The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-09-10
SEQ RIVER BAPTIsTs.
The Closing Exercises OF the Con-
vention Held Yesterday.

the SacO River Baptist Association opened
at o'clock with a social service led by Rev.
w. Ii. s. Ventres Of Lebanon.
At 10 o'clock the business session was re-
sumed, the moderator In the chair. Deacon
Samuel NOVEL; OF Sanford offered prayer.
Rev. A. N. Dairy Of Westbrook next
presented the report on the work Of the
educational society. The soeiety's object is
to aid theo ogical students At present
there are eight benefciaries, seven young
men in Colby University ami one young
lady being trained as a medical missionary
in New York. Mr.. Dairy said that it had
been the general experience that OF the
young men assisted by the society nearly all
come back in time to the Maine field. Some
statistics Of the support Of the society last
year were given. Out Of 249 churches only
Is contributed. the average amount being
s2.O9 per church or three cents per member.
In the Saco River Association, Of % churches
seven only contributed, the average being
S4.55 per church or six cents per member.
This showing, the speaker thought, was very
unsatisfactory. Mr.. Dairy explained the
method of securing the contribution In his
own church and offered it as a model for the
others.
The committee on resolutions through Mr..
Ventres reported recommendation COM
mending the education society, Newton
Theological Seminary, Colby University, its
feeders and the four Baptist academies, to
the prayers and financial aid of the churches.
which was adopted, with the recommends
tion added by Rev. DIR. Burrage that the
churches should be reminded through the
year OF their obligation. by Mr.. Dairy who
was appointed Committee Of one for this
purpose.
Mr. Fred Brunei. Sunday school secretary,
presented his report. Mr.. Brunei was first
appointed year ago. He sent out blanks to
the superin.endents for various points Of in
formation. Reports were returned from ls
schools showing a membership of 1868
males, COS; females, 1l0S, leaving lat mem
perS nnaecounted for. Nine hundred and
slxty-tW0 members are over Is years Of age
| There were 25 baptisms for the year; nuIn
Der oil church members in school, 656. Mint
schools have sent full reports during tn,
present year. showing net gain Of %. II
the whole number OF schools the net gaini
only IL. Reports had been rather unsatis
factory but by letters and otherwise he haC
been kept pretty well informed as to the
condition Of the schools. Ten schools keen
no records. The school at Springfield makes
InS Dest showing for the year, with the
u a..
Both Portland schools have lost in member
ship. Mr.. Brunei complained of the lack Of
system in the schools, saying that for the
purposes OF secretary the work Is Just
about half done. There are calls for library
books and the secretary could profitably
take charge OF their collection and distribu-
tlon. The total amount Of money raised BY
the schools Is 500 60.
Rev. Mr.. Ventres instanced several aged
and lnhrm members who were unable to be
present during the winter aud inquired how
long such should be carried on the rolls
also how the differences in sessions should
be adjusted.
DR.. Burrage reminded the association that
state superintendent OF Sunday schools
was to be appointed in October, and that the
ceive attention.
Mr.. Brunefs report was accepted, and the
recommendations for more care In making
records were adopted. Mr.. Brunei was re-
elected secretary for the ensuing year.
The report on mission work In the assOcia-
tion was made by Rev. AN. Davy, chairman
ofthe committee. An of the smaller churches
were communicated with, and assistance of
any kind rendered. Very few replied. Et-
hogham and Freedom, n. H., were visit Cd,
and preachers were supplied for a few
weeks. At Barsons6eld, Rev. 0. G. Hubert
has supplied.
At Limington meetings were held last fall
and careful canvass made. A church
building In good repair, stands in East Lim-
iDgt0n, the only one for q circle Of several
miles. The church was found closed, how
ever, and there was no Sunday school. Mr..
Turner OF Buxton went up occasionally In
the tall, and held services, but since then
there has been only itinerant and occasional
preaching.
Mr.. Ventres said that there were signs Of
promise in ParsOnsfeld.
On motion Of DIR. Burrage, the committee
on missionary WORK was re appointed for
the coming year.
DR.. Burrage presented a vote from the
Cumberland Association, passed last week,
whereby the Cumberland Association decid-
ed to join the B0wdOinham Association. He
accordingly made the motion that provided
the Cumberland Association does so consOli-
date with the B0wdoinham the name Of this
association be changed from Saeo River 10
Cumberland.
Mr. Keuel Kicker thought that as there
were 20 churches In the association In York,
and only three In Cumberland, tho old name
should be retained.
DR.. Burrage rejoined, explaining that his
idea was to preserve the older name, that Of
Cumberland being much older than the Saco
River.
Mr.. Estes of Sanford moved and DR.. Bur
rage seconded motion OF postponement Of
the vote until afternoon, which was passed.
Rev. DIR. A. X. z. Small spoke briefly OF
the work Of the Maine Bible Society. pre.
senting the IT quest Of that society for col
lection for its benefit to all Of the denominA-
tions. He presented resolution approving
the work OF the society ana recommending
collection Ia each church during the wear.
The resolution was adopted.
Mr.. Nentres presented q resolution an
proving the movement to establish a Bibii-
cal professorship at Colby, and recommend
ing the appointment OF collectors, also one
embodyiug Dr. Dunn's recommendation
for committee OF conference with other as
sociations. looking for the change OF time OF
holding the different association meetinos-
The resolutions were adopted and DIR, Bur
rage was appointed the committee of confer
ence.
The morning session closed with PRAYER
by Rev. Mr. Estes Of Sanford
Inc AFTERNOON devotional services were
conducted Dy v. Richard FOss, ESQ Deacon
Sayward oil Springvale leading In prayer.
Inc business session was resumed at 2.45,
". Durtase,S motion tor change Of the
name OF the association being taken up and
passed by vote OF ii yeas to nays.
Inc committee on arrangements for the
next meeting reported Rev. q. s. Chase as
preacher and Rev. A. n. Dairy as alternate
The place Is to be decided upon later.
Inc nominating committee reported the
following list of committees for next year:
Resolutions, Rev. B. l.. Whitman, H.
Goodwin, Rev. g. Q. Spear Obituary, Rev.
IL. 5. Burrage, ID. ID. Place OF next meet
ing, Rev. A. N. Dairy, q. +. Turner. Young
Rev. Mr.. Ventres reported TWO more res0-
luttons commending the denOminational
papers, and Zion's Advocate to al Baptists,
which was adopted, and one concerning the
rnnning OF trains and boats and opening Of
places of business on Sunday. This was
also adopted by a rising vote. A resolution
was adopted calling upon church members
to do all In their power TO keep the prOhibi-
tory law in force, eommendtng Sheriff Cram
and temperance instruction IN tho schools.
A final vote Of thanks wac passed by a rls-
ing vote to those who had entertained dele
gates and TO the railroads for reduction of
fara =