The Portland daily press., 1890-06-19
IN SESSION IN BEAUTIFUL BRI0GTON.
The Congregational Conference Dis
cusses Work for TIM f-ung.
Gratifying Reports from sowdoln
and the Bangor Seminary.
Resolutions Respecting the Roman
Church and "orIgInaI packages"


ference deepens as the meeting progresses.
After a pleasant Introductory service Of
prayer and song last evening. the theme Of
the session, 1.-The Extension Oh Christ's
Kingdom" was introduced by the modera-
tor in some very suggestive remarks, in
which he intimated that perhaps Congrega-
tionalism in the past had gone too far in
supposing that individual conscious choice
must lie at the foundation of all religion,
and so children could have no pars In relig-
ion. This view needed modification, to say
the least, to the advantage of all the work
among children and young people.
Rev. James G. Merrill, d. D., OF Payson
Memorial church, Portland, carried forward
the subject thus started, by an address upon
the extension of Christ's kingdom among
children. Our age has set itself TO solve the
problem of childhood IN intelleetual, moral
and spiritual education. The problem is not
as it is the most hopeful work of the age to
find its solution. While the boys and girls
of today are a problem, the immediate or
not distant future Is another almost lnsolu-
BILE element, in the question how we are to
treat children. The third element in our
question is the need of an unfaltering faith
in the Christ, for his gospel will lead to
clear and safe method of dealing with the
children. We should trust the child, trust
the century, trust the Christ. The speaker
believed it a heresy that the Sunday school,
the Young Peoples Society, and the Young
Mems Christian Association could take the
place of the church. If the child could
have but one, then the church service by all
means.
The practical need is, first, of real instruc-
tion in the Sunday school, as educationally
valuable as that given in secular schools;
Secondly, good religious, qualifications should
be found in the Sunday school teachers.
Then the Sunday school should be graoed
carefully, should give a systematic, progress
sive, thorough training, always devout, yet
on as the best school work under the best
teachers. No work is so fruitful, even as
now carried on in the best schools, but what
is now done is but hint of what is possible
and feasible in extending the kingdom
among the young.
The subject was carried on by Rev. w.
Forsyth Of Bucksport, who spoke Of young
peoples societies. lie began with re-
minder of the capabilities of the young.
These capabilities are such as to show how
much can be gained for the kingdom by WIN
ming the young. While the young may be
won more readily, it may be, by the young,
yet the fullness of Christian truth, its rich
ness and force may be set forth more ade-
Quately by those of somewhat wider eXper-
ience. So the gospel, unless we are to set it
-
the younger and older. The moral and re-
ligious responsibility of youth itself as pc
riOd needs to be set in clearer light. The
type of religion prevalent in our societies OF
young people and young men does not ade-
Quately take this into account The chill
dren and young people should be.taught that
no " they are responsible. We should bring
into the relations of the older and the young
warmth and life and sympathy. From this
we may take hint of great value IN this
matter of winning our young people to the
kingdom.
The most important element in the normal
and effective method of gaining over our
young people is wise and winning home
training. Failure here is failure at a point
of the first and highest concern. True,
devout, manly, womanly fathers and
mothers are the great laborers to bring into
the kingdom the young, or rather see to 1t,
in Christ's help that they wander not from
the kingdom. 1t is well within the scope of
loving, wise, faithful, parental influence to
their their loved o ed one ones and Into their young hearts
may come the beauty of the Lord God. They
may use such divine economy as shall
make their children rich toward God.
After hearing how to reach our own young
people the transition was easy and natural
to the work of the New West Education So
ciety. especially in the regions where Nor
monism prevails. This work was forcibly
presented in bright address by Rev. S. 5.
Matthews of Boston.
Mormonism has some elements of truth
even of Biblical truth, and so Is the more
dangerous. Mormonism is consummate
fraud, none more so in all the frauds of the
earth. The dictionary is really too weak for
adjectives equal to the enormities Of the
Mormon faith and teaching. The children
born into this system, the young people who
have been reared in it are the material with
which the New West Education Society has
to deal. 1t means to educate, but to educate
steadily along religious and Biblical lines.
The seed sown in these schools under teach
ers loyal to Christ has already sprung up,
and the work is most hopeful. The truth
of the gospel is telling in these Mormon
communities and Mormon families, espec.
tally in winning the young. Here is line
of effort toward solving this disagreea5le
problem of Mormonism and the national
rule, while we push forward Christ's king
dom.
This grand evening session drew an audi
ence which crowded every foot of space In
the church and its impressions will tell In
many a church through the whole breadth ol
the state.
Wednesday Forenoon Session.
The attendance from all points is very
large, and the several sections and county
conferences are well represented. In ability
of addresses, in lively and intelligent discus
initiated, the meeting is marked and strong
Bridgton is doing nobly in hospitality
though the numbers of the visitors is 81
| great.
This forenoon was wholly given at thu
| annual session to the anniversary Of the
Maine Missionary Society, and no interests
| are dearer to Congregationalists than thos'
Of this society, and none are regarded al
| more vital to the prosperity md progress o
the denomination. The president of tn,
society," Professor Paine of Bangor Semin
airy, conducted the opening services and pre-
| sided through the session. The prayer IL
the anniversary service was offered by Rev
| DR.. Mason of Brunswick.
The sermon before the society was givel
| by Rev. A. j. Rackliff of SkOwhegan, cno0s
ing as the text st. John xx,2 The them
announced was "Christ's idea of the Chris
| ian's mission" Christ selected and select
His special workers. All nations are no
equally fitted to lead in the great outworkin
OF the regenerative plan. The choice OF tn
| patriarch Abraham for great mission, tn
selection of the chosen people, the apostolat
and the comparative religious prlmaey OF ma
ti0ns from time to time, show this overrnlin
selection. 1t may not be too much to sa
that America seems, by many TOKENS, to b
| Sot lOl Iho iioc VI tuo udhoSN " "0AA" ~
gospel interests.
But as Chrst's scheme implied selectiy
| wisdom and presupp0sed deVOut WISDOM
his servants, so he implied in his idea tina
Christian life is to have Iedemptlve power
He came to redeem the world. an
SO we are sent to redeem tn
world Theology in Chrlsts Viel
is postponed to character. Through thi
character full of saving power men are
uplift their followers, and so every true se
want is to be a savior. The church is place
in the world to be loving power to teacl
to sympathize, to inspire, to kindly admol
isb, to tenderly comfort, TO raise ana lea
| upward the lowly and needy, and t1e churc
| Is thus to lift and redeem, showing thus I'll
Father and the loving uplifting Christ.
In Christ's idea, the lincarnatlon was d
signed to avail by causing new eharactI
in his followers, and incarnation OF his e.
cellencies in them in virtue OF which chara
ter they are to do his great work.
The great dangers that confront us al
lack of sense of individuality, weakenir
along lines of practical effort, failure
right the wrongs of men and failure TO ada
our work to local and immediate needs. "
must do aggressive work and leave no ne
work undOne. These dangers we ought
apprehend and obviate and prevent them
future.
In our loyalty to Christ's idea we shou
be Jealous for the extension of Christ
= kingdom, as opposed to seetarlan and
nomlnatiOnal interests. While we are wi
in UNCONVENTIONAL management, we shOu
| gauge our missionary work In our state wi
: | reference to religious cooperation rath
a | than Tor religious competition.
In our missionary efforts we should n
measure the results by figures, the resul