The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-12-13
NO SECTARIANISM.
annual Meeting of the Iuterdenomina-
tional Commission Of Maine.

| tiOnaI Commission Of Maine.
| In teresting Meeting at Chestnut Street
| Characterization Taken Various
Maine Towns-Interesting Addresses ia
the Evening.
The INSTRUMENTATION Commission OF
| Maine held its fifth annual meeting IN This
| city yesterday. the fonf preceding ones
| having been devoted respectively to Brun-
swics, Waterville Lewiston and Bangor.
| The INSTRUMENTATION commission of
Maine is the product of years OF thought
and prayer. For long time there has been
| q conviction, shared by the brethren of the
different evang elical bodies of the state,
that the work of the church. especially in
our rural districts, WAS not being done in
the most economical and Efficient manner.
The division of small community into
several small congregations, in any one of
which there could be but little real life and
power, was esteemed very unfortunate and
unbusiness like, and it was desirable to find
remedy. Consequently commission was
raised. consisting of three members each of
the Baptist, Congregational and Free
Baptist churches with the expectation of a
similar committee from the Christian Bap-
tist) conferences, tw o from the Methodist
Maine conference and two from the East
Maine. The aim of the Commission is sinp-
ly to aid in carrying out the letter and the
spirit of the command of our Lord, by sup
plying all sec tions of our state with gospel
privileges; that these in turn may continue
to contribute TO the work of the evangelical
tion of the whole earth. The intent is to
apply good, common sense, business princI-
pies to work in spiritual matters, as we
would in educational or commercial. 1t
seems desirable to SO present Christ to
people i'll our sparseiy settled communities.
as elsewhere. that they may be won to Him
through the harmonious. loving service of
His followers. rather than driven from Him
by the discussions and divisions among
those who claim to follow Him. 1t is certain
ly a travesty on Christianity which is seen
in some of our communities IN which are
found three. and sometimes more. little
companies of people. numbering forty or
fifty each, gathered for the purpose of wor-
shipping God. Each is too small in numbers,
financial ability or real efficiency TO do any
aggressive.work, and keeps alive chiefly be-
cause of the friction created by rubbing
against the others. We're it not for the aid
given by the missionary societies. none of
them could continue even to breathe;
while. in some cases at least, if this aid
We're all vii hdrawn and the community left
to rally for its own support, there would be
provided sufficient work for one man and
ample means.
The Commission met in Chestnut street
church yesterday afternoon at p. m. the
president. VIM. De ". Hyde. D. D.. in the
chair. There were present besides the
president. the secretary and treasurer, Rev.
A. T. Dunn. and Rev. E. T. Adams of
Lewiston, DR.. j. e. Adams of Bangor, Rev.
J. S. Williams of Augusta, Rev. A. ]. H.
Whorff of Ellsworth, Rev. 6. @. Andrews
IF Mechanic Falls, Rev. DIR. Burrage. sev.
Matt S. Hughes. Deacon Rufus Deering of
Portland, Rev. Martyr Summerbell, d. D.,
Lewiston, Prof. A. W. Anthony, Bates
College, Rev. Arthur Varney of East Wilton.
Rev. DIR. BuarIage offered prayer.
Secretary Dunn then read the records of
he last meeting. which were accepted, fol-
lowed by his report as treasurer, which was
also approved. Mr.. Dunn then read tho re-
port of the executive committee. From the
report OF the committee, which embraces
the reports of four meetings, we learn they
have covered the fields of investigation of
the needs of Rockport, South Portland,
Eowdoin, West Bristol, Bingham and Solon. i
In the case of Rockport the committee
to the Maine Missionary
Society of the Congregational churches of
the state that farther missionary aid be
wit hheld. In the case of Bowdoin the
dol Of he wa that
a Baptist church be OF ganized at Bowdoin
Centre. In the case of South Portland, after
in vestigation the committee approved the
efforts of the Congregationalists to main
tain religious services there as branch of
the North Congregational church. In :he
ease of Bingham and Scion the committee
to disc continue the Methodist |
services at Bingham as soon as expedient,
and that the efforts of the Congregation
alists in solon be directed to a restoration
of union with the Methodists, which ex-
listed year or two ago. In the case of West |
Bristol, the committee commended that |
the Methodists be allowed to continue their |
work without interference.
After the reading of the report, President |
Fl yde was asked if il was to be understood |
hat the committee recommended the with |
travail of the Congregationalists from
Scion.
President Hyde thought the language was |
left rather indefinite On purpose. as |
rather than mandatory, as |
A pastor is still in charge of church there, |
but it did not commit them to recommend |
ing his withdrawal at the end of his term |
Of service.
On mstion of DR.. Burrage the report was