Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-05-16
Opening Of Their State Convention in
this City.
Prominent Members OF the Society
nom All Parts of Maine in
Attendance

order by the chairman of the committee
President Cheney of Bates College, who
said:
In calling this convention 10 order you will
allow me 10 say that never enter tins house
without being reminded of many things that
belong to the years gone by-some OF them
painful, some of them pleasant The pain
ful will not mention, | was for live years
pastor of the church worshipping in this
house. When came TO Augusta in 1852
our little church worshipped in Darby Hall
| up in the third heavens as We used 10 say.
When left We were respectable in numbers,
| worshipping i'll this house aud among the
pleasant "reminiscences is the fact that
found many friends here outside of our own
people. Senators Williams, Bradbury, Nor
rlll and Blaine were my friends. | may say
that the parents of Senators Bradbury and
| Morrill, were Free BaptistS. This is the
second Free Baptlst STATE convention. The
first was held in Topsham on Wednesday,
Nov. -, 1854. That convention was called
TO consider mainly the question of founding
II literary institution of higher grade than
the Parsonsteld Seminary, whose buildings
had been burned II few weeks before. BY
the request of some of my friends | will state
how the calling of the Tupsham convention
came about. On the 22nd day of September,
1884, was sitting in my stuly ON Perhlm
street in this city, when letter was brought
in. | opened II and learned that Parsonsteld
Seminary, founded in 1882 AS the first Free
Baptist literary institution, aud the only one
in this State, had been burned the day before,
supposed to be the work of an incendlary.
My heart was sad over such news but before
rose from my chair the idea of the instilu-
np rullpl Rates t',llppp harm
Our anniversary for the year 1854 was held
in October at Saco; aud on tee 18th of that
month it was my privilege TO call the Maine
brethren together and submit 10 them u plan
of new institution. Thirty ministers were
in attendance at the meeting, and by an un-
animous vote ii was decided TO call n convcn-
tlon to consider the matter brought before
the meeting. The convention was held at
ropsham as | have stated. When we
met some were in doubt as 10 the
proper course to take. When we adjourned
finally we were all of one mind, saying
THE God of Heaven will prosper us, there
fore, we, His servants, will arise and build
This in few words is a statement of the orr
gin of Bates College. The Topsham con
vention also passed the following resolution
Resolved, That this convention recommend
the union of the several yearly reetings in
this State.
1t is nearly thirty four years since our frs.
State convention was held, and Bates College
is what it is. The yearly meetings, however,
have not been united. That we need some
kind of State organization 10 look after our
,junday school, home mission and educational
interests, we all admit. Just how thus shall
be brought about there are differences of
opinion. think am safe in saying that
the object in calling this convention is to see
if we cannot agree upon some plan, the bet
ter to carry on our christian work. | doubt
If we can agree upon plan to unite the
yearly meetings. But trust we shall all
think it wise to organize some kind of a State
association to do State work May the
Great Head of the church give the Augusta
convention wisdom as He gave wisdom to
the Topsham convention, years ago. OF the
twenty-eight men appointed the original
trustees of our dear school at Lewiston twen-
ty are dead.
At the close of President Chcncy's re-
marks permanent organization was effected
by the choice of the following officers;
Moderator, President q. b. Cheney; Secre-
tary, Rev. J. b. Jordan; Business Commit
tee, Deacon Rufus Dcering of Portland,
Rev. J. NJ. Bailey, ID. D., of Saco, II. J.
Preble Esq, of Bangor, Rev. $. C. Whit
comb of Pitsfell, Rev. r. H. Stacy of Au-
burn, Rev. J. b. Jordan of Augusta, and
Deacon f. D. Wade.
President Cheney then introduced Rev. j,
NJ. Lowden, who preached a very able ser
mon on Unity in Work"
Fruitfulness, he said, is the normal condi-
ton of the christian and the christian church,
As christians and as church members We fall
far short of the normal condition If fruitful
ness. The speaker denied that the slow
growth of the denomination was due TO its
creed or its denomlnational polliy. A prime
reason was the concentration of people in
the large towns and cities during the recent
decade As the fathers of the denomination
had not seen hi to locate its field of work
specially in these places, the result of this
centering of population was falling off in
church membership. Another reason was the
mistake of the fathers in not early making
provision for an educated ministry. A third
cause was the almost culpable negligence of
the denomination in not guarding more clo,e-
| ly entrance into its ministry. fourth rea-
son had been a failure to see and act upon
the importance of unity in church work
! rue uiiltN III tUGlHkldn NOfh Is utptDItnt
upon the active and hearty cooperation of
those engaged in it. The value of or rganiza-
ton is everywhere recognized. 1t Is the
chief factor in our churches so far man is
concerned. A most important need, of
many of'our weak churches which are to
| live and do good work, is the
formation of pastorates. Lots of churches
are closed and dying in small places where
combination of several churches would
support pastorate and do a good work for
Christ. There are lots of men and women
who are simply making Christ a life insur-
ance agent for the eternal life. The thought
of personal work never enters their minds.
| The speaker then referred to the work which
the denomination had done in the past
towards stamping out slavery and which II
was nov doing towards the suppression OF
the rum traffic. He believed the society
should have some opportunity of presenting
full front in its line of battle and that the
result would be inspiration and strength II
would e an advantage to have acentral com
mittee whose work should be 10 plan for the
field and thus secure unity in the work An
arrangement should also be made TO get a
full and definite report of the work IN All IT'S
branches. Fruitiuiness in' the service Of ouI
Master is dependent upon unity in the work
I tnlty IN Inc NOEk IS hif
active cooperation of all. Cooperation ID
dependent upon the personal allegiance OF
the individual.
The speaker closed with an earnest exho
tation to forward the whole line"
Among the prominent members of the de
nomination present was Rev. K. y. Fernald
the publisher of the Morning Star.
On motion of Rev, Mr.. Jordan, brother
and sisters from outside the State were in
vited to join with the convention in its work
President Cheney stated in reply to ques
ton, that the convention was not of delegate
but q mass convention of the members o
the denomination.
The meeting closed BY singing "Work 70
the night is coming"
The following is the programme of exeI