The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-03-14
CONGREGATIONAL CLUB.

on Country Missions, President Hyde on
Fitting Schools, and Professor Sewail on
the Bangor Theological Seminary.
The March meeting of the Congrega-
tional Club was held at the, Preb House
last evening, and was notably success
full and enjoyable occasion. 1t was
ladies' night, and there was large at
tendance, over an hundred finding seats
at the inviting tables. The programme
of the evening was devoted to the Soon
gregational interests of Maine and the
three speakers were emineE thy qualified
to do justice to the different aspects OF
the present situation. The "Andover
Band'' of five young theological gradu-
ates, who recently began togather,a mis-
,sionary effort in Franklin county at a
personal sacrifice, since they receives but
$500 year, was represented by the Rev.
E. r. Smith of Temple. The other
speakers were President Hyde of Bow
dom and Rev. j.. S.sSewall, Professor Of
Homiletics at the Bangor Seminary.
Very excellent music was furnished by
the Bowdoin Quartette. A. j. Lord, 1st
tenor; F. 9. Peaks, secoud tenor; F. W.
Drna, LIST bass; and B. G. Willard, End
| bass.
A new method of electing new MEM
beers was used for the first time last eve
ming. Printed slips were distributed to
| the members, on which were the names
| proposed for membership at the last
meeting and a statement that q cross in
the ''no' column would imply objection
ableness. The names were M. G. Hutch
inson, w. L. Dana, Joshua G. Libby and
John F. Thompson.
After the plates. were cleared away,
President Merrill raped to order and
the report of the secretary was read and
approved. The ballots above mentioned
were then collected and as there were
no crosses the candidates were declared
elected.
The name of Alvin A. Lane was pro-
posed for membership.
After Crock of Ages had been de-
lightfully rendered by the Bowdoin
quartette, the Rev. E. r, Smith was inss
troduced assone of ten of the last class
of Andover who had settled in Maine and
who would tell the company something
of the missionary work above mentioned
that has been designated as sssubsoiling, !"
| because the field where they are at
! work has been titled before,
| Mr.. Smith said that he came from a
county where there were eight Congre-
| gational clergymen, not one of whom is
/ married, and he could have wished to
have been informed beforehand that it
was ladies' night. He said that he must
| feel very modest as a newcomer among
| 11S predecessors in the work. A home
missionary church in a country town in
Maine reminded him of a Mexican mine
of today. the methods Of taking the
ore are crude, the mines. are situated
| distant from the centres, and new
methods are required. But the character
| of the people lin these country. parishes
! is good. They are noble people, keen in
intellect, warm in heart. They are send
/ ing forth scholars in our colleges and
seminaries. The great defect in country
populations is indiyidualism, which really
means selfishness. This is perhaps as
prevalent in the city, but notso apparent
| People isolated on the farm and depen-
| ding on themselves develop this indivi-
dualism. But it is not due simply to
| isolation and poverty but to inherited
| theology, that has not emphasized the
| great social needs, the brotherhood of a
| community.
The first needaof the county church is
for pastor The religious forces are so
disorganized. The people have no con-
! ception in many places, of responsibility
of individuals for the community. They
do not realize that duty. The pastor
must take the lead.
| But in regard to the results of the pas
tors work in the country towns. One
can see the encouragement after short
service. The pastor must preach the
brotherhood of man. The tdemonina-
tional problem is always present, The
country problem is concentrated in this
demoninational quarter-the need of CO.
| operation among country churches. The
religious forces must be concentrated.
The courses of lectures have been potent
| in this direction. Libraries may be
made very effective. The Christian Eli
deavor and the disregarded singing school
must helpto bring the people together.
The country town needs a regeneration
| of social life.
| He spoke of the cooperation of him
self and his companions. 1t is pleasant
to know that college companion and
friend is laboring in neighboring town
that there is somebody to take ones
| discouragements to, for s'tWo discourage
ments make an encouragement. He
concluded by affirming that the future
of the Maine missionary work is very
bright.
After another selection by the quar-
tette, President Hyde was introduced
and said THAI two years ago he told the
club that the college was in need of 81
100000 and about one-half of that has
now appeared. In regard to his subject
the college and academies he said
that church most needs an academy
in this state as it is far behind the others
in the state, this being the only one that
has no academy to bind together the
young people. 1t is. strange this should
be SO. I have had hard questions asked