The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-06-05
MAINE UNIVERSALISTS AT LEWISTON.
Results of Years Good Work of Aid
to Parishes.
The Executive Committee Finds the
Denomination In Good Condition.
Opening of the Annual Convention
Last Evening.
Especial to the Press.Il

In NiclON, june f-MeSSTS. henry Loiu,
Marion Crosley. R. Dresser and W. w. Hoop
er. executive committee, and the latter secre-
tary of the Maine Universalist organization
have prepared their report and will submit
1t to the convention tomorrow.
The new policy Of helping parishes instead
of keeping missionaries in the field begins to
be more thoroughly tested, and sufficient
funds have been held for that purpose. On
the whole they recommend the continuance
OF the policy but the executive committee
should be authorized to send, at the conven-
tion's expense, several to represent the
convention to any point where personal at
tention may advance the interests of the
church. These are some of the results of
the new policy:
Mechanic Faus.-According to the Convention
vote last year, we have deposited in the bank
5000 TO be used in paying the debt of this parish,
they having paid this year the $500 which was to
warrant our deposit of an equal sum. We recon-
convention year for the same purpose on he
same conditions. Our parish at Mechanic Falls
Is IN many respects, a good one. and we believe
save our church property there, and we therefore
think that our money given for this purpose is a
profitable investment for our cause.
saccarappa. Lat this point new church has
been built, one that we understand is a credit to
our denomination. We were able to give a small
sum to encourage our friends at Saccarappa.
Skoaohegaal.-our parish at Skowhegan, that we
we're aiding made arrangements which relieved
us from further payments in this direction, action
which was taken so promptly that II deserves
praise Tne only request made o. , US was was tnas
collection being needed for some parish expenses.
Rev. Miss Haynes is pastor at Skowhegan, and is
doing good work. a
North 4nson and Neac Portland circuit.-In or
der that pastor might be secured for this cir
cult, we were asked TO appropriate 500, which
we have done. Bro Mclntire took charge of the
circuit January 1st and is hoving good success
AS we promised 500 for year and the year will
not end until January l. 'S9, We think we can re-
ly upon the executive committee to be elected at
this session to make our promise good.
Richmond Here an important new movement
was lnaugurated two or three years ago and an
old church secured and remodeled. To help our
friends there to pay of debt incurred in remod-
cling the church we have this year given $780, Bro
Little is now pastor of this church, in connection
with Bowdoinham, and the promise for success is
bright.
Freepou.-At Freeport an effot was being
made to build necessary addition to our church.
To aid IN accomplishing this we appropriated a
small sum. ssx
Your secretary has had considerable correspon-
dence with a few points about settling pastors,
leading, he believes to the settling of one or two
and to other good.
1t looks now as if there would be some falling
on IN the receipts from our parishes. The secre-
tary has done what he could, however, to keep
The committee is glad to rec0rd.a great gain in
attendance Of delegates at the meeting Of the gen.
eral convention. We believe it is well for our
and county VS. associations a are Ds'' encouraged encouraged
to keep up their activity. Grove meetings,
large number of which have been held, have
proved exceedingly profitable, and pastors and
friends are recommended to inaugurate them
where no such meetings are held.
From the reports that come to us we Judge that
our cause is in quite good condition In this State.
The ministers we believe. as a rule, work hard
and faithfully. In many cases earnest efforts are
made to add to our church membership; reforms
preached with no uncertain sound. There is, of
course, much yet to pray for.
Since Mr.. Whitman's report last year two min
listers have left our state and seven have come
Into II as settled pastors Perhaps one of this lat
ter class antedates his report but he was not IN
cluded in it, so l count him now. Pastors have
been settled at South Berwick, Richmond and
Bowdoinham, Bath, Belfast Skowhegan, North
Anson, Bridgten and Turner
As We were SO directed by the last convention,
we make the following specific recommendations
for the action of the convention:
LIST. We recommend that our general plan of
Missionery work be continued.
IND. We recommend that the executive COM
mlttee be authorized TO assess our parishes to an
amount not exceeding $4,000 and that the meth
cd OF collecting assessments be left to the ex-
ecutve committee.
3rd. We recommend that the individual pledge
system be introduced, If at any point it can be
done and done without interfering with the as
sessment plan, and that pledges be secured for
4th. We recommend our parishes to deed their
churches, in trust to the convention.
9th. We recommend that the executive COM
mi;tee be authorized to send. at the expense Of
the convention, one of their number to any point
where = visit may advance the interests OF our
cause.
9th. We recommend that the sum of $500 be
deposited to help pay off the debt of the Mechanic
Falls parish on the same conditions as prevailed
last year.
9TH. We recommend to all sdr churches and
pastors, that special attersfun be given to the