The Portland daily press., 1893-06-28
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES.


| congregational Churches reported by
| the Corresponding Secretary, among
whom were mentioned Dea. S. D. Thurs
ton, Dea. HI. Fl. Burgess and others.
The report on the neurology says that
mo one in the passionate during the year
had been removed by death, DR.. War
rem, who for seventeen years had weekly
ministered to the churches. through the
Christian Mirror, has been taken from
us, with fourteen others, who in former
years have been pastors. or acting as
such. Among these was Father Halves,
the Oldest in the State except one, and
who has done more service than any
other, having been in the ministry sixty
SIX years, laboring to the age of 90 years
with much vigor. Henry S. Loring had
been in the ministry in the State 46
years."
The Conference Sermon
At II a. M the conference sermon was
delivered by Rev. ]. S. Williams of Au-
gusta.
Mr.. Williamson's text was from Exc
dus l4-l5. ''Speak to the children OF
Israel that they 60 forward
In his sermon he said; We meet to-
Gay in transition period in the life and
thought of the Christian church, The
verities of our faith are being questioned.
debated, criticised, by friend and foe. as
they never were before. The inductive
method of study inaugurated with
such beneficent results by physical sci
ence is asserting itself in the bosom Of
the church relative to the sources of
Christian faith and practice. Geology
and evolution have ploughed up many
ancient land marks. The social and in
dustrial question has urged it's claims so
strongly upon the thought of religious
people that in all our theological semi
naries there are being founded chairs of
sociology in order to breathe Christ's
spirit into the dry bones of political
economy. The puplic press is discuss
ing. with more OF less accuracy the
ethical questions of the day in such
way that the church cannot afford to put
her light under bushel.
IN y y v u u y
U III God is my father, and every soul is
created in the image of Coda son Of
God-then every man is brother to me.
and my duties to the brotherhood of
man are as religious as my duties to
God, --communion with humanity is as
sacred as communion with God, The
fact that one man neglects this is no
reason why should any more than that
because one man takes poison therefore
| should.
The Fatherhood of God and the
brotherhood of man make all of life
sacred and religious. The duty of a
chemists clerk, Of a bank cashier, of
grocer or of bootblack are as sacred as
that Of minister of the gospel, It is not
the office that sanctifies the man, but the
man that sanctifies the office.
Saving the whole man means as much
reverence and respect Tor the law of God
IN the body as in the soul--as much care
d 70, the needs OF the body as for the soul.
This involves food, clothing, fresh air,
comfortable shelter and sanitary perfee-
ton for every man, woman and child
70 fare sumptuously and be clad in pur-
pie and fine linen and neglect the needy
at our door has the same conclusion for
the man OF the nineteenth century it had
for the man of the first. In hell, not in
heaven, shall he open his eyes. It is
more easy to pray for man than to give
him a loaf when hungry. 1t is more
easy for the church to expatiate on the
bliss OF future world than to bless the
present. May God grant, then, that
during the coming year, as churches we
may indulge in truer conception of
the relation of God to this world-may
preach a deeper and more vital gospel
message and through our conduct more
practically serve our God and our fellow
men.
Afternoon Session.
This afternoon, at 2 o'clock, devo-
tional service was led by Rev. j. A. An
derson of Portland. The treasurer.
Hon. j. S. Wheelwright of Bangor, made
his report, which was accepted.
At 2.45, Rev. Hugh Elder Of Farming
ton, Eand Rev. E. P. Wilson Of Wood
fords gave addresses on the general sub
Ject of the worship of the church, the
former taking as his branch of the SUBJ
Ject, worship as means of spiritual
nurture to it's members, the latter an
exhibition OF spiritual reality and power
to non-members. Both addresses were
well written and ably delivered. Mr..
Wilson said that many sermons wer-
spoiled by having too long an introduce
ton, and while he had heard sermons
which would be improved if both intro
duetion and conclusion had
been omitted he would con-
tent himself with cutting short
his Introduction, and proceeding at
once to the subject in hand. His re-
marks were well expressed, and deliy-
ered without notes.
At the conclusion of Mr.. Wilson's adj
dress prayer was offered by delegate !
and hymn sung, after which addresses
were made, first by Rev. j. L. Jenkins.
D. D., of Portland, on "Ths Work of the
Church." his special branch being .'for
it's membership He was followed by
Rev. R. T. Hack of Belfast, who spoke
on the "Worl of the Church for the
Children and by Rev, @. S. Patten Of
Auburn, "for the community These
remarks were discussed by the confer
Secretary's Report.
The report of the corresponding score
tary, Rev. E. M. Cousins of Westbrook.
was read at the evening session. From
the report it appears that the additions
by confession have been us, or about 80
less than last year, and a little above the
average for the past five years. The ad-
ditions by letter have been 1856, or about
30 more than last year, and the largest
number with one exception for nearly
score Of years, The total of these addi-
lions is HOB fOur tinas laroor tbo, Ia at !