The Portland daily press., 1891-06-19
THE C0NGREGATIONALIST conference.
Cold Comfort for the Hotel Men
from the Assemblsge.
Final Session of the Watervllle Gath
erlng Yesterday.
Ringing Resolutions and Spirited Ad-
dresses MADE.
Especial to the Press.1

Especial to the Press.l
| WATERvILLE, June 1S.-The early prayer
meeting was led by Rev. Lauriston Reynolds
| Of Yarmouth. Following devotional SER
vices, the conference gave attention to re.
ports Of committees and other business.
| The committee of 1890 on desirable legisls-
tioD, Judge Enoch Foster chairman, report
ed that, "In accordance with the new law.
churches may be organized and incorporated
under the general statute; also, ecclesiasti-
cal societies may, by simple process, transfer
| their property aud functions to their related
| churches by two-thirds vote of their mem.
| bers.
The committee on nominations, Rev. j. p.
Cushman chairman, reported. and the con-
| ference made choice of officers for the next
year as follows
Moderator Hon. Enoch Foster of Bethel.
recording Secretary-Elnathan f. Duren of
Corresponding. secretary-Rev. E. M. Cousins
Of Cumberlane Mills.
Treasurer-Deacon Jos. S. Wheelwright of
Bangor.
A1ditor-Deacon William s. bennett OF Bangor
committee on Publication OF Minutes--Me
ans, ID. d., OF Bangor.
Secretary of Sunday Schools-Rev. B. P. Snow
OF Yarmouth.
Committee on Sunday Schools-Rev B. P.
Snow Of Yarmouth, Rev. E. NJ. Cousins of Cum
berland Mills, Rev. Benjamin B. Merrill of Br ew-
or, Rev. George Lewis of South Berwick Hon.
Augustus r. Bixby of Skowhegan, Clinton A.
woodbury. Of Deering, Rev. Lauriston Reynolds
OF Yarmouth.
Committee to visit Bowdoin College-Rev.
Dwight M. Pratt, Portland; Rev. Arthur G. FitZ,
South Paris; Rev. Edward Chase, ,Halloweil; Rev.
pn9haI YIN; / Cole, Houlton Rev. Daniel W. Harding.
Delegates to Corresponding Bodies-Con grega-
tional Union of England and Wales, Urinary.
Robert G.. Harbutt, Searsport. Congre gatonai
Union OF Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.
Primary. Primary. Rev Henry +: Hardigg East Machias;
Preacher for next ConfereRce-P Primary, Prof.
1. +. Stearns, Bangor; alternate, Rev. L. Il. Hal
lock. Waterville.
Next meeting of the conference at Machias.
Committee of arangements-Bey. Chas. f.
Clarke Machias; Rev: Henry F: Harding, East
Machias; Rev. G. G. McCully, Calais; Rev. L. III.
Hallock, Waterville; Dea. VIM. P. Hubbard, Ban
gor.
Committee on Christian Comity--Rey,' L: II.
Brunswick; Galen Moses, Esq, Bath.
Committee to secure Sabbath Legislati0n--Prof.
+. b. DEMO, Bangor, Rev. A. j. Rackliff, Skowhe-
gan; Mr.. D. S. Sawyer, .Jonesport
The committee on resolutions, Rev. L. H.
Hallock, chairman, reported as follows:
RESOLVED, That in the Judgment of this Confer
ence it is desirable that the whole Of Wednesday
ccoclOu Uo u6NOl6u 10 Iu6 n1dln6 MlSSlOn-
ary Society. And we suggest to the committee of
arrangements that the present order of service
for "Wednesday evenining viz. the consideration
and of the corresponding secretary be continued.
We also recommend that a place be assigned
upon l. for the reading of the report of the CORE
:, ,Resolved, That we approve OF the action of our
National Council to apply for space in the Chica-
gationalism has done for the world"-and pledge
ourselves by word and act in this direction to aid
In honoring our New England ancestry.
We also Instruct the Rev. L. II. Hallock, if the
opportunity presents itself at the London council
to represent this sentiment of the Maine Confer
ence
Resolved, That in the view of this Conference,
we owe it 10 ourselves as denomination, to our
commonwealth, and above all to the cause of
Christ among u.s. that we give our educational
work leading place in our interest and effort.
