The Portland daily press., 1891-04-10

preside, ana there VIII be present some OF
the ablest and most eloquent speakers In the
denomination, such as Rev. j. w. Hamilton,
d. d., Of Boston. Rev. j. L. Hurlburt, ID. d..
OF New York, Rev. II. O. Sheldon OF Boston
University, Rev. j. F. Berry. d. d., Of chi
cago. Rev. w. A. Spencer Of Philadelphia,
Rev. O. III. Payne, ID. D.. LII. d., Of New
York. Mrs. s. L. Baldwin Of Brooklyn. and
Mrs. Mary Z. Grif1ths Of Washington, ID. @.
Bishop Foster Of Boston, who will preside.
has been bishop Of the church for almost
twenty years. and comes very near being the
senior bishop. the honor which Bishop Bow
man holds by an election only a few hours
before the election Of Bishop Foster. Bishop
Foster Is an Ohioan by birth, and Is now II
years old. At the age Of seventeen years he
Joined the Ohio conference. He has been
president Of Northwestern University and a
professor In Drew Theological Seminary.
His present home Is In Boston. He ranks as
one OF the keenest thinkers In the Methodist
denomination, and Is author of the work
Studies in Theology" work which Is re-
garded as very unhealthy for infdels.1
~NS @-A"AHO OOhAOAUuCC 10 INTO
three districts, the Augusta, the Portland
and the Lewiston, presided over respectively
by Revs. Geo. @. Andrews, William S. Jones
and Enos I. Adams. The Rockland district,
together with the eastern part:of the state.
belong to the East Maine Conference, which
generally holds Its annual meeting later than
the Maine Conference. A good account will
be made from the three districts this year.
In the Portland district there has been an
addition to the membership Of about 200,
while the losses have been Ga dismissed by
certificate and S6 lost by death. making a net
gain Oh about 100. Reyivals have occurred
at Chestnut street, Pine street and Congress
street, Portland; Saccarappa, Kennebunk,
kennebunkport, Woodfords, Cape Elizabeth
Depot, Turner's Island, Biddeford, Berwick,
Hollis, York, South Portland and Chebeague,
resulting In about $50 converts. Two new
churches, valued at S8, 200, have been buIlt.
and 5000 have been expended In repairing
ehurcn property. In all the 50 churches,
trict, are valued, with what other church
property there Is, al. 1886, 400. Legacies for
the dement, OF the denomination In the last
year have been $500 from Sally Favor of
North Gorham, the interest OF which Is to 20
$1,000 from Mary Owen OF Elliot, the income
In Elliot.
Probably very Interesting portion Of the
proceedings will be a consideration of the
question whether women shall be admitted
to the general conference OF the church. The
laity voted on this question in this conference
last fall, and they were overwhelmingly In
favor Of the admission Of the women, al
though the total vote polled was small. Now
1t Is the turn for the ministers to vote. In
the New York conference, which voted the
other day, the clergy stood three to one
against the admission Of the women.
Throughout the South the conferences have
generally declared against the women. In
order TO recommend the change TO the gen
eral conference. IL Is necessary to have a ma
Jority vote OF the laity and two thirds vote
OF the clergy. So far the women are not get
ung tne necessary support from the clergy.
OF course 1t Is impossible TO predict what
support the women will have among the
Maine clergy who gather at Brunswick.
Some Of the members of the conferences ,re
heartily In favor Of the admission of the
women, and a very pretty contest may be ex-
pected. Among the most talented men in
the conference Is Rev. A. S. Ladd. now Of
Gardiner. He Is heartily In favor OF the ad-
mission OF tne women. What he says In
relation to the subject Is vigorous and in
teresting:
shall vote for the admission OF women into
the General conference for the following reasons:
- l; Delleye y Is a matter Of simple justice.
ABOUT tWO-thlrdS OF the members OF our church
are women They are as intelligent. as devoted
any anu a. neipini as are the men. They have all
our papers and periodicals, and why should they
not help elect the editors? They are deeply for err
ested IN the cause of missions. why should they
not nelp elect the secretaries aud shape the
policy? What justice Is there In asking the men
70 make all the laws and formulate methods OF
making them etecives IS there no place SI Ia he m
highest council OF the church for woman's tact,
tenderness and love?
