The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-03-12
CONGREGATIONAL MINISTERS.
The BIZ Monthly Meeting of the Cum
berland Association.
interesting Papers Read by Wei
Known cIergymen,

Ihis organization, composed of the cler.
gymen oil Cumberland county, meets every
TWO months, Its sessions are largely at.
tended and 1t designs to occupy itself with
exercises and subjects of practical value to
The profession, in its special work with the
churches. and also to discuss such subjects
and methods of work as may be best used
withthe community at large.
The meeting of yesterdaywas called to order
at 9.l5 a. M, by the moderator, Rev. E. M.
Cousins, and prayer was offered by Rev. w.
G. Mann of Biddeford.
The business OF the meeting included the
election of officers for the year to come and
the following board was chosen:
Moderator Rev. Geo. w. Reynolds, Gorham.
Scribe-Rev. b. p. Snow, Cape Elizabeth.
Committee of Arrangements-Revs.F +. T. Bayley,
Portland; b. p. Snow, Cape Elizabeth and Arthur
Smith, South Freeport.
A hearty expression Of the gratitude and
appreciation Of the association was, on mo-
ton of Rev. l.. ii. Hallock. extended to Rev.
E. M. Cousins, who, as its moderator, has
served the organization most acceptably and
efficiently in an extended term of office.
The thanks of the body were presented to
Rev. F. Southworth for his thoughtful and
generous donation to the association of so
many printed copies as the members might
desire to use of the recent sermon of Rev. F.
t. Bayley on Missions.
A fine piece of work in scripture exegesis
was brought before the association by Rev.
Arthur Smith of South Freeport.
The passage chosen for explanation was
st. Matt. 49, 20, and the paper of the lead
er was followed up by general and ami
mated discussion.
A prominent part in the programme of the
morning was paper of great merit by Rev.
F. s. Root of Auburn, who, appointed to
present some phase of the labor question,
read pointed, thoughtful and telling exam
ination OF a recent review article entitled "a
Forgotten Cause of Poverty" by DR. Crosby
of New York. The New York divine, COM
bat ing the views of Henry George. pro-
nounced the improyider ce of thepoor TO bethe
cause OF their poverty. While admitting that
TINS Is cause, the paper assented that this
is by no means the cause. The gist of the
just complaint of the poor man is not wealth
put a misuse of wealth. and it is not
strange, in view of this fragrant misuse, that
some should think and say that the rich are
growing FOWL Iicher and the poor growing poorer.
:, The Ignorance and folly of the poor, are
the poor altogether responsible for this
May not this responsibility be brought home,
to some considerable degree, to rich church
members who patronize the poor but do
nothing to .enlighten, elevate and refine
them. The theory of land tenure of the
Georges and McGlynns, however, it may be
denounced has yet been held by
not a few great thinkers, and the
assertion OF DIR. Crosby that the advocates
OF this theory are all set of crude, below
lng philosophers, has no force and is not
fAd nv inf % 20 II
its fine or philosophic spirit.
say as much as you please about the la
borers working too little and resting too
much, about the designations of dress In la
boring women, on the dissipation of drink in
laboring men; about the indifference of the
laoorer to rising to higher and more skilful
work, or his neglect to gain knowledge by
reading or study, it will still remain true,
that at the core of the whole trouble is our
lnlquitous, industrial system. There the
cause is to be found, DR.. Crosby to the con-
trary Notwithstanding.
The paper was brilliant in style and
showed the best type of thought and study.
The spirit and tone of the paper were ex-
cellent. Mr.. Root has made a thorough
study of economic questions, and is present
ing these matters in series of lectures to
his church and congregation. The associa-
ton received the paper with close attention
and high appreciation.
: A sermon for criticism was brought before
the meeting by Rev. e. E. Bacon of Sacca-
Kappa, under the two texts, Gen. iii, 10. and
Thess. iii,1o
The discourse vigorously discussed gamb-
ling, betting and lottery enterprises. The
prevalence of these criminal practices and
their character of evil, only evil, and
evil continually were forcibly brought out.
The fundamental position taken was that
value should be given for value. and when
ever and wherever something is sought for
nothing, there Is gambling and evil and un-
righteousness. This whole chance in bust
ness, in all its grades, is radically and abso-
lutely chaotic, destructive, against reason
and morality, and wicked all through.
The afternoon session brought out an ey-
cellent professional paper on the conduct of
social meetings by Rev. Lauriston Reynolds
of Yarmouth. Among the practical points
were these: Don't say too much select easy
subjects get pledges in advance to take part
In the service; use the young peo-
ple's meeting: have cottage prayer meetings
occasionally.
The members gave quite an interesting ac-
count of their reading, professional and gen.
eral, during the last two months, showing
that they have not neglected books and
study, but judiciously interspersed these
amidst their more practical and technically
professional labors.
The hospitable parlors of the Y. M. C. A.
were filed and the interest lively.