The Portland daily press., 1890-10-23
CONGREGATIONAL CONFERENCE.
Proceedings Of the Cumberland AS
ISOLATION Yesterday.

church was prettily decorated with cut flow
ers, potted plants and vines.
Rev. MIR. Dame Of Falmouth, conducted
the devotional exercises, which was opened
with singing the hymn "While Thee I Seek
Protecting Power" The 1S4th Psalm was
read.
| A business meeting then followed. Rev.
( E. P. Wilson of Woodfords, was elected mod
orator The minutes of the last annual
meeting, which was held In Saccarappa,
were read by Rev. E. M. Cousens, the scribe,
and approved.
| The following were elected committee
| on nominations: Revs. DR.. j. G. Merrill, }.
G. Wilson and j. o. Hannaford.
| 1t was moved that the Sebago Lake
| church, which was organized last summer,
be admitted into the conference, and this
| was done.
The programme of the day was also ac-
| cepted.
Twenty out of the % churches were repre-
sented, and the following pastors and dele
gates were present:
High street-Rey. DR.. Fem, Deacon H. W.
Shaylor, Brother Freeland Bolster.
Fourth-Rev. ]. G. Wilson.
Bethel--Rey. F.. SouthwOrth, Brothers Paul s.
| Spear and Alfred Southworth.
Charles II. Wyer
Sc. Lawrence street-Rev. A. H. Wright, Broth
ers j. j. Gerrish and John Cousins.
West-Rev. X. Perkins, Brother Charles s.
Palmer, Miss Clara Carleton.
| hSaccarappa- E. e. Bacon.
scarboro--Rev. A. Redlon, Brothers B. LARA
standlsh-Rey. j. $. Cogswen, Miss A. NJ Small
| and Mrs. N. s. Cole,
Wlndham-Not represented.
Sebago Lake-Miss Anna E. Smith, Mrs. Han
nah A. Bacon. r'-'- '
Cape Observation-Disclosures K. H. Miller and
Cumberland Mills-Rev. E. NJ Cousins, Deacon
/ Newcomb Brother II. Elwell.
Deering, Free-Rey w. ID. Jordan.
| Deering, Woodfords-Rev. e. P. Wilson, Dea-
| con J. ii. Clark. Deacon Charles II. Blake.
! Falmouth, Flrst-Rev G. W. johnson, Deacon
Falmouth, second-Brothers John W. Blake
Gorhsm-Rey q. w. Reynolds, Brother J. s.
Leavi {. Rev (. s. Palmer.
Portland, Second Parish-Rev. j. G.. Merrill,
Deacon II. ID. Winslow, Brother o. Adams.
"The Decline of Spiritual Power in the
Church" was then considered by Rev. E. M.
Cousins of Cumberland Mills, in an able
manner, and was followed by Rev. George
W. Reynolds on SITS Causes" the most i'm
portant of which are lack of prayer, a lack
Of unity forces not working together as
| they should.
| "The Remedy" by Deacon f. ID. Winslow,
all disciples in their life should seek to main
| tain their Christian character. Loss of
character means loss of moral power.
Strengthen the church by the best and
strongest. even If the members are fewer A
more thorough examination of those who
seek to enter the church should be held. No |
one ought to be received who is not clear In
his views. There should be more solemn |
regard for the VOWS of the church. The |
high spiritual character of the minister
should also be considered. The infallible
remedy is that all disciples possess living
vital union with Christ.
At the conclusion of Mr.. Winslow's re-
marks the hymn "The Mystic Sweetness
Sits Enthroned," was rendered and the dis
cussion was then participated In by Revs. A.
H. Wright, j. G. Wilson and others. Bene-
| diction was pronounced and the convention
adjourned.
Afternoon Session.
The conference reassembled at 2. After
singing by the congregation Rev. Mr.. Rice |
offered prayer. Rev. G. w. johnson deliy- |
cred very able discourse on christian
Character and Spiritual Growth. We are to |
grow all around. not to sacrifice one kind of |
growth for another-increase in length and |
breadth. 1t is not enough to have high aims |
and live low ones. The Christian should |
make spiritual advancement, with Christ the |
lead, with Christ the example. Constant |
prayer and watchfulness are necessary. The
church prayer meeting should not be neg
lected. Such neglect is fatal. 1t all hinges
| on this great principle, love of Christ. We
hall aIx ;xo
make complete surrender to Christ
At the conclusion of this discourse the
Lords Supper was celebrated, and the sac
rament was administered by Revs. j. B.
Warren, d. d., and Gilman Rice. assisted by
DeacOns Varnum, Scott, Winslow and |
Gould.
The committee ON nominations reported |
the next annual meeting would be held in |
the Second Parish church in this city, |
preacher. Rev. A. 81. Wright; alternate, e. |
M. Cousins; committee of arrangements,
Rev. j. G. Merrill. ID. D., Rev. E. p. Wilson |
and Brother o. Adams The report was &C
cepted and adopted The committee also |
| presented the following resolution upon the |
| matter referred to at their morning session:
The conference observes with pain the increas-
ing facilities for Sabbath Dissertation afforded by
our country the movement upon the larger rail- |
roads is In the direction of better Sabbath OBJ
ing tranic in the interest of men, who as en-
ployes, are virtually forced to desecrate the |
Lords day; and In the name of general good NOR |
ats the public welfare and loyalty to our Supreme
Ruler. We also commend to our legislators the |
passage Of laws such as are found in some com:
mnnwealths-notablv COnnecticut-which shall |
In the near future bring this evil to minimum.
Rev. j. G. Merrill discussed the theme of |
Evangelization, showing that every true |
Christian is an evangelist, and after singing |
OF the hymn "Oh happy day that fixed my |
choice" the discussion was continued by |
Revs. Francis Southworth, e. P. Wilson,
Deacon Winslow and others.
Benediction was pronounced and the con- |
vention adjourned.
Evening Session.
The conference reassembled at 7.30 for f. |
nal services. Prayer was offered by Rev. B. |
P. Snow, and the hymn "Great as l AM"
was sung. In the absence of Rev. Mr.. Cous- |
ins. Rev. b. p. Snow was appointed tempo |
rary scribe.
"Eyangelists" was the theme considered |
by Rev. w. Fl, Fem, who defined the evan
gelistic function in the Christian church. 1t |
was the evangelist who in primitive times |
went ont and wrought upon souls by unor- |
ganized effort converted souls. That work |
is an original one and is always blessed. |
The evangelistic element, who shall be COM
missioned by the church. or self sent goes
forth individually to gather souls in to |
Christ. We owe in an indirect way a geeat
deal to the skilled evangelists. What
debt we owe to them in the privilege of song
the freedom Of song in Christian churches.
Often with these hymns will come scrip
tural truth. Weowe debt to them for or
ganized effort. The work Of the evangelist
Is indispensable. Ministers are not trained
to do this w0rk-that of laboriug with iDdi-
vtdnals, one by one.
The evangelists have a special aptitude
for such work, and they have so wrought
npon the masses that they have strength
ened the churches. The churches ought to
cooperate and work together.
- The discussion was continued by Rev. S.
x. Perkins on the subject slow best en-
pioyed In modern Christian work."
hev: +. L. Bayley believed In evangelists.
IN 10 their work-believed that God had called
onem, wonderfully blessed them. and more
i've " II nao made them very important factor
~ .ne Work OF the modern church. There
aro eVangeists and evangelists Some have
p ,.1.s unwise methods, and disastrous re-
suits nave followed. In business, men get
hodc |