The Portland daily press., 1891-06-17
IN CONVENTION AT WATERVILLE.
The General Conference of tho Con-
gregationaI Churches.
Good Works Accomplished as Re-
vealed by the NecroIoey.
Tho Annual Sermon and an interest
Ing Discussion.
Especial to the Press.l


organizations of the commonwealth. and its
assembly is at the front of the great gather
iDgs of the year in Maine.
The general conference, in Its official ca
pacity, is composed of delegates appointed
by the several county conferences, the ap-
pointees showing fair proportion of lay
men, while including the leading members
of the clerical profession.
The missionary operations and interests Of
the state are always prominently represent
ed, and Sunday school and educational mat
ters held in view in the choice of delegates
The general conference has no power to leg
islate, aud it avoids even the language of
dictation. The local individual churches are
respected 10 the exercise OF that freedom
which is the glory of the Congregational pol
ity and which it Is believed makes strongly
for the conservation of sound and intelligent
faith At the same time the conference
means to discuss questions of belief, meth
ods of work and lines Of policy in such man
ner as shall afford suggestions OF value to
the churches, confident that these sugges-
tions will not fail to carry weight equal to
their SoundnesS.
At 10 80 a. m. the conference was called to
order by the moderator for this anniversary,
Professor j. S. Sewall, D. d., of Bangor
L 1u6OlORlCdl O6u1tudINs AlIcE bIo uofOtlUH-
al service, Introductory to the work of the
conference, the acceptance of the printed
programme as the regular order of exercises
and the appointment of Rev. 3. B. Merrill of
Bremen, and Rev. B, +. Clark of Machias,
ON the committee of nominations, the mod
orator expressed the appreciation of the con-
ference for the generous and wise prepaTa-
tions made by the church and the citizens of
Waterville for the reception of the large
number coming to this yearly assemblage..
Rev. Mr.. Hallock, pastor of the church,
responded in graceful and most appropri-
ate address. placing the best they had and
the best they could do at the service of their
guests.
The moderator then declared the 65.h an
nivery CT the General Conference OF the Con-
gregational Churches of Mainelduly open for
the transaction of business.
The conference first remembered the faith
full men called during the year to the higher
service.
The neurology. carefully prepared by Sec
retary Duren, was read by this faithful and
venerable servant Of the conference. The
neurology was as follows:
The Neurology.
No one of the pastors ministering to the
churches in Maine has been removed by
death. One venerable and beloved father,
John j. Carruthers, after faithful service
as pastor of the Second church, Portland,
80 years, and residence of IL years in Sc
rene and beautiful old age among his own
people. entered into rest August 8, 1890, aged
80 years. His early days were spent in
Scotland, his native land. A student with
Thomas Carlyle; studied afterwards at st.
Andrews University, Glasgow and at lI Edin-
were pursued at Selkirk Seminary. He full
filled mission in Russia and in New Brit
ain and came to this country In 1S4S. He
was an able preacher, clear, solid and earn
est; of much dignity of character and of
the Maine Missionary Society in 1850 in
South Berwick, and the conference sermon
in 1858 at Saco. He wrote frequently for
magazines and papers. fitting tribute to
his character and life was prepared by Rev.
&c. Cummings. which has been published.
the meeting of this conference, last year, at
Bridgton, passed away while sitting in his
Yarmouthville, aged II. He was a graduate
of Bangor Seminary in 1S41,, and
has been identified with the churches of
Maine since that time: pastor at Shapleigh,
Lyman and Edgecomb, supplied at Denmark,
Sweden, Sumner, Andover, Temple and 9TH
er places. He has received continuous CON-
mission from the the Maine Missionary Soci-
ETY. for twenty seven years. He was Interest
ed in historical studies, and several articles
prepared by him for the press. have been pub
and particular in his work; dev0ut, and con-
tended earnestly for the faith.
Five who were former pastors in Maine
have been called to close their work on
earth.
August TO- 1890, James B.. Hadley at Camp
ton, N. H., aged g. graduate OF Amherst
49, Andover '36. After pastorate in Mas
sachusetts of fourteen years, hs was in
stalled pastor at Staudlsb, Me-, in 1861, re-
naming. eight years. He afterwards
preached in New Hampshire. His wife,
who survives him, was Eliza NJ. Page of
Warren. Me; BE was an earnest, devoted
minist ter and an exemplary Christian.
