The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-06-04
CUMBERLAND CONFERENCE.
Interesting Services at the Groyeyille Meet
ing of the Free Baptists- Officers Elected
and Church Matters Discussed,

and Church Matters Discussed.
The cumberland Conference of Free
Baptist churches met with the Second
Buxton church at Groveville Wednesday
evening. at which time interesting SER
vices were held. The address of the
evening was by Rev. j. D. Waldron. The
business meeting of Thursday morning
was of unusual interest on account of
the very full report of the clerk of the
conference, D. F. Small of West Fal-
mouth.
VI the % churches in this conference 9
had sent full reports; II are supplied by
settled pastors and two by laymen.
There are thirteen settled pastors in
the conference, some supplying more
than one church. Twenty-six have been
added to the churches in the conference
by baptism and IS by letter, dnring the
past year, makinga total of additions,
while 90 have been removed from the
church by death and otherwise, making
loss of IS in membership. The total
resident membership of all the churches
in the conference is 1912, non resident
415. Seventeen Sunday schools hold
regular sessions all the year, and two
are held part of the time. 1858 scholars
are enrolled. There are IS Christian
Endeavor societies, with membership
of over 900, reporting IS conversions. OF
the 10 churches reporting is own church
buildings valued at SCI, 500, and nine
churches own each parsonage.
Two churches in Poland and one in
Raymond were reported as closed, and
the suggestion was made that they ought
to be occupied or turned over to some
other denomination who will use them.
A total of 81, 276 has been given by the
conference for benevolent work. Espec-
1al notice Was taken of the fact that mis-
sions, temperance and children's meet
ings had not engaged the attention of
the churches as they should have done.
1t was noted thai the churches which
had held revival services reported nearly
all the conversions. The fact was
brought out that the UNCONVENTIONAL
papers were not well sustained in the
conference. The following officers were
elected for the ensuing year Rev. G. E.
Cate, moderator; Rev. g. Harmon, as
sistant moderator; D. F. Small, clerk
and treasurer. Rev. E. Gate of Port
land preached an inspiring sermon from
John II, Whatsoever he saith unto
you do it," In the afternoon mission
airy prayer service was held, followed by
missionary sermon by Rev. E. @. Hurd
of Cape Elizabeth. Mr.. Hurd advocated
the card system with great enthusiasm
as means of supplying funds. Thurs
day evening praise service was held,
and Rev. E. G. Cook of South Windham
preached from John XIII, 17-"If ye
know these things happy are ye if ye do
them"
Friday morning the adjourned business
meeting was concluded. Mr.. Hiram
Knowlton of Portland read valuable
paper on Sabbath observance, looking at
it from moral standpoint. Rev.E. G.
Harmon treated the same subject in it's
religious aspect, and Rev. A. Cox gave
the historical view of the same subject.
Rev. J. N. Page, of East Raymond
preached the morning sermon.
Friday afternoon DE-. Small of Wind
ham Centre church led Gospel service
on the subject of Christian fellowship.
1t was we'll calculated to precede the
communion and prepare the way for it.
Rev. Joseph Whitney and Rev. A. Libby
officiated at the communion, assisted
by Deacon Rufus Deering and Deacon
Owen. Among the Portland people pres
ent were Deacon Rufus Deering, Rev. E.
C.Cate, O. W. Fullam, Mrs. Cobb and
Hon. Hiram Knowlton.
Rev. A. Libby read historical sketch
OF the fathers of the denomination.