The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-10-30


Total amount received during the year. s. 5ss.5s
Balance In the treasury s1O3.63
On motion Of Il. A. Jordan, the report was
referred to the committee ON State executive
committees report.
The following telegram was read by the
president:
AKRON, Ohio, Oct. 2s.
70 ne President Of The J: M q A.;
Beloved greeting; read PHILIPPIANS, ;2-11.
JAMES A. GOULD.
Secretary Winter was requested to read
the Scripture indicated and the secretary Of
the convention was instructed to prepare a
The rest of the session was devoted to As
s0ciatioD reports, followed by questions con-
cerning the work. Reports were received
from every Association except Monson. The
nancially and spiritually the Associations
are prosperous, and marked degree Of
growth IS shown from the work of the past
year. The time for questions was largely
consumed IN a discussion upon the merits Of
home versus missionary work.
Mr.. Lamb sang solo with great feeling
and expression. The convention singing is
very enjoyable. The delegates have fine
voices and give the hymns with a spirit
which Is often noticeably lacking in gather
AFTERNOON.
Convention opened with praise service,
conducted by G. G. Nichols of Foxcroft,
Subject, "The Promises of Cod
The discussion of the topic How can the
membership Of an Association be increas-
edY was openedby Y. X. Foss in the follow
ing earnest paper:
BY lecture courses, trade receptions, sup
pers and other like ATTRACTIONS? Yes, these
methods are proving valuable, but 1t has
been found that in large measure the ele-
ments thus drawn are not likely to be Of
much service to the associations. We get
the quantity, but not very often the quality.
Numbers are not always an indication Of
strength. An association of 200 members
may be stronger and accomplishing more
real good than one of twice that number.
would not discard the methods referred to
but an association depending wholly upon
them will find itself being built on found
alton Of sand, and when the storms come the
| structure will fall.
| The very best way to add to our member
| ship believe TO be through the Gospel meet
| ings. Draw young men into the Gospel
| snare skillfully set by Christ-like men. and
| the members thus gathered will prove Of the
| right metal to add to the solid permanent
| structure of an ideal association. The
| Gospel Of our Lord Jesus Christ Is the most
| beautiful and attractive of anything that
can be conceived of in the universe, and
/ when it Is placed foremost in our work we
need not fear about our membership. What
| draws the multitude to Mr.. Moody's meet
/ ings? Is lit trade receptions banquets OF
the pure unadulterated Gospel fearlessly
/ presented in simple, plain, practical man
ner. Men are starving about us for the
bread Of life. In Gods name let us feed
them ere they die. The old, old story told
over and over again Is the force primary thal
is to bring the world TO Christ's feet None
present believe more heartily than in the
advantages to be derived from any or all o.
the auxiliary features employed in our Y. Nj
9. A. work. They are the means of bring
ing into our ranks young men who other
wise might be tempted by the fascinati0n'
Of Objectionable societies. l believe a cup o.
tea sometimes is means Of grace, but we
should not induce any one to unite with al
because Of the loaves and fishes. Physica
culture has become prominent attraction
in our associations, but it should be only
means to an end. | don't believe our legiti
mate work or object should be to train tn,
muscles or minds Of young men. Life is to'
short. Every effort should concentrate Ol
the accomplishment of one object-the saliva
tion of lost men and the cultivation of thei
characters for q future higher life. But
am digressing from the topic. l declare
then, first OF all, to increase our member
make the Gospel meetings OF the Assoeia
zion intensely spiritual. Select leaders II
whose hearts burn brightly the Gospel fire
Get an efficient musical director and organ
ist. Use hymns of the most stirring AM
lively character. Let there be multltud
Of earnest testimonies Of the briefest an'
most concise character. III crank o
bore" gets into the service, see that he /
dispensed with in some way. Nothing 81
absolutely kills a meeting as long winde'
exhortation or prayer, so that no one shoul'
be allowed to occupy over three minutes o
time. Allow no pauses; fill up every mo
ment and close the service promptly at tn
end Of cne hour; IL this comes in the mos
interesting part of the meeting, so much th
better. Don't spoil the service by introduC
ing any speciality like a brass quartette
Jews harp trio or harmoniea solo. Thi
will quench the Holy Spirit and play tn
meetings into the hands of the devil. A
ways give an invitation for requests tO
prayers some time during the meeting civ