The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-06-20
CONGREGATIONALISTS OF MAINE.
Opening of the sixty-Second Annual
Session at RockIand.
What Secretary Reynolds Says of the
Cumberland Conferences.
The Work Among the Chinese In the
States Metropolis.

RoCKLAND, June 19.-The 62nd annual
meeting of the general conference of the
Congregational churches of Maine opened
in the Congregational church in Rockland at
II O'Clock this forenoon. Deacon W. P.
Hubbard was chosen moderator, and Deacon
E. F. Duren, recording secretary. The COM
mittee on credentials reported 80 delegates
thus far arrived. Rev. ID. p. Hatch of Rock
land, was introduced and made an address
of welcome which was replied to by the
moderator. Vacancies on the committee on
nominations were filed by the appointment
Of Rev. o. w. Folsom of Sagadahoc county,
and Rev. j. A. Jones of Cumberland county.
A memorial was presented from the Cumber-
land conference concerning the Maine Mis-
sionary Society.
The report OF the necrologist, e. +. Duren,
was read and accented. The following is an
extract from the report of Rev. Laurison
Reynolds, the corresponding secretary:
Cumberland North Conference.
Twenty churches, 2,7f5 members, pastors,
6 acting pastors, 2 supplied by students, 6
pastors. The history of these churches is
remarkable in the absence of reyivals, and
in the general healthy growth. Most of the
churches have received on confession from
one to ten. Pine street, Lewiston, has re-
ceiyed some on confession at every COM
munion but one for five years. The church
in Freeport has received, during the first
year of the ministry of Rev. c. w. Longren,
eleven by letter and ten by confession
This church has good working prayer
meeting force, which is much enjoyed by the
pastor.
Much to the regret of both pastor and peo-
successful pastorate at New Glouceter.
Rev. Il. 5. Jordan has closed his labors at
Cumberland Center, and Rev. Daniel Green
is soon to begin.
The Sabbath school work is being pressed.
Harpswell sustains two schools: GRAY,
three; New Gloucester, two. Turner is as
ISOLATED with the other churches in the vii
lage, three outside ones. New Gloucester has
home department to its Sunday school, with
twenty-five who study the lessons at their
homes.
Most of the churches have Young Peoples
Societies of Christian Endeavor, which are
highly spoken of by the pastors as develop
ing the spiritual life and efficiency of their
members
The church in Yarmouth has a praying
band, which holds meetings at the school
mousse. In this church also there is connect
eu with the pastors class of young men, an
ASSOCIATION for mutual improvement. 1t
holds monthly debates, and last winter gave
course of popular lectures, the proceeds
school work.
North Yarmouth reports deepened inter-
est In all church matters on the part of the
young people. South Freeport with 78 resi-
dent members, gains
Deacon Isaac Haskell. one of the original
members of the Sixth Street church, died IN
December He was devout Christian and
q ~ ffa1n 1nr.A ~
| of the church.
Mnot Corner also sustains a heavy loss in
the death OF Deacon S. w. Shaw, who with
marked ability and good judgment has look
ca after the general interests of the church
| Tor years.
= The Oldest member of the first church in
Yarmouth has died, She was 95 years old,
and had been member of the church over
o0 years, Joining the church in Cumberland.
when only IA years old. This is one of the
longest periods of church membership on
record. 1t shows us that there were church.
es 81 years ago which would open doors to
cnlldren. She was converted in a revival
Mr.: Herbert Merrill of Bowdoin College
resident OF Gray, who had consecrated him
| sell to the foreign missionary work, and
| who was very efficient In all christian work.
died in the winter.
This has been an interesting year of grace
In Bowdoin College, Last year at the State
conference, a revival of the missionary spirit
| was reported. Whereas, Bowdoin College
mad not sent out a missionary for % years,
hve had consecrated themselves to that
WORK. Perhaps as result of this spirit
| of sacrifice and service this wear.
there have been SO versions among the
students The young men Mr. Fisher says,
nave been faithful in former years. At the
| beginning OF the present college year, there
was manifest spirit of reconsecration, and
an earnest desire for Gods blessing. This
| spirit was deepened by the attendance of a
large delegation at the State Y. M. c. A.
| convention held at Rockland, and still fur
ther intensified by the remarks of President
Hyde, at the dedication of a new. and larger
room placed at the disposal of the Y. M. C.
A.. by the faculty This room will seat 90,
and has been well-tilled at all meetings and
sometimes crowded. The spiritual life of
the Christian students have been greatly
| quickened, and the new converts have
maintained from the first an earnest, manly,
| Christian character, and have entered enthu-
| siastically into the work of the association.
Not only has the work been carried on indie
pendently by the College Y. M. e. A., but it
also attempted evengelistic work in town,
| have rented the court room one evening in
| the week for that purpose.
| Members OF the association have visited
! the prayer meetings in turn and have con-
Quoted Sabbath afternoon service in
chapel midway between Brunswick and
Bath. As result of this work, says Pres
ident Hyde, there is in the college strong
and influential body of earnest Christian
| ceuuSheo uho SiNO plOHliot VI Il pOSlIlVe rel
| igious life in the college in the near
future and who will go out to
become active, worthy members of
churches in years to come. Mr.. Fisher
says the circumstances of the college have
been unusually fortunate, in the admnistra-
tion, the personal influence sof the faculty
and in'the kind of young men who have
GENE to the college. The study of the New
Testament in Greek has been introduced as
a aTequired study for the term of the fresh.
men year, and next year and thereafter in
accordance with a petition from the students
there will be an elective course in the study
OF the Bible as whole offered to the Sc
nlors. A new organ costing $1O5O, the gift
OF Mr.. and Mrs. A. G. Stevens of Boston, is
great addition to the regular prayer SER
vice in the chapel.
Cumberland Conference
has p churches, II pastors, six acting pas
| tors, 3641 members, 1862 scholars in Sabbath
schools; average attendance 2405. During
| fha IA.