2. l think it Is the only consistent thing to do.
women are elass-leaders, stewards, trustees etc,
she can vote on such important questions as
Oullulng ehurcnes, licensing preachers, recon-
mending candidates to the annual cOnieI ences
II She Is competent to do these things think
sne Is competent to do other things. The Gen
eral Conference has asked women 70 vote on the
question. do not believe they will have any
question Of greater moment TO consider after
3. 1 believe 1t to be part Of the great move
ment going on In favor Of womans more perfect
emancipation. II II VIII promote woman suffrage
say amen. Only six OF the states OF the Union
allow the married mother TO be an equal legal
owner OF her minor children with her husband
IN az least one state the "age Of consent" to her
This winter one legislature has been debaI1g the
question OF reducing It from sixteen 10 twelve
tul and diab0lcal?
Another able member Of the conference,
and one Of the best known Methodist minis
ters In Maine, Is Rev. W. S. McIntire, now
of Lewiston. He is enthusiastically In favor
of the cause Of the women. 81 shall vote"
he says. "for the admission Of women to the
general conference:
1. Because tits right The church is composed
largely Of women. They sustain our prayer and
class meetings. They compose the larger part OF
our band Of Sunday school teachers. They con
tribute largely to our benevOlences and church
expenses. They ought 10 have a voice In enact
ing the laws Of the church, and In the selection OF
the general superintendents editors, and seereta-
ries OF our benevolent societies.
2. Because 1t is expedent She Is the peer
her brother IN wisdom, foresight and executive
ability, and We cannot afford 10 deny the church
the blessings bestowed upon her by our common
Father.
There will probably be present at Bruns-
wick familiar landmark Of Maine Metho-
dism, Rev. ID. b. Randall, who Is affection
ately called Father Randall by every one.
At Augusta, where he has been chaplain of
the House OF Representatives, "Father"
Randall was taken sick and was forced to
get excused before the end Of the session.
But he Is now improving and he told a PRESS
reporter yesterday that he counted on being
on hand at Brunswick.
The programme Of the six days Of the con-
ference will be as follows:
Wednesday.-9 a. m. Organization Of confer
ence and administration OF the sacrament Of the
Lords Supper, by Bishop X. s. Foster, DID,
LID, of Boston, Mass; 10, roll call OF confer
ence; 2 D. M, missionary sermon by Il. I. Jones
$50 anniversary Of WOman's Foreign Mission
airy society, address by Mrs. S. l.. Baldwin Of
Brooklyn, N. "; z, Freedmen's Aid and south
ern Education society, address by Rev j. w
Hamilton u. d., OF Boston, Mass.
Thursday-9.OO a. m, business; d. M, Maine
Conference Domestic Missionary Society anniyer.
sary, addresses oy Reys. g. Q. Andrews, W. s.
Melnaire and j. M. Frost; $780, WOman's Home
Missionary Society, address BY Mrs Mary H.
Grifiths OF Washington, D. O.. 4, Preachers Aid
Soelety, addresses by Revs. s. Is. Lapham, 3.
hooper and j. + Clymer ID. ID.
rrluaY-S a. m, business; 2 p. m, sunday
School Union and Tract Society, address by rev:
j. L. Hurlburt ID. d., Of New York editor 9,
sunday School publieAti $50 edusatlonaI
meeting, address by Rev. III. Z. SheldOn o. Boston
University; Maine Conference EPworth League
anniversary, address by Rev. j. II. Berry, ID. D.,
| Of Chicago, editor OF Epworth League Herald.
SATURDAYS a. m, business; p. m, semcen-
| tennlal sermon, by Rev. Joseph Hawkes.; $50
memorial services; z. Church Extension society
| address by Rev. w. A. Spencer Of Phlace,phiIS a.
Sunday-9 a. M, love feast cone9c'eS rv,oa vg bv