The Portland daily press., 1888-04-12
THE METHODIST CONFERENCE.
A Large attendance Prevented by
the Rain.
The Organization of the Conference
Completed Yesterday.
Anniversary celebration OF the
Preachers Aid Society.

Lllc ram IL udu DCCn Wins 8HN viz "-N~
in the streets made the travelling disagreea-
BILE to pedestrians so that there was not a
large attendance at the Maine Methodist
Conference services held in Chestnut Street
Church. The services opened with music by
the conference, which was followed by
prayer offered by Rev. Charles Fl. Fowler ID.
ID. LII. d., who presided over the meeting
Scripture reading was followed by music
and then the sacrament Of the Lords Supper
was administered to 1873 communicates. The
roll call was read from the records Of the last
conference and 6S members responded to
their names, while those reported deceased
were Rev. John Allen, Rev. Charles w.
Morse, Rev. Nathan Andrews and A. Hatch.
At 10 o'clock the organization OF the con-
ference took place and George Y. ANDREWS
was reelected secretary with power 10 nonl-
nate his own assistants. The following nom
nations were made and confirmed;
Assistant secretary-Charles E. Bisbee.
Recording Secretary: M. Frost.
Financial Secretary-Wilbur II. Berry.
Historical Secretary-C. J. Clark.
Thomas F. Jones was reelected Statistical
Secretary, with power TO nominate his as
sstants, and he nominated w. +. Marshall
and W. +. Holmes, who were elected. w. ).
sented the following list of standing CON-
mittees, which was, on motion, adopted:
Public worshlp-w. 5. Jones, N. T. Whitaker
j.. B. Lapham, $. d; Paine; -
Stewards. +. Wetherbee, y: freeman, j. b.
Lapham, w. III. Foster, Luther Y. French.
Education-Edgar M. Smith, Ii. p. TOrsey, ROs-
c0e Sanderson, Wilbur f. Holmes, John A. Corey.
Methodist Literature-Cyrus Stone, q. X. Pal
mer, Charles Munger, +. A. Bragdon, j. L. Hill.
Admission 10 Conferenee-Stephen Allen, A. w.
Pottle, Theodore Gerrlsh, ID. b. Holt, II. +. A.
Conference Relations-D b. Randall, A. r. syl-
yester, r. H. Kimball, J. Cobb, w. 3. Bartlett,
Fraternal Relations-C. Il. Allen, Z. Q. Bass, G..
F. Cobb A. G. Trafton. j. II. Trask.
Temperance-K. Atkinson, O. G. Cone, G. w.
Barber, f. Groyenor, T. p. Adams, A. Turner, S.
Marriage and Dvorce-C. Z. Springer, w. s.
McIntire, J. Collins, L. III. Bean, j. M Frost, W.
Z. Morse.
E. Bisbee, w. Canham, s. ID. Brown, A. Cook.
Bible Cause-C, +: Parsons, ID. Pratt, Jr, q. IL.
Stevens, j. M. Woodbury..
Sunday Schools and Tracts-Perry Chandler, g.
D. Holmes, J. r. Masterman, M. f. King, E. H.
Colby.
tin. Ii. Hewitt, S. Hooper. o. s. Pillsbury.
Freedman's Aid-Merritt @. Pendexter, j. III.
Roberts, A. Hamilton, George Holt
Gibson, N. @. Clifford j. P. Roberts,
Church Aide. s. Cummings, II. W. Smith, j.
MemoIrs-A. W. Pottle, C. F. Allen. H. B.
Mitchell, l.. III. Bean.
Publication Of Mnutes-G. @. Andrews, 7. +.
Jones, w. +. Berry.
On motion Of @. f. Allen, the stewards
were made committee on basis OF claims
and on motion of Stephen Allen. it was or
dered that committee OF three be appoint
ed by the presiding elders to obtain subscrip-
tions for the minutes. Charles 4. Bisbee, G.
F. Allen and G. ID. Holmes were elected on
this committee.
The bar of the conference was fixed to in
clude all pews inside a line drawn from the
third window.
The characters of the presiding elders Of
the different districts were passed, and their
reports called for.
PORTLAND DISTRICT.
The presiding elder, Rev. William S. Jones,
reported for this district substantially as
follows:
In the district as constituted last year
there are 80 pastoral charges having 56 places
of worship. OF these charges 20 have but
one preaching service; Is have two or more.
The preachers have been preserved in health
which enabled them to attend regularly to
their work with one exception. Rev. A.
