The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-04-14
MAINE METHODIST CONFERENCE
IcoNrINIrEn FROM FIRST PAGE.1
40 Is 70 live 10 refuse to do is to dle. when

we do the best we can the responsibility is
Gods. When we refuse to do the RESPONSE
bility Is ours" This quotation is taken
from an article published In the April num-
Der of the Gospel in All Lands.
am glad to appear before you to tell you
something of what the sisters of the Angus
ia District have been doing during the last
year. When / took this work year ago the
number of auxiliaries represented were eight
and two children's bands. The district is
small, ard so, of course the number seems
small as we report it. During this year 1--WE
new auxiiaries have been formed, and one
children's band, which, to me, seems great
encouragement. We have been visited in
the district by three returned missionaries.
Four public meetings have been held in con-
nection with the Ministerial Association,
and one other meeting.
The first new auxiliary was formed through
the faithful efforts of Sister Bisbee. The
work of some of the more active members
was referred to finally. after which Mrs,
Robinson, of the Portland District, was in
tr0duced, and spoke in this vein: In this
district 600 members answer to the roll-call.
Meetings have been held at Old Orchard and
Saco, and although it was stormy at the lat
ter place there was good attendance.
The cash receipts for the past year have
been 500. 1920 of which has been added
during the last quarter. One life member
ship has been granted, and legacy of $500
has been received from an aged sister.
to the ministers of this church
who in the revolving of their great ecclesias-
tical wheel have been our leaders and teach
ers
Mrs. Robinson was to have been followed
by Rev. George b. Smyth, but owing to a
lack of time his address was postponed until
evening.
The meeting then adjourned.
At 4p. m, a joint session of the Maine
Methodist Conference and the Lay Electoral
Conference was held.
The members of the Lay Electoral Confer
ence were introduced by their president, Mr..
E. r. Staples to Bishop Fowler, who in turn
introduced them to the Maine Methodist Con-
ference, after which he welcomed them in
the following address:
BISHOP FowLER's ADDRESS.
Brother have been requested ON behalf
of the annual conference to express to these
brethren OF the Lay Electoral Conference
the hearty welcome which the ministers de-
sire you to receive as you come into their
presence and into their body, and can as
sure you without the slightest reservation
that personally | am very glad to see you
here. believe that it is profitable thing
for the laymen to get square
look into the annual conference
and we are glad to see you
here once Ia four years. The peril of our
church in the direction of hierarchy is for
ever removed by the presence of the laymen.
We come from the laymen, we are recon-
mended by the laymen, we are examined by
the laymeh and we cannot make our way into
the conference except by the votes of the
laymen.
/ think it is healthy for you to have con-
tact with the preachers. My sympathies are
with the preachers and l cannot deny the
a ct that lam trained to the ministry. My
associations have been with the preachers
and know the difficulties of their lives. l
know the embarrassments that come to the
itinerant family and my sympathies are on
that side of the house. And yet, sir, want
to say that we are very glad to see you here.
think it will be profit to the church, both
in the ministry and in the laity, that you are
thus present.
The ministers will be appointed over this
conference and / would like to ask your at
tention to few things concerning the ap
pointments. Do not, please, ask me now IL
you are going. to get exactly the man you
want because cannot tell you. That is one
of the things that / do not intend to give
away. But can tell you this much, that
you will get the best man it is possible for
us to send you all things counted in. pur-
pose with Gods help and the advice of the
Presiding Elders to make the best slate Of
appointments that it is possible with the
limited amount of material we have in the
Bishop and cabinet to make. Now you may
receive a minister you do not want and II
you do / will be sorry. l hardly need to tell
you the other fact that you may receive a
minister that does not want you.
Ii is q sort of mutual concession, the con-
tract is as good on one side as on the other.
MethOdism means the best thing possible I'M
der the circumstances. l take it that is a
summation of our policy. So, now, if it
transpires by some chance the man you
wanted is sent somewhere else, and you re-
ceive man that you do not really hunger
for, let me make you gentle suggestion, do
not tell him so. If you happen to get the
make the most of him, get the most out of
him you can and get rid OF him as quick as
you can. You cannot override him and reach
success.
President E. r. Staples, of the Lay Electo-
raj conference, responded to Bishop Fowler
in brief speech of gratitude for the well
come received.
Both conferences then adjourned to Z
o'clock.
Evening Service.
Another large audience assembled at the
evening services which opened with the usu-
al exercises, the prayer being offered by Rev.
l. Luce. Rev. Geo. B. Smyth, a returned mis-
sionary from China, was the first speaker.
He spoke to great length concerning the
Chinese people, and the work being done
there by the missionaries of this country.
The schools and hospitals were spoken of,
but more specially was the life of the Chi
nese woman described.
Rev. Mr.. GIanderson, a colored man, Of
the North Carolina Conference, was intro
duced and said:
MR.. eRANDERsoN's REMARKS.
1t is said that the negro is irrepressible.
ua 10 in ha friotA
of the North and in the torrid zones of the
South, and half way believe that it is fact
that the negro IS lrrepressible, for nothing
but such spirit could induce negro, after
listening to the thrilling discourse of the
gentleman who has preceded me, to attempt
to make any remarks this evening.
Iwant to submit this question to you :
What kind of preaching would $50 years of
slavery produce? 1t was made a penal Of
fence to teach the negro to read even Gods
blessed word, and so at the close OF the war
80 per cent. of the colored ministers could
noe read the word of God which they at
tempted to preach. Had they been as skill
full IN setting forth the great doctrines of our
holy religion, and in setting forth its great
principles as they were in appealing to the
emotional nature of the negro, they would not
have.been excelled by any other race. What
would have become Of the race in that condi-
ton had not outside help come to them? |
want to ask you, do you believe II you
had been similarly circumstanced you
would have made out any better?
The truth is you cannot reach any people by
standing off and handing them the gospel on
pole The only way to reach the people is
to come in social contact with the people.
The speaker dwelt in most eloqent man
ner upon tile evils that threaten the negro in
the South, and closed with an earnest APP
peal for.aid in educating the young men who
are now endeavoring to work their way
through the colleges of the South. The
speaker held the undivided attention of the
audience from the first, and his eloquent
words were from time to time enthusiastical-
ly applauded
The meeting closed after Mr.. Ora nderson
had finished speaking.
Today and Tomorrow.
This evening there will be temperance