Sept. 3. Henry Clay Westwood, ID. d.,
died in Frederic, n. Y, aged 60 years. He
was pastor of the High street church, Au-
burn, two years, an able minister, and had
large circle of friends within and without
denominational lines.
Sept. II. Edward Strong Dwight, D., D.,
died in Hadley, Mass. aged 70. lie was a
grandson Of President Dwight; graduated at
Yale College in 'S6; at Yale Seminary in '43;
was ordained pastor at Saco in IA, remain
ing nine years preached at Amherst, Mass,
six years; at Hadley, Mass, from ga to his
death. He was trustee of Amherst College
from 80, and secretary Of the board from
'S4. While in Maine. he preached the ser
mon before the Maine Missionary Society in
80 at Searsport. His first wife was Lucy Z.
Waterman, daughter of DR.. John Water
man of GOrbam, who died in '61; his second
wife was Elizabeth McGregor, daughter of
Rev. John r. Adams, who preached at Cor
ham from '47-'58. She died in 70. A notice
of Dr. Dwight refers to his duties as always
performed with utmost efficiency and paiDs-
taking accuracy, while all who came into
contact with him, were impressed with the
sanity loveiness of his character, which
was manifested in more than courtly gentle
ness and grace of demeanor.
:, Sept !8. Walter Enoch Darling, died at
the Sanitarium, Arlington, Mass. aged 30.
He was graduate of BowdoiD, 81; Bangor
Seminary, 80, pastor of the church of Fox
croft and Dover, '62-'65; Kennebunk, '66-'76;
Pennington, N: H., '77-'S9 For the few
Efforts made to regain 1t did not prove sue
cessful. He had commended himself to his
several charges by his amiable and winning
ways, his public service and pastoral work.
His wife, Ellen, daughter of Prof. George
Shepard. survives him.
Jan. "a. '9l, Philip Titcomb died In Kens-
ington, N. H., aged rs. He graduated at
Yale, '43; at Bangor Seminary, '46. After
being in Michigan, two years, he was at
Cherryfeld from '48-'5l; Dexter, '5l-'54:
South Kennebnnkport, ,5a'65; Limerick. '65
H, 5000. Mr.. Titcomb was always an
earnest, devout: sincere, consecrated Chris
tian; faithful pastor and preacher: de-
voted TO the one work of honoring the
Master to whom he had given himself and
dll ulo pU wis. llo WLlO was LiiLd Wilder
Briggs, of Kirkland, Ne, who died at Plym-
ton in 1870. She was a choice Christian dis
ciple.
Two graduates from Bangor Seminary
have departed this life, who had supplied for
a short time some of the churches in Maine:
but their chief ministry was in Vermont.
Aurelius Stephen Swift, in West Ran
dolph, VT, December 25, 80, aged 83. He
was graduate of Bangor Seminary in '57.
In 1867 he fulfilled missionary work i'm
Garland, Exeter, Dexter, Readfeld and Mt,
Vernon, Me-. preached at Croydon, N. nj.
Stockbridge, HubbardstoD, and West Ran
dolph, Vt.
Edward Payson Wild, d. D., in Manches-
ter, Vt, October 20, 80, aged 81. He was
graduate of Mlddlebury College in go; BAN
gor Seminary, '65; licensed by the Penobscot
Association in 1864 to preach at Craftsbury.
Newport and Manchester, vt.
Henry Hamilton Saunderson, who was one
year in Bangor Seminary, 1910, died in Amos
keag, N. H, June %, 80, aged 80. His min
istry was in Vermont and New Hampshire.
Richard Owen Jones, pastor of the Welsh
church in Br0wnville, died in BrOWnyille,
August 3, 80, aged 49, This church was or,
ganized and Mr.. Jones ordained by a council
of Congregational ministers of the Piscata-
quis Conference, May 10. '85. He was An
amiable, genial man, an earnest, feryent
Christian, faithful preacher of the gospel'
Frank Mccall Gates, son of Rev. C6as. Fl
Gates, who was ordained at West Newfield.
April 10. 1890, designing to enter upon mis-,
si0nary work IN the Soudan, Africa, died AT
Sierra Leone. July Q, 1890 of coast fever. He
gave prCmise Of great usefulness.