The Portland daily press., 1891-06-05
MAINE uNIVERsALlsTs.
The Convention Closed Yesterday
Afternoon.
Discussions, Resolutions Passed and
Final Sermon.


lShes" was the subject assigned to DR.. G. M
Twitchell OF Augusta, and in treating it he
urged the perfectiDg of a system by which
weekly payments of all expenses may be in
sured. having perfected such system him.
self and carried 1t forward for two years he
was able to present the same with feeling
OF confidence. Said he, in opening, "God
pity the man obliged to stand in the pulpit
Sunday after Sunday and look In the faces
OF a congregation six months in arrears.
such men may talk but they cannot preach.
Neither can the occupant of the pew find
comfort so long as there is broken faith with
the pastor. Prompt payments insure COM
plete service" The system advanced was as
follows:
1st-A complete canvass of the parish and
all friends of the same for weekly pledges
2nd-Secure pledges from every member of
the family, dividing the fathers if necessary,
In order to secure one from every individual.
3rd-Open an account with every person
with the children in this way and so secure
their regular attendance. The strongest
parish and one upon most secure founda-
tions is that where the largest per cent of
members contribute weekly to the payment
of the minister.
4th-Let the collection plates be passed by
young ladies or gentlemen. Keep these en-
tirely out of the hands of those acquainted
with the finances of the parish and the OBJ
iectlons to weekly collections will disappear.
5th-Provide suitable pockets and en-.
velopes for each pew aud see to it that these
pockets are always full.
6th-Visit each subscriber Monday morn
ing who was not at church Sunday, and take
no money at any other time during the week
Constant begging scatters. Systematic
work attracts.
7th-Pay all bills weekly. Let the minis
ter have his salary to use.
This system adopted anywhere will add
from % to 100 per cent to the yearly inc ONE.
nrnn afvntf SO fhn oAnhrx
and In the church there Is need that we or
ganiZe for better business methods.
These were the thoughts elaborated by the
speaker who, in closing, indicated many
ways in which business in religion would be
of great benefit in strengthening church
with the masses.
vote of thanks was extended to DIR.
Twitchell for what was characterized as
the ablest address of the convention.
Discussion on the preceding subject was
opened by Rev. G. ID. Waite of Brunswick
who said he had nothing to say to cause a
discussion, but what he should say would be
supplementary to the preceding remarks. He
said that lack of harmony caused by trying
to do more than they had to do with, lack
OF social intercourse between members of
the parish, and certain members thinking
that others are trying to run things to suit
themselves, had great influence upon a
parish and such things should be over come
before success could be attained. He be-
lieved that the pastor of church should be
recognized as leader and treated as a man,
others tolerating his opinions on outside
matters as he has to tolerate theirs.
Others followed Rev. Mr.. Waite in much
the same vein, and all agreed most heartily
with DR.. Twitchell on his idea of financial
management. The question was asked DR..
Twitchell how it would be In the country,
where the members of the parish were wide
ly scattered, about collecting the subscrip-
tons on Monday morning from those who
were absent from church: he said 1t should
man could not attend to it then appoint
enough collectors to do so and do it thorough
ly.
Rev. j. f. Leland addressed the conven-
| tion on the subject of "The relation of the
church to non-church-goers." He consider
ed this the all important question, how to
convert the non church. goer into constant
| attendant He said the church stood in the
| same relation to non-church-goers as Christ
| did to men; that 1t is the way for them to
get the light, the life and the truth. He di-
| yided the non-church-goers into three classes
| those In whom the religious fire has never
been kindled, those in whom it has burned
but cooled, and those who stay away be
cause they are angeIed at the Wav things are
carried out. Usually the Liter class is pro.
voKed because ~ a. q certain pastor or the ac-
j tfGss OF certain of the congregation. He
should be visited. invited to listen to the
sermons. come to the social gatherings, and
be invited to give to the sh ,h and ioin the
| ers with God and Christ.
| Rev. r. I'll. Aldrich of Guilford supple
| meDted the address by saying that the only
| way that the non church-g0ers could bt
brought to the church was by the work OF
| lar field, do much more than the pastor
| They could make more visitations and pro-
mote hearty cooperation between the
nearer and maker of sermons. He likened
men to the body Of Christ, to carry out the
work with their hands as Christ did with
those hands that touched the little children
| when he took them into his arms and blessed
| them, and to work among the nou-church
| goers and bring them to believe the church
Is for all men and that by 1t and its works
| they are brought nearer to the truth.