Cook has not been able TO do his whole work,
and we fear that he will not be able to ac-
| cept another appointment from the hands OF
| the Bishop. Rev. t. p. Adams Is advised by
| his physician to take years rest to recuper-
ate. Rev. Alvah Hatch. a veteran of 81
years standing in the ranks passed to his
home in heaven on the 9th of last Septem-
Der. w. Z. Morse has left us and joined the
ministry of.the Congregational church. Rev.
Z. 5. Stackpole:has been transferred to Rome,
Italy, and Rev. E. Tinker has been trans
fered to the New York Conference. The
church at South Berwick has received go
members on probation Congress Street
Church TO- South Portland 20, Island Church,
Knightville and West End, Is each, while in
nearly every charge some have been added.
One new society has been formed In the
town of Sanford with a congregation of 15O
Saccarappa has added to its church property
a new and commodiOus parsonage worth S2,-
500; Alfred has built stable at cost Of
$3.50; Hiram has put in new hall worth
500; Gorham, North street, has put in a
furnace costing $50; Berwick has expended
$500 ia vestry; Bowery Beach 800 In
shingling; South Biddeford $500 on repairs I;
Congress street for ehapels, ETC., 5000;
Chestnut street S240 in repairs and Cape
Elizabeth Depot S175. Woodford's Clark
legacy Of $1,000 and has helped itself by the
payment of 500 on the debt against the
parsonage. Several Of the churches have
been insured, notably Kennebunkport and
Kezar Falls. We We're fortunately mis-
taken in our report last year In reference to
the Maryland Ridge parsonage which was
burned. 1t was insured for $500 and the
prospect is good for getting another one.
The average salary for the district preach
ers is estimated at S737.25; paid S711:72; for
| the Lewiston district, S548.60; paid S535.43; I;
| for the Augusta district S459S2 paid S450
| For the conference the estimate Is S5SS.77; /;
| paid S572.21; comparing this with late re-
port of the Lynn District of the New Eng
land Conference Of an average Of S11OO and
some Others we hardly wonder that young
| and enterprising men leave Maine.
AUGUSTA DISTRICT.
The following is an abstract of the report
of the presiding elder, Rev. G. j. Clark, ID.
| D., of the Augusta District:
In presenting my first annual report as
presiding elder Of the Augusta District,
wish to bear testimony to the wisdom and
| fidelity that characterized the administration
of my predecessor, Rev. A. w. Pottle. The
carefui attention given to all the details OF
the work, enabled his successor TO undertake
his duties free from all embarrassments.
Twenty-four Of the charges that compose
the district have been. supplied by members
of the conference, seven have been supplied
by local preachers, and three have had no
supply. The health Of the preachers and
their families has. with few except ons,
been good. their labors have been abundant
and attended with the usual measure OF sue
cess. Many revivals have occurred that
have resulted in the conversion Of goodly
number.
been in progress during the three months
last past, SO having joined the church on pro-
baton. The Sunday School connected with
the church has increased at least fifty per
cent. during the last year and the interest
At Skowhegan, Wilton, Madison, Indus
| try, Starks and Wateryille, the good work
| has been in progress during the entire year
| with gratifying results. Campmeetings have
| been held at North Anson, East Livermore
| and Freeman, resulting in many conversions
| and much good. A solemn interest was inn
| parted to our meeting at East LivermOIe by
| the sudden death Of our venerable and great
| ly beloved brother, Rev. John Allen, who,
| forty wears before, had been instrumental in
| instituting a campmeeting at this place.
| At Pennington the church which was
| burned in the disastrous c0nfagration OF
| October 27, 1886, has been replaced by a very
| beautiful edifice that Is now nearly cOmplet-
| ed at a cost of about $1,000, including the
/ lot. Fortunately the burned building was
| insured for $1,000, which enables our society
| TO rebuild without incurring great debt
Extensive repairs have been made on our
| church at Fairfield, at an expense of $500
The inside is almost entirely new and the
church was dedicated December 23rd, 1887, a
free church without a debt. At Madison
| the church has had extensive additions
| made, by which the seating capacity has
| been greatly increased. The cost was $1,000,
| of which 5000 has been paid. The church at
| Phillips has been repaired and beautiiied at
an expense of S120, and sum nearly suffic-
| lent to carpet the same has been raised. A
parsonage has been purchased at Waterville,
| which In many respects, is unsurpassed by
| any in the conference. The house cost 5000
| and its furnishing S400. One thousand dol
lars has been pledged towards parsonage
| at Liyermore Falls, a lot has been promised