The Portland daily press., 1890-11-06
METHODIST MINISTERS IN SESSION.
Proceedings Of the Second Days
Meetings at Woodfords.
The Relations OF the Pine Street to
other Portland Churches.
The Position of Women In the
Church Interestingly Discussed.


| ed by Rev. b. Freeman.
At o'clock the business session opened
Rev. F. F. Jones, presiding elder in the chair
Rev. +. A. Bragdon of Kennebunk was chos-
| Ell scribe.
Rev. G. r. Palmer of Saco, presented an
invitation from his church to the association
to hold its next meeting with the Saco
| church. 1t was unanimously accepted on
motion of Rev. K. Atkinson.
The first paper Of the session, "Ecclesiasti-
cal Politics and Zion's Herald" by Rev. f.
A. Bragdon was then read. This was a
discussion of the recent series of anony.
nous articles in lions Herald, answering
| the question of the existence Of politics in
the church. Mr.. Bragdon said that there
was no doubt Of the existence of political
schemers and wire-pullers In the church as
well as other bodies, but he doubted In any
great question. the election of any officer had
ever been decided by any improper means.
He doubted the wisdom Of the course of the
Herald in stirring up the matter, yet he
hoped IL there was any bad work going on,
the recent work Of the Herald would break
itup.
Rev. K. Atkinson opened the discussion.
He said he heartily agreed with the course
of the Herald. He thought there was too
much wire-pulling, and too little piety in
church matters and he hoped that the Her
AIDS campaign would have good results He
thought the church was becoming ahireling
church, seeking more after dollars rather
than souls, and we'd that If the &C.
clesiastical politics ID be rooted out 1t
would be better for all men.
Rev. j. M. Frost said he thought there
ought to be some distinction between law
full and unlawful use of politics. There
must be planning and arrangement before
hand for the conduct of public business.
Rev. A. W. Pottle agreed with Mr.. Frost.
He thought that the articles in the Herald
were overdrawn. He thought that some
work and planning were necessary In the
election Of bishop as we'll as In any other
work and that such planning was perfectly
proper.
Rev. E. o. Thayer thought the articles
we're too general and sweeping and that If
what they claim is true. the general confer
ence and not the general newspaper field is
the proper place to discuss 1t. He saw moth
ing wrong in the planning before elections.
Rev. DIR. Clymer also agreed with Messrs.
Frost and Pottle in the discussion OF the
capabilities of candidates.. but he thought
that such things might be carried too far so
as to degenerate into ecclesiastical chican-
cry, unholy wire-pulling and devilish log
rolling OF the four conferences with which
he had been connected, the speaker thought
tho Nauv Eno1on6
from the interference of politics as any.
Rev. John Collins believed in full and free
discussion, for the regulations and practises
of bad men will not bear discussion and they
will be destroyed.
The next paper, The Bible Doctrine Of
Future Punishment" by Dr. Clymer, was
then read. DR.. Clymer said that there was
much perplexity in this doctrine and that the
only satisfaction he had found in 1t was
found in full reliance upon God. He said
he could not understand 1t all, but that God
could. 1t would do no good, he said, to at
tack the subject hammer and tongs, holding
out the terrors of the situation. Whoever
would preach on retribution must do so with
mellow heart and fearful eyes. He thought
that the preaching of literal fire and damna-
tion had made many infdels, where If the
spiritual aspect OF the case had been dwelt
on the result would have been different. He
said that Christ who embodied all the wis
dom Of the ages, had promised that God
would deal justly with all meD, and he was
willing to believe 1t. He thought that the
work Of ancient artists, Dante's Inferno, for
instance, had done much wrong In material
izing the doctrines of future punishment,a and
that modern views were much more ration
al. The main fact that the man who rejects
the Gospel Of Christ must be eternally pun
ished remains, and the second fact that any
man who receives eternal punishment does
so Of his own election. not by any fixed mex
orable law Of foreordination.
Rev. Mr.. Atkinson opened the discussion
He agreed with the speaker save In the word
obstruction" which he said was improper
ly used, he thought. No man meant total
annihilation by destruction.
Rev. b. Freeman and Rev. John Collins
questioned points IN the discourse, and DR..
Clymer replied to them at some length.
On motion Of Rev. ID. b. Randall, the sub
ject was laid on the table.
The third paper, "What are the essential
Christian doctrines?" was then announced.
Rev. Sylvester HoOuer, the appointed essay-
ist, was absent, and Rev. b. Freeman, who
had been appointed first discussionist, was
called upon. He said the question narrowed
down to what must believe to be saved ?"
He discussed various points Of doctrine,
which he said were not essential. 1t must
be necessary, he said. to be born again for
salvation. 81 do not know" he said, "how
this Is to be done, for all men are not alike
but think there will be some means found
to bring all men to an understanding of the
gospel truths"
Rev. d. B. Randall briefly discussed the
subject.
Mrs. Corey. for the Woman's Home Mis-
sionary Society, thanked the association for
giving them the hour, but declined to take 1t
up.
liver an address on the subject. He called
attention to the growth of the society,
which, although only nine years old, had
money receipts amounting to nearly $780,
900 annually. He impressed the fact that
should not be drawn so closely as 1t Is some
times thought to be. He said that
In his judgment they were equal in
Importance and so interlaced and combined
that one should be supported as literally as
the other. He spoke of the need of mission
ary WORK In the South aud gave graphic
description of 1t as now conducted. Descrip-
ttOns of the Indian and Alaskan work were
also givon, together with the 'Deaconess
work IL cities. One Of the best works OF the
society, ne SalQ. was tudb VI tho Guisiduto
Home at East Boston where opposite the
Cunard dock, fine home had been opened
by the society. Addressing the preachers
wives he said that he hoped no one of them
would hold back from the work Of organ
ization for fear of antagonizlng the foreign
society. Ii would not do that, he said, but
one would stimulate the other.
Mrs. Freeman, DR.. Clymer aud Mr.. Free
man added suggestions to the remarks of
Mr.. Thayer.
Rev. Mr.. Atkinson urged missionary work
by everybody. saying that If every one
would convert soul for three years the
whole world would be converted.
DR.. Clymer moved that the question "The
best method of extending the borders and
STRENGTHENING the influence of Methodism in
Portland should be then taken up and 10
was so voted.
DR.. Clyiner was the first speaker. He said
that in originating the motion before the
Portland Ministers Association some weeks
ago, his idea had been to ask the brethren 10
excuse Pine street church for being un-
fortunate during the past six or sever wears.
and In bringing 1t up now he had the same
motive and he also asked for the sympathy
and prayers of the other churches. Hs also
hoped that out OF the discussion some nlan
for good could be devised for the missionary
cause in Portland.
DIR. Whitaker spoke for the Chestnnt
street. cnurch, expressing sympathy and the
klndest feeling for Pine street church.
heV. MIR. Frost said that his church was 40
lar away from Pine street that he had not
supposed that any clashing had taken place
between Congress street and Pine street
churches and so far as he had seen he had
always seen Kindness and sympathy among