The Portland daily press., 1892-01-28
THESE BUSINESS MEN.
Cumberland Conference Discusses
Their Condition.
rs CHURCH WORK LEFT LARGELY
TO THE WOMEN?

Resolutions Relative to the Conduct of
the Conference Adopted -wiIIiston La
dies Serve Fine ColIation-Mr. j. r.
Libby Gives His Views on Relations of
Business Men to Religion-Other Exer
cises of the Conference.
The one hundred and forty-ninth ses-
sion of the Cumberland Conference OF
Congregational Churches assembled at
Williston church in this city yesterday.
Rev. DR.. j. G. Merrill was chosen moder-
ator.
There was quite general representa-
ton of the churches composing the con-
ference. The religious services and dis
cussions of the forenoon took place in ac-
cordance with the programme already
published, Rev. G. G. Wilson, G. W.
Kelley, J. H. Cogswell, J. A. Anderson,
E. P. Wilson, E. E. Bacon, A. Fl. Wright
and others taking part.
At noon very fine collation. was served
by the ladies of Williston in the vestry of
the church.
The afternoon services began with a
sermon by Rev. VIM. T. Jordan of the
Free Church, Deering, who preached
from the text: "Tarry We in Jerusalem
until We DO endued with the Holy Ghost"
Following the sermon came the commu-
MON.
Then followed the main discussion of
the afternoon on the subject of business
men in relation to the kingdom of God
on earth. The discussion was begun by
a well known business man of Portland,
Mr. j. r. Libby,
who said he was reminded in coming be-
fore them that 1T would have been better
had he followed the Injunction of Paul
wherein the apostle said we should abide
in the calling we are called. He thought
he might have done better had he re-
manned at his place Of business; yet he
had been called upon and felt it his duty
to respond. Yet, said Mr.. Libby, the
business men have a certain relation to
the building up Of the kingdom of God;
and regret that there are not more of
them who have an active interest in this
matter.
believe there was never an hour when
there was a greater need OF Christian
spirit among business men. There are
too many of them who forget that there
is Cod and that there is a Sabbath day
which must be kept holy. L always like
to think of the stand taken by one
Bold and True
business man. When they were talking
Il opening the Philadelphia Exposition
on Sunday Corliss declared that he would
run the great engine which bore his name
and furnished power for running the ma
chinery every week day and every week
day night if they wished; but it should
not run Sunday.
Mr.. Libby hoped that here would be
some business man with the power and
will to say that the Chicago Exposition
shall not be run Sundays. Mr.. Libby
thought that while at work for missions,
foreign and domestic, we should not for
get the business men right in our own
community. This class" said Mr.. Lib
by, II believe, are
than any other class at the present time"
Mr.. Libby thought that the business men
were not opposed to the influence of the
kingdom of Christ; He said that the
business men of today have learned by
the experience of the world and by the
influence of the kingdom of God, which
has been built up in the hearts of so
many people, that it is the survival of the
fittest and not the survival of the tricki-
est in their business, that is the rule.
The business men appreciate religious
influence, and if the pastors will feel
more free to approach business men on
religious topics, the latter will respond
sooner OF later.
The discussion was continued by
Rev. DR.. j. G. Merrill,
of the Second Parish church. DR.. Mer-
riIl said there were two points upon
which he wished to dwell. The business
man needs the kingdom, and the king
dom needs the business man.
DR.. Merrill did not think there was
any doubt of the business mans need of
the kingdom, since all mankind need the
kingdom.
To get the business man into the king
dom it is necessary, Dr. Merrill said, to
begin with him when he is a boy. Look
out for him then, for in after years his
environments and cares all tend to drag
him away from the kingdom.
1t is also necessary to look out for the
girls, for in these days the business of
this country is carried on by women as
well as men. Since the war there has
been great change in this respect, and
now numbers of women on their way to
and from business are seen regularly on
our streets.
Dr.. Merrill said he had been saddened
on returning to New England to find
So Great a Skepticism
in regard to church membership and
religious professions on the part of the
young. The divine injunction suggests
the filling of churches with young peo-
pie. In this way they are started early
in the Kingdom. [ would not despair OF
business man who has got absorbed in
business before getting into the King
dom. We can reach them, turn them
to the Kingdom. 1t has been one OF the
greatest pleasures of my life to meet
,oI,