The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-09-13
MAINE EPWORTH LEAGUE.
Interesting Meetings Thursday at
WestbrOok.

Rev. C. S. Cummings Tells how Church
People Make Mistakes Address by DR..
Parsons.-Offcers and Reports.
Although the weather was not exactly
such as to inspire confidence the attend
anoe at Thursday mornings session of
the Maine Epworth League was large.
The praise service at $50 a. M, was
first on the programme. The testimony
service was led by Rev. DR.. Stackpole,
of Augusta.
At 9 o'clock an address on Man
Ability to Believe in Something" was
delivered by Rev. A. F. Chase, principal
of the East Maine Conference Seminary.
This address, which was listened to with
great interest,
The address on "Wasted Energy, by
REV. G. S. CUMMINGS,
of Augusta dealt with some things
which the speaker said would be unpleas-
ant. but which the audience greatly en-
joyed Among other things he spoke of
the parsimony of some church members.
He knew of chuch of 200 members
where eighty-fve members do not give q
cent, and where another large contingent
give less than $25 yearly. Tho $4,000 is
almost entirely contributed by very
small fraction. The speakers assertion
that there would never be general
spiritual power in such congregation
was loudly applauded. Mr.. Cummings
said he found a number of young people
in his church who never could give cent
for missions: but he noticed that they
drank great deal Of soda water, and
would take an electric car when ever they
had to go a quarter of mile One time
Mr.. Cummings visited family that had
for several generations been identified
with Maine Methodism, and the present
members Of which were prominent in the
church. He noticed particularly in that
family lazy, fat old dog, good for moth
ing except to be fed on tenderloin steak,
eve have paid more than $25 for tender
loin steak for the dear old dog" said
the young lady of the family. II said to
myself" said Mr.. Cummings. "that here
was family that would have great be-
nevolences in the church. And when the
annual report of that church was made
I looked to see the benevolences. II you
will believe me that whole church had
given only $25. 70, or only rs cents more
than this one family had put into tender
loin steak for that worthless old dog. "
loud laughter.)
Mr.. Cummings went on to illustrate
how church members create SO much ma
chinery for doing good, that all their
energies are absorbed in simply keeping
the machine going without getting any
results. He knew Y. W. G. T. u.
society that did nothing, but run the
social part of the organization without a
thought of temperance work.
Speaking of real results as compared
with the effort expended, Mr.. Cummings
cited statistics collected by Rev Mr.
Crane, Congregational clergyman of
in Lincoln county, who found by care
full canvass Of that county, that the labors
of eleven Sunday school teachers were
expended year for every single convert
obtained..in that county.
Mr.. Cummings said that too much
machinery, too many organizations, took
away too much force often for the mere
running of the machine. Also the organ
izations tended to diminish the sense of
personal responsibility and to paralyze
instead of inyigorate the church body.
A great deal of work that ought to go
Into evangelizing, goes into little reforma-
tories. And the man is beset with this
society that wants to keep him from
smoking, and another that wants to keep
him from this thing, and another from
that thing; and they plaster the poor
fellow all over with badges while his
heart may be fostering with iniquity.
The Bible study half hour, conducted
by Rev J. M. Frost of Bangor. came
next Mr.. Frost earnestly condemns the
idea that the Bible is not wholly inspired
and wholly true in all its parts. The
idea of inspiration in spots' finds no
favor with him. Men like Ladd, Dewitt,
Briggs and GLADDEN., he condemns Gas
excessively intellectual men, less safe
guides than the more eminently spiritua
men VINO upuOlu GuoEuiFiAo AHouAo VI ouO
Bible. Mr.. Frost does not believe, how
ever, in 1.-THE infallibility Of thei Bible,
which was set up by Professionalism to
combat the infallibility claimed by Papal
power There are Inaccuracies in the
Bible, like the different diversions of THE
commandments in Exodus and Deuter-
onomy But these inaccuracies do not
affect a single doctrine or teaching of the
Bible. The Bible may still be. the word
of God 1t is the joint product of God
and man. The
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY.
Miss Carrie K. Miller, of Lewiston, gave
interesting statistics of the condition OF
PIE Epworth League.
The secretary explained that she had
written to every Methodist church in
Maine, and had received returns from all
but seven. There are "a few Christian
Endeayor Societies in Methodist churches
District Societies Members
Portland
Epworth League, 26 l65e
Christian Endeavor, 23s