We believe 1t eminently desirable that our earn
est endeavor and generous support, be accorded
to these institutions, and that the adequate en-
dowment OF them, from the fitting school to the
college and seminary, should be speedily accom-
plished.
mittee on church Gently:
Resolved, That we recommend the appoint
ment of four to confer with similar committees
from the Methodist: Baptist, Free Baptist and
cooperation in lChristian work in the smaller
towns In our State.
Resolved, That we, the members of this con-
ference. approve the effort now being made by
Alumni of Bangor Theological Seminary, to in
crease the funds of that institution, and that we
do hereby commend this movement to our
churches, our congregation and all persons in
terested In the equipment OF our Seminary as An
toS apd their ad 'nef earnest a''eh
Resolved, That the General Conference of
Maine e. expresses Its profound qualification In
in some of our leading centres.
The General Conference next adopted the
following resolution unanimously:
Voted, That, whereas, the Worlds Fair at Chi
cago in 1898 should be a true expression of
principles which are characteristic of the best
Whereas. certain institutions will inevitably
be on trial before the world not the least OF which
Is the Christian Sabbath; therefore,
Resolved, That we do respectfully but earnestly
implore the managers Of the fair to honor the
Christian Sabbath, and the moral sentim ent OF
Lords Day, which Of itself will afford signifi-
cant object lesson upon the sanctity of the day,
and conform to the far Of God the
world the difference between European Sunday
and christian Sabbath, we beg that upon our
institution, to which our nation is so largely in
debted for its noblest development
city Of Wateryille by the Maine Hotel Keepers' e;
Association. and IN view of the fact that the Ma
tional Liquor Dealers and Brewers Association
propose to hold meeting during the coming sea.
son the soil of our State, we, the General Con-
ference OF the Congregational Churches of Maine,
would recognize the direct attack planned against
the principles of prohibition in state consttu-
tion and laws, and out of an experience as wide
and an interest as deep as can belong to any other
class of persons in the community, we would
place on record our conviction that this principle
IN spite of the continued and persistent effort of
lawbIeakers, both within and without our bOr
ders, has contributed very Largely to the moral
and material interests of our state, and beyond
slight Inconvenience at times, no healthful ma
terlal Interest has ever suffered from such laws
and their honest enforcement.
And we would further call upon ourselves and
abe Christians of our churches and of the state to
ton, and by their Careful and consistent Support
OF men and measures, henceforth see that we
maintain that which has been one OF our defences
and glories thus far.
paper on Music as a part of public w0r-
ship, was given by Professor Waldo 5.
Pratt of Hartford Theological Seminary.
"Some phases of Sociology" was the theme
set for the last hour of the forenoon session.
The opening address, given by Rev. w. Fl.
Fem. d. D., of Portland, was greatly en-
joyed by the audience. DIR. Fem said he
would familiarly consider "the problem of
the country church viewed socially"
The great changes and improvements that
have, these last fifty years, came upon the
rural parish were noted. These changes
have elevated the taste, culture and general
social status of the country church. But
more Is needed. What the country towns
need for one thing, Is to recognize their own
dignity and the important function that the
country church sustains toward the cities.
The country towns need good preachers and
good scholars. One Of the first things is to
| excite through our country communities. a
healthy dissatisfaction with things as
| they are. Religious and social misery is the
| first step to social and religious advance
ment.
Professor d. G. Wells of Bowdoin College
| presented the city phase of the sociological
problem, noting the. rapid and striking in
| crease In city population during the last 25
| years, and that this wonderful growth is
| equally noticeable in all the countries of En-.
| rope, the position was taken that this fact
must modify all sociological studies and in
| quiries.
| Professor Wells said this advance in urban
| over rural population is due to immigration
from the country. As a general law, anv
city population, a II ieit to itself, would die
cities will be certainly irreligious If the
country churches are neglected for the cities
are filled up by the country.
At the termination of these remarkable
| papers President Small of Colby. made a do