The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-04-13

GLC ETtdStSA" 1890
A beautiful April day greeted the
Maine Methodists as they gathered at
Westbrook for their annual conference.
All day Tuesday aud yesterday strangers
were arriving and being assigned to the
various houses where they will be enter.
tanned during their stay in Westbrook
There was a good attendance at the s.
sions in the pretty Methodist church.
The opening devotional exercises were
conducted by Rev. George R. Palmer
The convention was called to order at
10 o'clock. In the enforced temporary
absence of Bishop Ninde, Rev. George
r.. Palmer was elected temp chair
man. Rev. Wilbur F. Berry was elected
permanent secretary.
A letter from Rev. j. T. Hamilton in
regard to methods for providing for SUI
perannuated preachers was read and re-
ferred to special committee for examl-
nation and future report, when the mat
ter will be discussed by the conference.
A communication was received from
the Society for the Protection of Amerl-
can Institutions and referred to the con-
ference standing committee.
Rev. Israel Luce alluded to member
who had been placed under a cloud by
this conference. unjustly he thought, and
who had since died. lie wanted to see
the cloud removed as far as it was pc ssh
BILE for this conference to do so. After
considerable discussion, on motion of
Father Randall, the matter was laid on
the table pending the arrival of the
bishop.
A resolution fixing the grade that must
be reached by conference students was
adopted.
Rev. J. W. Hamilton, d. D., cores
ponding secretary of the Freedman's
Aid Society, was presented to the confer
ence and made q short and entertaining
address pertaining to the work of his
society.
The regular annual reports of the sew
eral districts were next in order.
The report for the Augusta district
was first presented by Presiding Elder J..
B. Lapham and the elders of the Angus
ia district. Their reports showed the
district to be gratifyingly prosperous,
both financially and as to membership.
Improvements on church property at So
Ion, East Livermore, Livermore, Mt.
Vernon, Fairfield, and North Augusta
were reported. In his sick and
death report, Elder Lapham paid
a very touching tribute to the
memory of DR.. H. P. Torsey, OF
Kent's Hill. The reports from the differ
emit pastors of the district showed the
collections for the year to be exceptions
ally large.
After the presentation of the Augusta
report, and after reading notices, the
singing the Doxology.
Afternoon Session.
The missionary sermon by Rev. W. F..
Holmes was ON the text found in Matt.
xiii, 3S-'.The field is the world Mr..
Holmes said: These words from Christ S
parable of the sower indicate the
Sayior's thought concerning the world
wide influences and benefits of His
gospel The word world" has wider
meaning to us than to the disciples.
Facilities of communication and travel
have brought this larger world nearerIto
us than the lesser world was to them
The definition of the word 'sneighbor''
has been continually broadening since
Christ spoke the parable of the 'sgood
Samaritan
The gospel of Christ is missionary
gospel the Church of Christ is mis-
sionary church, the field is the world.
With the missionary idea in mind, we
shall consider missionary work in this
world-field under three heads: The
obligation, the opportunity and the out
look.
The obligation arises from the com
mand and teaching of Christ, is every
where implied in the New Testament,
and is emphasized by the nature of the
case. No method for getting the gospel
to the heather exists outside the church.
Christians must carry the message.
Obligation arises also from love. Paul
was debtor to the Greeks and Barbarians
because he was debtor to the love of
Christ.
There is the further obligation arising
AOul LIE ubGuS VI tll6 u0ollleH WOIlu.
The heather are perishing in large num-
bers, doubtless, without the gospel
They have light enough to reveal their
guilt, but not light and motive power
enough to enable them to escape from it,
The gospel will prove the power of God
unto large numbers that would doubt
less perish without it. They are in
moral degradation beyond description,
Their religions, in many cases, minister
TO vice, instead of delivering from it;
they furnish no uplifting power, nc
hope for the future.
We are under obligation to the heather
because we have what they have not
This is the obligation arising from abili-
~. We can pray and pay and go
The opportunities reveal obligation il
still stronger light. This century is the
'swondersof the ages" In nothing is