher received 800
for himself and the same for his wife. Anal
| lowance of SIG year was made for all child
rem under years, and SA for those between
7 and IA years. Besides this travelling expen-
| ses, including moving from circuit TO circuit
were granted. A committee also estimated Ia
Bile expenses, house rent. fuel, etc.; and when
all was added together the stewards raised the
amount, if they could. Unmarried preachers
were allowed 500 annually and travelling ex-
penses.
Miss Louie B. Morris read paper on the
Methodist pastor. Many thought that it was
an easy thing to preach Just once week; but
that was by no means all, though few OF the
complainers would find that an easy task. The
visitations, the advice to be given, the comfort
to be administered, the watchfulness, especial
~ over the young to be maintained, the sor-
rows to be shared, were large part Of the
| faithful pastors work, and REQUIRED no small
amount of time and nerve.
Mr.. Frank II. Staples then presented the pa
per on the quarterly conference. This is one
Of the Oldest conferences in Methodism' II vas
at first composed OF the travelling and local
preachers and class leaders. Since exhorters
| trustees and Sunday school superintendent
| have been added. The presiding elder of the
district presideS in this conference. The func-
| lions Of the conference are to try appeals Of
private members, to license local preachers
| and recommend them for travelling connection,
| so that no Methodist minister ever becomes
such unless he has been passed upon by this
| conference; to supervise all local preachers to
elect all the officers Of the local churches, ex-
| cept the Sunday school superintendent, who
/ must be confirmed by this body; to appoint all
| committees that suDerintend the benevolent
/ collections, and to determine and pay or cause
/ to be paid the salaries OF ministers. In word
| all the temporal and spiritual matters of the
| individual churches are under the control Of
the quarterly conference.
| A paper was presented on the annual CONFER
ences by Miss Mary e. Mitchell. This body is
composed wholly OF ministers. There are 1O3
| in the entire church. The work Of this BODY
| is to examine into the character OF each one OF
its members, to receive reports of various COM
| mittees, to elect to deacons and elders orders
candidates for those offices, and also delegates
to the General Conference. The sessions gen.
orally last about week
''Our Settled Itinersncy" was read by Miss
Jennie L. Chase. A t first Wesley's assistants
worked constantly without any plan. In 1746
England was divided into seven circuits. Half
q century later when Wesley died those had
grown to seventy-two in England .twenty-eight
in Ireland and seven in Scotland. All these
circuits embrace number OF appointments.
The itinerants were changed every year, ac-
cording to Wealey's notion, who said, 1--WE
have found that frequent exchange Of teach
ers is best. This preacher has one talent; that
| another. No one whom l ever knew has all
the talents which are needful for beginning,
continuing and perfecting the work Of grace
in whole congregation" The system intro
duced into America was similar to that used in
Il Great Britain. Now the limit is heightened
I
vantages, but these are we'll Offset by advan-
tsges. Every man has a church. and every
church pastor. Besides it has the sanction
| of Christ's example.
"The Bishops was the title ofsa paper bv Mr.,
Harry VI. Nickerson. The qualification of g
| Methodist bishop is aptly set forth in the 3rd
| chapter OF second Timothy. He is constituted
By the election of the General Conference,
| and by coneecraton at the hands of three 9TH
er bishops, or of one bishop and two elders.
The duties of bishop are manifold. He pre-
| sides at the General and Annual Conferences,
arranges the districts for the presiding elders,
and fixes the appointments of the preachers.
He travels through and oversees the work OF
thelentre church. They consecrate other min
| listers, and decide all questions OF law. They
prescribe courses OF study for the young minis
ters. They are amenable to the General Con-
| ference, OF which since 1908 they have not been
members, but only presiding officers. All
| bishops are equal in authority, and have joint
jurisdiction in every part Of the church. There
| are no dioceses, but each one is allotted new
field every year, according TO- an agreement
among themselves. The number has varied
according to the needs. At the close Of the
last General Conference in 1884, there werv
foarteen, but two have since died.
| The General Conference was the title of
| paper presented by Mr.. ID. M. G. DUN. It
a delegated body, consisted Of ministers and
laymeD, and meets every four years. 1t is the
highest authority in the church. 1t makes all
| laws, which are executed by the bishops and
l bn0 COQIcT6uC5bs IL bloCI6 bishops, o6-
y tsblishes the lower conferences, creates mis-
sions elects editors OF the official papers, all
the secretaries of the various benevolent socie-
ties, and the agents of the publishing houses.
Its only restrictions are, "It shall not revoke,
alter or change our articles OF religion, nor es-
tablish any new standards or rules Of doctrine
contrary to our present existing and establish
| ed standards OF doctrine.
CONGRESS STREET FREE BAPTIST CHURCH..
At this Lchurch yesterday forenoon Rev. J.
M. Lowden, chose for his text Isaiah, 42-4
HE shall not fail nor be discouraged till he
have set Judgment in the earth" The sermon
was catechisical The body of the church was
filled with the young people OF the society to
whom various questions we're put and prompt.
ly and distinctly answered. The season Of the
year teaches an important lesson. The linger.
ing winter and the tardY approach of spring
would be discouraging were it not for the ex.
perience of all the past, that the law that rules
the seasons will surely bring to as the warmth
and beauty of summer.
Christianity has been striving TO make a con-
| quest of our world for nineteen centuries and
today hardly three-eghths of its people are
even nominally Christians and a very much
| smaller number real Yet, the Lord ia not dia-
ences and appliances are steadily doing their
work. The dissipating influences OF this day,
the lack Of spiritual perception and The want
OF depth TO character are some OF the things
which hinder rapid growth. The power oI
truth and the tendency OF the human soul Ia
, develop and rise to higher and purer life ART
among the encouragements OF this Chrstianiz-
ing world work.
The preachers illustrations were varied ant
clear. He named faith, charity, patience anC
benevolence as elements Of character in q rip.
Christian.
The Sunday school library was replsnishsC
; yesterday with one hundred volumes sof selec
books; and there were present So1 scholars
Total number enrolled, 450.
Miss Mary Bachelor, missionary in Indis
spoke at o'clock to the Band OF Willing
Workers and presented boy and girl in Hin
doc costume, and also in the evening before thu
Womans Mission Society to large audience
A POsmasfers Fraud.
@ Last Friday Fred b. Dunton, postmaster a
Centre Linoolnville, Waldo county, was ar