The Portland daily press., 1895-06-12
Of the Cumberland North Con-
ference at Brunswick.
REPORTS SHOW ENCOURAGING
CONDITION OF AFFAIRS.
Conferenceafsermon Delivered by Rev.
C.S. Patton-Ladies Missionary Meet
ing Addressed by Miss Shedd Lately Re-
turned From Japan-An Appeal From
the Maine Missionary Society.
Especial to the PRESS. }

turned From Japan-An Appeal From
the Maine Missionary Society.
Especial to the PRESS
| Brunswick, June 11.-About twenty
delegates were present at the opening of
the seventeenth annual meeting of the
Cumberland North Conference in the
First Parish church this morning. After
a devotional service occupying half an
hour, the meeting was called to order by
Rev. L. j. Thomas of Auburn, and the
conference proceeded to the election of
officers for the ensuing year.
Rev. Fl. G. Mank of New Gloucester,
was elected moderator; Rev. F. W. Davis
of Cumberland, was re-elected registrar
and treasurer, and Mrs. H G. Mank was
reelected scribe.
| The records of the last meeting We're
read and accepted.
| A letter was read by the moderator
from DR.. Adams of the Maine Missionary
society, requesting aid in the payment of
the society's debt of $4,000 DR.. Adams
various conferences assembled this week
would pay twenty cents, the debt could
be raised and urged that this be given
attention. 1t was voted to make the
matter a part of the regular order of bust
ness, and it will be discussed at $50
Wedne sday morning.
| The report of the treasurer and regis
| trar was read and accepted. Reports were
| not received from all the churches, and
owing to a misunderstanding, the
registrar had not prepared complete re-
ports. He spoke of the Sunday schools as
being in an especially fourishing con-
dition. There are nineteen churches in
by fourteen pastors.
| The Y. p. S. G.. E. had number of
delegates present, and made encouraging
reports.
The chairman appointed as a nominat-
ing committee, to report tomorrow, Rev.
Messrs. Newport and Davis and Mr..
| Robinson.
The afternoon session opened with a
devotional service, followed by the con-
ference sermon by Rev. c. S. Patton.
| "Then said Jesus unto His disciples if
any man will come after Me let him deny
| himself. - Mattahew 16, "a.
| The Christian religion is wounded upon
the principle of self sacrifice. If Jesus had
not been willing to give up his life for
| the sheep, He would have been no good
shepherd, but only hireling. His power
of self-sacrifice made him the Saviour of
the world. 1t is SO in these present days
of ours. The spirit of self-sacrifice is
there is no such the spirit of Christianity
is no longer alive. Every church that has
the spirit of self sacrifice grows, and
wakes powerful, and accomplishes great
things; dom care how poor it is, no
matter if it must worship in a barn; /
so11
no matter if it's members are every last
mothers son of them illiterate and social
| ly ostracized; if it has the spirit of self
sacrifice it is all right, it will succeed and
prosper, and nothing can stop it, because
it has the spirit of the Master. But every
church that has lost the spirit of self
sacrifice is bound to shrink and dwindle.
The same thing is true of people as well
as churches. You have the name of
Christians, have you the spirit of self
sacrifice? The spirit of self sacrifice is
the noblest trait in all manhood, the most
beautiful trait in all womanhood. Ii you
don't know how to put your foot on your
own personal interests when occasion re-
quires, you're very second-class sort of
husband or wife, and you're just the kind
OF brother or sister that almost anyone
would be willing to get along without.
Whether you believe it or not, the
people who know the art of self sacrifice
are the happiest people in the world. But
when you hear a man telling how much
he has given up for the sake of his chill
dreu or his friends, you may know that
that ism t self f-sacrifice-that' S billousness.
Self sacrifice for an unworthy end is
only little better There is no virtue in
going without roast beef all the week SO
that you may have whole OK on Sunday.
IT you can do these things you're all
right, if you can't you re all wrong, and
you'll never be right until you come to
the spirit OF Christ, which is the spirit OF
God, which is the spirit of self sacrifice.
Following the sermon was Ladies'
missionary meeting, which was addressed
by Miss Shed, lately of Japan, and Mrs.
Harland of the Maine Missionary society.
Miss Shed spoke in very interesting
manner on educational work in Japan,
and showed interesting photographs and
curios.
Mrs Harland, with Miss Washburn, is
employed by the society to visit homes
not reached by churches, and she spoke at
some length on their methods and
achievements
Following the praise service Whlch
opened the evening session. Rev. George
q. Dickerman spoke of the work done by
the American Missionary society, and
made an interesting address Rev. u. A
told OF their work, especially in the west
Rev. +. j. Marsh made an earnest plea
for aid in the Sunday school department.
He urged that in no way was the money M nSy
put to better advantage. or the So4, wy
spent annually by the Congregational
churches for missions, less than S9oo Is
appropriated for the Sunday schools.
After the addresses a collecGlon was
taken for the aid of some OF the needy
churches, as is the custom, Benealcttpn ea ion
was pronounced by DIR. Mason OIL tne
First Parish church.. Brunswick ;,
Tomorrow programme is as follows;
900-Devotional.
9.30.-Business
TO- 0.-Discussions: The renewed
scientific interest in religion (a( EHect
upon science Rev. H. G. Mank; 1b)
Effect upon religion, Rev. Arthur smith.
1.30.-Devotional.
200 Business. m
2.3o.-sermon, Rev. f. W. Davis. The
Lords Supper.
Abandoned in a Sinking Condition.
Quebec, June 1.-THE steamer Austrian an
from London arrived today and had on