The business meeting was short, the only
item being the reading of the following reso
buttons, which were adopted by the conven
| ton:
Resolved, That we hereby express our thank
| to the PASTOR officers and all members of tn
| Congress Square UniVersalist church for tn
bountiful hospitality accorded to us on this occas
| ion; to the singers aud instrumentalists who hav
have given sermons, essays and addresses durp
this annual meeting OF our convention; also to tn
| various railroad and steamboat lines In the stat
that have granted us special favors.
Resolved, That we renew the declaration of GU
interest In and allegiance to the cause of temper
ance In this state and nation and pledge 0urselve
to the support Of all measures which common,
| themselves to our individual judgment for the ex
tension OF that reform, praying that the time ma
| soon come when In this state and all parts of on
| beloved country total abstinence from intoxicant
shall prevail and Injurious traffic In them shal
| cease.
Resolved, That we are in sympathy with an
| movement which aims to improve society AM
| unite all classes in fraternal bonds, and forwar
the business and social interests of our entir
ResoIUed, That we view with peculiar satisfac
| ton the results of the effort made by this bod.
| under the supervision Of Rev. w. 5. Whitman, ou
efficient state agent, to increase the permanen
missionary fund to $1,000 also the results of tn
special appeal last night to this object We az
| sired shall be secured; and we urge the Univer
salists of Maine, who have not yet subscribed t
| this fund to respond promptly to the call OF tn
agent within the next four months.
RESOLVED, That we are impressed with the fay
orable outlook for our cause In this state and re
gard with appreciation the policy pursued by gu
executive board the past year and recommend tn
continuance of the same In the year to come.
sionary operations in the year to come as it has il
| the past year, and that the executive committe
| Is hereby instructed to prosecute this course a
they shall see is best for our cause and that The
use such money as is available for this object in
GLIDING the services OF the state missionary VIII
shall also continue 20 canvass iOe the amen
1891. O
Il heS0tCeU, lUdb we are BrdLlu6u WIFI Ll6 lncredS
1 ing interest in our cause and work and In thei
| own spiritual Improvement exhibited by on
| young people, and we commend their Jealous ell
forts and successful examples as represented II
| the various local unions and the State Union o
our young people.
RESOLVED, That in view of the intense and wide
spread interest manifested in religious question
| OF paramount Importance we LOOK upon the rel
gi0us work with uncommon interest, and con
graduate ourselves that the trend Of thought il
| all other sects Is toward the broad, and to u
Scriptural faith which we proclaim and while W
rejoice at this progress In doctrinal affirmations
we exhort our own ministers and laity to con
| tinued aud Increased earnestness and persistence
| In the maintenance OF our dear cause, that Ii
their preaching and private ldbors they empha
size the distinctive tenets Of our church.
RESOLVED, That we would record our satisfaC
| ton at the reported good condition of our stat
| school, Westbrook Seminary. We commend tn
| management OF that institution and recommen,
that our people literally support this school boil
by sending their children and wards as pupil
and by giving generously of their means for tn
| support of its various departments.
| RESOLVED That we desire to express our salts
| faction at the especially able management of on
STATE denominational paper, The Gospel Banner
uurlng the past year and commend it to all on
| RSUple as one of the most effective forces in on
iuTWsnnerance Of Christian work.
| Mmmoreeas, since our last annual meeting on
tan o ri amer mas removed from earth to hea
| fore. A'0'' D. L olui'ii' '"0i0
Resolved, That in the removal of Brother Smitl
| we nave LOST successful preacher and a faithfIl
| and e1nclent pastor, true and honored renre
| sentative OF our cause and ACKNOWLEDGEMENT and
man thoroughly tried and not fOnnd yvantinG Il