The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-09-27
SMALL vs.. Big CHURCHES.
Continued From First Page.

care for the little church in the country.
Rev. Mr.. Chaplin, of Woolwich, said
that almost periodical he had his right
eous Indignation stirred. For eighteen
years he had kept his feelings to himself
but now he must speak. He was tired Of
hearing men who confessedly cannot live
on less than $500 year talk about cut
| ting down the men who are solving the
problem of living on 5000 yearly. One
man who had been talking "a great deal
about cutting down the missionary
churches had spent two months at
Poland Spring this year.
Mrs Ida V. Woodbury., of Deering,
| said she had come in contact with many
oflthe feeble churches. Some could do a
little better; but some of the oldest that
had done much in benevolenoes for the
Missionary Society in the past, had been
| depleted of their best and brightest
| members and could not get along without
| the aid of the Maine Missionary Society.
AS for the Methodists, 1.-THE speaker said
| she knew of three Methodist olergymen
| who had been starved out of the Metho-
| Applause, laughter and cries Of ''This
is True''). There was great self sacrifice in
the smaller churches. AS Mr.. Cousins
had said, there were some churches that
were receiving help that did not need it
but this was not the general way.
Rev. Thomas Williams, of Winslow and
Benton, said that the men who were do
- 81,
were men as we'll as those in the man
agemen5 of the society
INTELLECTUAL POWER AND Gull.
TURE
is required as well as in the cities. There
are all through the country graduates of
colleges and seminaries. The people in
the country are fully as apt to turn up
their nose at the preacher as are the city
people. 1t will not do to go before the
country audience without thorough
knowledge of the events and thoughts
of the day. They must preach two or
three times Sunday, ride twenty five
miles, superintend the Sunday school,
teach Bible class and lead the singing.
How much of mar. is left Monday morn
ing daughter and Applause). I once
had clergyman visiting me, and asked
him to occupy my pulpit, after he had al
ready preached twice that day. "'Oh.
should die to preach three times" said he.
81 felt like saying, Go die, blessed are
they who die in the Lord" cloud APP
plause and Laughter.) If there are re-
forms to be made let it not be done on
general lines Let it be done by men who
know the needs of each locality. I could
very we'll live on S170o a year. had IL.
The smaller churches are building up
the large ones. Do not starve out these
sources of your power and wealth.
loud applause.)
Judge Woodbury. of Bethel also spoke
for the feeble churches, telling what
they did.
Rev Mr.. Tnayer, pastor of the church
at Garland for 4s years,
A VENERABLE. WHITE. HAIRED
MAN,
said that his little church had been
helped a little always. He himself was
eminent for nothing except continuance
airy he deserved. He beganswith $3.50,
and he wasn't quite up to $500 now.
That was enough. What could one do
with $1,000? daughter He could get
along very WELL He was almost through.
Only one I.embar of the church as he
,xo mi loft R1It thpu
had sent out the young to the other
churches. There were Brother Curtis,
the Rideouts of Norway, and many others
who he would not name. You would
not have those men If you had not sup
ported your poor, unworthy missionary.
He could now count the members on
the fingers of his right hand. But they
had said to him, ''Stay with us. Select
a lot here in our cemetery. So he had
done it, and they would find him there.
tApplause.)
AS to help, give the little church back
the members whom it hadsssent out, and
it wouldn't ask help Of any one. Gap
plause.)
Rev. E. M. Cousins spoke briefly, say
ing that he had made the same plea for
the smaller churches; but what he had
said had been from an honest conviction,
and he would not take it back. The
Maine Missionary Society would have to
adopt new policy. (Applause.)
Rev. DR.. H. S. Burrage was introduced
and cordially received, to speak on
INTERNATIONAL Comfy.
He began by speaking admiringly Of
the men who were working for $500 or
s60Osyearlyiin the smaller towns, and said
that the Baptists wished their treasury
would allow them to do better by such.
He then went on to speak of the work
of the International Commission, which
aimed to prevent the founding of new
churches where already there are all the
churches thai can be supported. At
Rumford Falls is a good example of good
work in this line. For years the Bap-
lists have gone in and worked with the
Methodist church, Which was already on
the ground.
The commission acts as umpire in local