The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-04-24
WOMAN'S POSITION IN THE CHURCH.
The Methodists at Brunswick Will
Vote on the Question Today.
President hyde's Suggestion That
Denominations Work Together
Favorably Received and Commended d
by the Presiding Bishop.
Especial to the Press.1

Especial to the Press1
BRUNSWICK, April 23.-The second dav of
the conference opened with half hour de-
votional meeting led by Rev. Ammi S. Ladd
of Gardiner.
AT 3 O'Clock the business meeting opened.
The Bishop made short address, making
one criticism on what he had noticed In New
England, certain haphazard method of con-
Quoting prayer meetings. He thought that
they should be regulated by rule, the number
of speakers being specified and some idea of
the length Of their prayers and remarks be-
ing given before the meeting opened.
Rev. Charles Munger asked to be excused
from service on the committee on the state
of the church. and he was accordingly ex-
cused.
Rev. Mr.. Munger moved that the PROPOSE
tions from the general conference in regard
to the admission of women to the general
conference be made the order of the day at
10 O'Clock Friday. The motion prevailed.
He also moved that committee of seven be
raised by the presiding elders to prepare the
question for presentation.
Rev. A. W. Pottle moved to amend the
motion, making the committee three instead
Rev. d. B. Randall opposed the appoint
ment Of committee and Rev. Mr.. Munger
favored 1t. The committee was ordered and
ID. b. Holt. A. w. Pottle and II. Hewett
were nominated by the presiding elders.
Rev. w. S. Mcintyre from the committee
on memoirs asked the conference for any in
formation any member might be prepared to
give of Sylvester Hooper, Mrs. r. j. Aver,
Mrs. I. j. True and Mrs. Copeland, who had
died since the last conference report.
Raw Mr. Hadd0aE w cod 1nkxz
as chairman of the committee on marriage
and divorce, and Rev. f. A. Bragdon ap-
pointed.
Rev. w. S. Jones from lthe committee on
examination of candidates reported a reso-
luton to the effect that candidates who
failed to pass general average of IS per
cent. should not be passed to the next class.
Rev. w. +. Berry was relieved from the
chairmanship of the committee on education
and Rev. G. K. Clifford was appointed.
The character of Rev. E. T. Adams, pre-
siding elder Lewiston district, was passed
and his report was read. He said that the
work on the district has been good during
the year. No preachers have died but Mrs.
X ). Aver and Mrs. I. 9. True, preachers
widows, have died during the year. There
have been several reyiyals during the year.
notably in Berlin, n. H., at both churches
in Bath. in Blunswick, Oxford, Bethel and
Conway. An interesting and profitable
canpmeeting was held at East Poland. In
much has been done. At Bethel a large debt
has been paid eff. Debts have also been
paid at Auburn, North Auburn and Cor
ham, N. H., where the church and parson
pairs were also made at Bartlett, Naples,
ner, Andover, Rnmford, Bowdoinham, Lis
bon and Lisbon Falls. Epworth leagues are
now in existence in nearly all of the charges.
The vote ON the admission of women out of
q total nf 2H00 tnpOhpra racnlfad
against, 145. Renevolences have been kept
up as we'll as could be expected considering
the fact that the number of rural charges is
steadily increasing. The characters Of the
ministers on the district were all passed
and their reports received.
Rev. w. S. Jones, presiding elder OF the
Portland district, had his character passed
and read his sixth and final report. There
are on the district 20 effective, local. IL
preachers. No ministers have died
during the year. Joseph Daniels,
local preacher at Maryland Ridge died dur
ing that time. There has been good work
vivals having been held at Biddeford, Bruins
wick, South Portland. Cape Elizabeth and
Turner's Island, Hollis, the different churches
in Portland, Saccarappa, Woodfords and
YORK: By reason OF death h ili,a ana removal the
than 300. The finances are in good condition
aud the salaries are nearly all paid. The
average salary is $720 against $633 last year.
