The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-10-03

tHe WOrk. Inc cnufcn IN RresQu6 Isle
has become strong one. Twenty have
been added by baptism to the church at
Smyrna: in Cary, 80: in Amity, %. At
Orient, in the midst of efforts to rebuild
the church destroyed by fire last year.
q have been added to the church by
adoption. The whole Aroostook field
was perhaps never of brighter prospect
than today. There is need of workers
and money spent in this field will bring
speedy and assured return.
Five churches have been aided in
Washington county, which is surely
missionary ground for us yet, but there
is need of men of energy and physical
endurance. III Hancock county, at
Gouidsboro, one sadly neglected neigh
borhood has been overturned and III
have been added to the church. But in
this field, several so-called churches are
not regarded as in condition to be
strengthened.
The reports from the work in Penob-
scot county are also of an encouraing ma
ure. In Piscataquis county four church,
es have received aid. Dexter has had a
good year. Hartland has not shown
much advance, although work in out
lying districts has been fruitful. Milo's
year has been prosperous, an old debt of
the church having been wiped out. At
MonsoD. needed changes have been made
Ai4SSoAh3 ACNoS MIN OuLCl fcld
work DONE
The Kennebec churches have received
direct aid. Gardiner has made an adj
vance along all lines. Special measure
OF success has crowned the work at Lib
erty, and Sydney has seen bright days. !.
In the Lincoln Association, most of
the churches are self-supporting. In
friendship, the much needed house OF
worship has been com pleted and freed
from dpht tbe In mo isnnft1
A ssociation, reports of good work done
aforementioned. Steps are being taken for
the erection OF a chapel in Somersvllle.
In the Bowdoinham Association, the
work has moved steadily forward. The
work among the French people in Lewis
ton has been the cause of much prayer
and study. Missionary Talbot has with
drawn as the agent of the Home Mission
airy Society, and plans for future work
are not matured
At Turner. in the Oxford Association,
a revision of the roll has reduced the
mem Dership one-third, six names being
found of those who have entered the
Church Triumphant. a similar course
is recommended to other churches, which
While it maySSnot look quite so well in
the minutes, leaves the church in a con-
ness. Rumford Falls is a community
having the nucleus of Baptist church.
While earlier aid might have weakened
the work, now it seems that the time
has come for the church to act in field
where the Baptist seems as strong as
any other denomination. In the Cum
berland Association the church at West
brook has had during the year a re-
markable experience. The church is de-
pendent largely upon the mills. There
where dark days last autumn, when the
mills warp 81 LIANT Aid Mt Si1oh tip,a
was sorely needed. The appeals of the
church were rewarded. The necessary
financial help came, and there was an
bundant spiritual harvest. Indeed the
mem bership of the church was more
than double during the year, there be-
Ing gain of "a, of whom 10 were hap
tized. The report warmly commended
the efforts of Rev. Mr.. Davy and his earn
est people. From other reports from the
churches in the Cum IRELAND ASSOCIATION,
it is learned that at South WATERFORD
the work of the church is going steadily
on. The church at WATERFORD Centre
has wisely disbanded and joined that at
South WATERFORD. The First Alfred and
Shapleigh churches each report six bap-
tisms. At Acton the work has been sue
cessful among difficulties.
The York Association is the only one
of the twelve which has received no di-
rect aid from the board.
Rev. G. A. Towne read the report of the
committee on state of religion. From a
seires of questions answered by the
twelve associations, it appears that there
is still much religion in the state. Ii
also appears that there is room for much
more The answers to the questions do
not show how much religion there is,
nor do they show how much religion of
the balloon type there is, with it's halle
luiahs and amens and forgetfullnesS of
honest dealing and good temper. The
report, SO far as it relates to the accom-
plishments of the year is uptimistic; as
to the needs of the work. the views are
not SO hopeful as to the prospects of
meeting the requirements. Reports from
the twelve associations show S24 bap-
tism, again of 173, Cum berland leading
with 1853, and York reporting only II.
The church mem bership shows gain
of over 400 over last year. 70 the ques-
ton as to how the young people are COM
ing, the answers have been almost Qnan-
imous in stating that there is a lively
interest on among the young people.
shows that the achievements OF the year
have been gratifying, and there has
been gain in the state OF religion DUR
ing the year. Turning to the needs of
the work, however, MIR. Towne, as al
ready indicated, found less that is en-
couragng. He spoke OF the fact that ten
cents willsbuy copy of the New Testa-
ment, while few dollars year will sup
port native preacher in some foreign
fields, and yet with all these opportuni-
ties. the $4,000 Baptists of Maine give
the magnificent sum of two-Jhirds of a
cent week apiece for foreign mission.
We are patriotic people; We sing :" My
Country, tits of Thee" and Justify shout
for the Old Flag. If the Roman church
is believed to be threatening American
institutions we say hands off," And
yet the $4,000 Baptists of Maine give
individually about one-half cent a
week for home missions. We are proud
of the Pine Tree State, but there are
far too many meeting houses in the state
where the key is hunted up, the rusty
bolts turned back in the lock, and the
cobwebs brushed down only at rare in
tervals, because the elder is going to
hold service. In Maine, for the purpose
of strengthening such churches, Bap-
fist give individually each week one-half
a cent. For all benevolent work they
q i've little over two cents.
But Notwithstanding all this, Mr..
Towne regarded the prospect as encour-
aging if the work was carried on with
renewed interest and on lines in accor-
dance with the needs of the time.
The next thing on the programme was