Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1892-04-21
The History of East Maine Conference.
REV. WILLIAM l.. BROWN.


In the month Of August. 1893. the
New England Conference held it, an
nual session in Lynn, Mass. All New
England was included in its territory
Eight preachers were in attendance.
One appointment read as follows:
IN mn and the Province of Maine.
Jesse Lee" In Conference session,
1896, thirty preachers were present,
and seven OF that number were assigned
to Maine.
In 1915 there were two districts in
Maine. twenty circuits, and - minis
tiers. Membership. ) 3sS; increase,
1856
In the year 1925 the Maine Confer
ence was organized. with IA names up
on its roll. The cause advanced. and
at the session of Maine Conference held
in Biddeford in 1917. Bishop Hedding
presiding initial action was taken for
the creation OF new Conference to he
called East Maine. Hence our Con-
ference dates from 1913. aud includes
all of Maine not embraced in the Maine
Conference.
The circuit system has beer hitherto,
of necessity. an important feature in
our work. The lack If railroads in ou'
domain has rendered moving more dit
ticult and wearylng. The pre-occupa-
ton Of the field bv older churches
should be considered with reference to
our work, Our early ministers were
not always recognized A. righttul occu-
pants of the soil \ stern theology
was held by established churches.
which was already rcacting toward
Unitarian opinions. Methodism was
new and novel, but the preaching of a
free, tll! and present salvation won its
way among the masses Of the people
To-day far happier state Of feeling
exists among the churches throughout
our bounds We have now an Evan
gellCal Board of Arbitration to which
members from all churches are appoint
ed, the better to utilize our labor- in
the smaller places Bishop Foster Wit
tlly and wisely commented upon thi-
measure, at our last session. heartily
commended It, but observed that il
was not ALWAYS so"
Our history shows that God gave
MEN roR THE TIMES
he early laborer. were noble IN char
acter aud efficient IN work Onlv eight
members are now living whose conuec-
ton l. co-cNistent with the creation Of
the Conference. They are Revs Al
bert hurch. X. Day. A. Kendall. l..
" entworih. ). II Beae b 3 B,lue.
b. NJ. Mitchell and f. NJ. Fowler
Oar body has always been faithful
10 educational interests. BY the diyis-
ion kent's Hill Seminary was taken by
The Maine Conference but. with great
sacrifice. tie walls Of the second sem
mary were soon reared in orr territory
and it stands 10 dav to our church
honor with good prospect of greater
usefulness before it.
In our outline OF Conference history
the record of patriotism is rot want
ner cent or H. .ya;lobIa ,na,a
ship to suppress the war of Tho RahslI.
ion. Methodi.ts we're very n,mc,on.
in our regiments. Several memha,. -
Conference served a. cbarl,in. ot,ice-s
and privates in the .trif. W.. recall
the names OF Brothers !. p. French.
|. A. Wardwen. B + TEN p lilo.
.in,. B. 4. Chase. :. +. Chase anI :
\ Fuller A. f,e,opoing tn his IL,
Though The heroic agr / no, pas.ad
as shown by our Conference uo,L-
still the time. Have imnroxed Minis.
teriM support is greatly il, ,dvanc. Of
4 earlier YEAR. h,,, b.f,r. mo .onv