Two new churches have been built, at West
Portland and Sanford, and largely paid for.
Extensive repairs have been made and the
debts OF many churches have been reduced.
The churches are now largely insured, there
having been general awakening on this
subject. The title to the church at Old Or
chard has been made secure. Benevolences
have been well kept up. Sunday schools and
Epworth Leagues are fourishing and are
doing much good There are "a chapters of
the Epworth League, with 800 members, and
three societies of Christian Endeavor. hav-
ing 150 members. One district camp meeting
was held at Old Orchard. On the woman
question, out of total membership Of 1895,
the vote was 1853; yes 597, no Ill. Mr.. Jones
recommended that residence be secured for
the presiding elder in the district.
He then in closing read some statistics of
work in the district during his incumbency
of the eldership. showing healthy increase
all along the line. During the past six years
Mr.. Jones has travelled 1850 miles, deliver
ed 760 sermons and 27 lectures; attended 65i
quarterly conferences, 233 love feasts and
administered the sacrament 312 times.
Mr.. Jones was much affected as he closed
his report, and his emotion was communi-
Gated to the audience. Rev. ID. 3. Randall
spoke a few words in bidding him God
speed.
The characters of the ministers of the dis
trict were passed, and their reports received.
The relation Of Rev. r. Ii. Kimball was
changed from effective to that of supernu-
merary preacher.
TIE report of the tract agent, Rev. N. E.
Clifford. was then read. Mr.. Clifford report
ed that he had visited 80 charges and 1910
families, had collected $136 81 and disbursed
$4767, aud had sold between $500 and $500
worth of books.
At this point of the proceedings several
visitors were introduced to the conference,
Rev. Mr.. Ella of the N. E. Southern Confer
ence, DR.. Wright Of Boston, who delighted
the audience at the evening meeting last
night, Rev. Messrs. Walker ana Hanscomb,
and Plummer of the East Maine Conference.
Rev. William Dewitt Hyde, Rev. DR.. Mason,
Rev. b. M. OSgo0d, and Rev. G. E. Tufts,
delegates from fraternal conferences, were
also presented and made short addresses.
President Hyde made a sturdy plea for the
union OF the different churches in the small
towns. Mr.. Osgood. for the Free Baptists,
and Rev. G.. K. Tufts for the Baptists, ex-
tended fraternal greetings from their state
associations Mr.. Tufts gave some figures,
showing the increase in Baptist churches
and school buildings during the year, SAYING
that the Methodist zeal in those directions
was very inspiring to the Baptists.
The Bishop replied briefly, stating that
the Methodists claimed fellowship with all
of growth and progress of other denomina-
tions were pleasing to them. He expressed
his pleasure at President Hyde's suggestion
OF union churches in small communities
gaining IL d common sense view of the case,
He said that 1t was doctrine of the Metho-
dists that one we'll paid minister In a town
was better, and did better work than Eve
Starving preachers in five different Struggling
churches. He then, in humorous fashion
that frequently called forth roars of langhta,
from the. audience spoke of the eradnai
nearing of the different churches
Rev. +. G. Haddock moved for the appoint.
ment of committee of two to unite with
committees from other evangelical confer.
ences in regard to the occupancy of the
state territory. '10
The presiding elders were directed tn an
point two delegates to meet at Wateryilte
next October. -.'0
DIR. Wright, for the Freedman's Aid Soc,e-
ty, spoke to the conference briefly concern-
ing that body. and also spoke CONCERNING tha
Boston Correspondence School, of which he
is the head. ~
The Bishop spoke briefly concerning tho
Freedman's Aid Society, saying that The
support of the society would be obligatorv
upon the conferences for long time.
Rev. ID, B. Holt, for the committee on vo.a
on the woman question, reported that the
vote should be confined to the change of the
third restrictive rule, and that 1t should he
| taken, without discussion, by ballot on cali
of the roll. the ballots reading "for" and
IT, 1sx.cN