The Portland daily press., 1889-06-11
GENERAL CONFERENCES OF MAINE
Its Several Sessions Held In Port
land.
The sixty-thlrd Anniversary in State
Street Church..

The conference of the Congregational
churches was organized In Portland, Jan. 10,
1926. Rev. Edward Payson was the modera-
tor; Rev. Seneca White of Bath, secretary;
Rev. Charles Freeman of Limerick
preached the first sermon who was its cor
responding secretary for twelve years, from
1888. The system of conferences originated
in Maine, the first local conference having
been formed in York county at Buxton, in
Oct. 1922; Cumberland conference, at Cor
ham. Dec. 1922; Oxford, at Bridgton. Jan.
1924. A meeting in reference 10 forming a
State conference was held in Falmouth, Dec.
%, 1924 and after submitting the question to
the local conferences. ministerial associa-
tions and churches meeting was held in
the Second church, Portland, Jan. 10, 1926
and the general conference was organized as
stated above.
The object of its formation as stated in ar
ticle of the constitution has been realized,
ito promote intercourse and harmony,
among the churches of the State and to pro-
duce more extensive cooperation in every
good work"
The conference has held its sessions annu-
ally. The tenth in Portland will be held
this year with the State Street church, June
IL, 10, and 20. The first was beld in 1888 with
the Third church, Rev. William T. Dwight
pastor. Rev. Bennett Tyler of the Second
church, Portland was moderator; Rev.
Charles Freeman, corresponding secretary:
Rev. Benjamin Tappan of Augusta, record
ing secretary.
The second was in 1912, with the Second
church, Rev. j. B. Condit pastor: Rev. S. L.
Pomroy, moderator; Rev. Charles Freeman,
corresponding secretary; Mr.. David Shepley
OF Yarmouth, recording secretary.
The next session was in 1S47 with High
Street church, Rev. j. w. Chickering pastor,
Rev. Stephen ThurStDn of Searsport, moder
ator; DIR. Chickering, corresponding secreta-
ry; Rev. Edward f. Cutter of Belfast. record.
ing secretary.
In 1855 it met with the Third church. DIR.
Dwight pastor, Rev. Wooster Parker of Fox
croft, moderator; Rev. S. III. Hayes of Win
terport, corresponding secretary E. f. Du-
rem of Bangor, recording secretary. The
latter is retained in that office to the present
time.
In 1859 In the State street church, Rev.
George Leon Walker pastor, In 1862 with
High Street church, DR.. Chickering pastor
In 1866, with the Second church, Rev. Dr.
Carruthers pastor. In 1876 the semi centen.
NAL anniversary where the conference was
organized in 1926, al the churches uniting in
the reception. Meetings were held one day
each in the Second, High Street and State
Street churches, Rev. William "a. Fem, mod
orator.
In 1881 at Willistun church, Rev. Frank
K. Clark pastor, chairman of the committee
of arrangements.
1t may be Of interest to recall the session
at State Street church In 1859. Rev. G. Leon
Walker was pastor and chairman of the
committee Of arrangements; Rev. DIR. Chick
ering, moderator. There were delegates
present from Vermont. Massachusetts,
Rhode Island, New York, Kansas. Nova
Assembly of the Presbyterian church and
from the Methodist Baptist and Free Bap-
tist churches Of Maine, representatives of
benevolent organizations, Secretary Treat,
District Secretaries William Warren and
james Perkins, D. D., and HISTORIAN Mis-
sion Of A. 3. Q. F. M, Secretary Tarbox of
American Education Society, Rev. r. Wind
hall, American Bible Society," Rev. J. w,
Award, American Tract Society, Boston !;
Mr.. S. w: Hanks, American Seaman's
Friend Society; Rev. j. b. G. Beaubien, Am
erican and Foreign Christian Union; Rev.
5. 5: Jocelyn, American Missionary Asso-
citation.
There were sermons before the the confer
ence by Rev. Edwards A. Park, ID. ID. of
Andover, Mass. and Rev. H. @. Butterfield
of Hallowell before the Maine Missionary
Society DIR: Dwight, president, by Rev. John
Maltby of Bangor and the Maine Congrega-
tional Charitable Society, DR.. Tappan, pres
ident. by Rev E. w. Gilman OF Bangor.
Rev. q. G. Adams of Brunswick as corres-
ponding secretary read the report of the
churches Dea. Simon Page of Halo
well of the Sunday schools; Rev. j. T.
Halves Of Bridgton as chairman of the visit
ing committee to Bangor Theological Semin-
airy; Prof. Shepard of the American Branch
Education Society Rev. DIR. Tappan Of Au-
gusta of the Maine Missionary Society.
The principal topics of discussion were on
THE higher spiritual life," and "The forces
now arrayed against dOctrinal Christian
truth" The latter topic was ably introduced
| by DIR. Carruthers.
! A resolution was introduced by Rev. K.
| Balkan on slavery and the slave trade and
disappearing the position the American
| Tract Society of New York had taken in
70 i ana approving the
and referred to a special COM
mttee to report the next day at
4 p. M. AT that hour two reports were made,
a majority and minority. These were dis
cussed in an animated and courteous way on
| the motion made to adopt the minority re-
| port. 1t was opened forcibly and eloqUently
IN speech by DIR. ID wight, and just before
O'clock the question was taken by yeas and
| nays. Both reports condemned slavery and
the slave trade as Gin, but the minority re-
port disappearing the course of the New
York Society in not publishing and circulat-
Ing tracts and books directly on slavery and
approving the Boston society in issuing pub
locations on the subject was adopted, eight
only voting that it was not In the province
Of the New York society to issue them, and
three only not voting to sustain the Boston
society. After the civil war; the two So
cieties we're united In their work.
Mr.. Richard G. Pennell was the excellent
organist and leader of the choir as he was at
the meeting of the conference at Lewiston
in 1867 and where he now resides and con-
ducts the service of song in Pine Street Con-
gregational church.
The ordinance of the Lords Supper was
administered at the close by Rev. A. G. Ixes
OF Castine and Rev. DR.. Perkins of Western
Asia.
The thanks of the conference we're ap-