The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-04-26
METHooIsTs AT LEWISTON.
Repo.ts From the Districts Made by
the Presiding Elder.
Officers Of the Preachers Aid Socle-
ty EIected-Many People Arriving In
the City Some Things Which rhe
National Reform League Would
Like to See.
Especial to the Press ]

LEWISTON, April 25.-Park street church
has been much improved during the past
year. While the church has not been
changed outwardly in form, it has been
thoroughly repaired and tastefully painted
in colors. Inside however, it is a new
church. The corrugated colored glass win
dows throw beautiful. soft light upon the
frescoed wall and ceiling and the new pews
of crescent form and of fine cherry, with
crimson upholstery are very inviting to the
weary, seeking rest. The society has ex-
pended about four thousand dollars in thus
renoyating this old historic church.
Yesterday at O'Clock, Rev. /. Whitehead
Of Bath, preached to large audience from
John 16-S-"What is this that He saith? A
little while. etc." As Mr.. Whitehead has
never before preached before the confer
ence he was listened to with much interest
and that interest was well repaid.
At 4 o'clock the Preachers Aid Society
held its annual meeting with the Rev. @. Il.
Bisbee in the chair. The report Of the treas
urer showed that the society has about S14.-
900 in invested funds the
interest of which, with the collections from
circuits and stations, is appropriated to re-
lieve the needy ministers or the widows and
children Of deceased ministers.
The new board Of officers elected was as
follows:
President Charles Z. Bisbee.
Vice Presidential. s. Ladd.
Secretary-l. Luce.
Treasurer. b. Donnell.
Investing Committee-C. Z. Bisbee, A. w. Pot
tie, l. Luce.
Managers-A. w. Pottle, r. sandeIson, p.
Chandler, S. +. Weatherbee.
At 8 o'clock today the business session op
ened with the effective examination
called and George @. Andrews.
presiding elder, responded with a report of
his district, giving an encouraging account
Of its religious, literary and financial
death of Rev. g. j. Clark. Cyrus Storer and
Others in his district during the year. The
list of effective elders was called and each
character passed without challenge. Lew
iston district was called and L. L. Adams,
presiding elder, presented his report He
reported the death Of John Rice. AN aged
member of the conference, and Ezekiel
Martin, in the prime sof his manhood and
ministry.
The district was reported as in very
hourishing condition in every respect. There
has been revived interest in every part of
the District great success has been reached
in paying debts on church property.
The character OF effective elders was
calleQ ana all passed IaVOraDly.
Dr. Mendenhall, agent for the Quarterly
Review, was introduced and addressed the
conference in reference to Methodist litera
ture with special reference to the work on his
hands. He stated that no UNCONVENTIONAL
review In this country is sself-sustaning. At
some length, but with great earnestness he
urged members to subscribe for the review
and get laymen to subscribe for it Also At
the close Of his spirited address, B. Freeman
was appointed ON the board of stewards in
place of r. Sanderson who could not serve.
The stewards were made committee TO
fix the basis Of claims on the conference
funds.
The minutes were read and approved and
the conference adjourned at 1890 to give
place to the Union Fast Day service to be
held in this church Rev. G. Munger
preached the sermon of the occasion to a
very large audience.
At 2 o'clock a large audience listened with
close interest to the missionary sermon by
Rev. j. A. Corey, who took for his text from
the sayings Of Paul: "Let him that stole
steal no more" No brief sketch will do JUS
tice to the sermon which fixed the closest at
tention to the large audience.
Strangers are beginning to arrive. Satur-
day and Su day will be the great days Of the
conference.