The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-10-06
MAINE uNlvERsALIsTs.
The Annual Sunday School and Young
Peoples Conventions.

The oath ANIMAL convention of the
Maine Universalist Sunday School
Association and the 4th convention
of the Young Peoples Christian
Union began yesterday morning
in the Church of the Messiah.
There was not very large attendance,
but the congregation increased in size at
| the afternoon services.
The first hour from a. m. was a devo-
tional meeting. At 10 o'clock the Sun
| day School convention was called to Or
der by the president and an address of
welcome was delivered by Rev. G. I.
KERN, pastor of the Church of the Mes
siah, to which President Twitchell of the
Sunday School convention and President
Rackliff of the Young Peoples Christian
Union appropriately responded.
The next business was the appoint
ment of committees as follows:
Credentials G. NJ. Fletcher Bangor. G. E.
Lefavor, Portland; Miss Varney, Skowhegan;
NO Nominat i 4. Mead, Augusta; E. F.
Pember, Bangor; Mrs. w. R. G. Estes, Skowhe-
gan; Miss G. J. Newman, Lewiston,
T.
Knight, Hallowell; Mrs. Crane, Readfeld; Miss
June Macarthur, Biddeford.
Secretary ]. V. Bradley of the conven-
ton then presented his report.
From the report of Secretary Bradley
we learn that this year has been one of
unusual prosperity, There hare now 81
schools, an increase of four. At Lisbon
Falls, Bridgton, Kingfield and Madison.
Circulars were sent in April for money
from the schools for convention work
and the total amount asked for was $3.50.
There will be fair response.
The work done during the year has
been good one. Every school in the
state makes use of the uniform lessons.
The schools report 81 children christened
on Children's Sunday and 100 members
of the schools have united with the
church during the year.
The membership of the schools last
year was 5000 and this year 5,305, a
gain of 239. Large additions have been
made to the Sunday School library. The
attendance of the schools has material
ly increased and also attendance of
schools in church has very largely in
creased.
Few schools have vacations, holding
continuous sessions. These recommend
ations were made:
1. A more systematic method of keeping the
records OF our schools.
2. The establishing a teachers meeting IN
every school for lesson study.
3. Greater care in selecting books for the Sab
bath school library.
4. That schools should make an effort to in
crease their Sunday collections.
5. That arrangements Should>be made to get
an agent to encourage and establish new schools
and that sum not over $500 be appropriated
6. That schools well situated establish Sunday
| school unions.
Z. That the same method for raising funds be
s. That every effort be made to establish
Young Peoples Unions. :.
8. That as next year will be the. 10Th annual
session, and that it be observed in an appro-
pirate manner, some one be invited to deliver
an address.
Mrs. j. S. Hobbs, on account of severe
sickness of her husband, had to resign
the treasurership of the convention, after
IS years service, to the great regret of
all. There was no report from the treas
urer read.
The convention adjourned to a. m.
today.
At II a. m. the Young Peoples Chris
ton Union was called to order by Presi-
dent Raekliff.
A resolution was offered that it is the
sense of the convention that it unite
with the state and Sunday school conven-
ton in the support of a state missionary.
The resolution was argued by Rev. Drs.
Blanchard, Stafford and KERN, and Mr..
Bradley in the affirmative, and Drs.
| Twitchell, Pember and others in the neg
| ative. The idea of the dissenters was
| that there was sufficient tact, brains and
| skill in the Sunday school and union to
| have missionary of their own. The
| resolution was not put to vote.
The reports for unions from all parts
of the state were made, showing activity
4 and substantial growth. The hour spent
! in listening to these reports was one of
the most profitable of the sessions.
The committee on nominations re-
ported as follows:
President Herbert D. HodgSins, Lewiston.
Vice rresident-Victor Richardson, Bath.
| Secretary-NIiss George Bradley, Portland.
| Treasurer George B. Goodale, Bangor.
Executive Committee-B. A. Mead, Augusta:
| Miss Dana Crockett, Dexter; Mrs. Mary E.
| Love- Lewiston.
| And the above were elected,
| Miss Mary E. Briggs of Auburn pre-
sented a paper on Excuses offered the
| Master these being indifference, care
| lessness and sickness, each receiving
practical treatment from the interesting
| speaker.
Miss Fannie Kimball of Lewiston dis
cussed Department in our meetings.,
| the points emphasized being order,
faithfulness and obedience.
Mr.. B. A. Mead of Augusta spoke on
'What are the requirements for mem
bership." Organizations require some
| thing of members. This union was, and
| is, intended to arouse the desire for a bet
| ter life. One requirement is that some
portion of the Bible be read daily. This
is wise, that young people may come to
| knowledge of its truths. Another is
regular attendance and participation in
the weekly meetings.
Miss Rose Bennett, of Westbrook Sem
mary, spoke on individual preparation
for the meeting" Belief that one can
be of service leads to preparation. The
best service is called for, and he or she
who seeks to give this will attend to this
preparation. Preparation is necessary for
the best good to come to the individual.
Success depends upon effort.
The meeting of the junior union closed
the exercises of the afternoon, which
proved so interesting that the large audi
ence remained until the close,