The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1895-10-24
The Sunday School Convention.
AN INTERESTING AND INSTRUCTIVE SESSION
AT WINTHROP.

AT WINTHROP.
The Maine State Sunday School Associa-
tion closed very successful convention in
Winthrop at noon Oct. 10th, says a corre-
spondent of the Portland Press. The State
ASSOCIATION is not in any sense sectarian
body, but is devoted to the increase of re-
ilglous sentiment in the young people by
operating through the agency of the Sunday
schools. The delegates who arrived Mon
day evening and on the early trains Tues
day found a warm welcome awaiting them
in the hospitable homes of Winthrop. The
delegates could not have come to prettier
inland Maine village than is Winthrop
nesting among the surrounding hills, from
the tops OF which are wonderful views of
lakes and quiet country scenes. Many of
the visitors found time to see these views,
and all Of the one hundred and fifty dele
gates found that the meetings in the church
were both interesting and valuable. The as
soclauon MAINTAINS field secretary and the
work which it is doing in the State is de
scrlbed in his annual report This field
worker is Rev. I. f. Millett and he told an
interesting story i'll his report. A feature of
the societys work is the county conventions
which have been held in all the counties ex-
cept Washington and Hancock. The work of
organizing has been begun in WASHINGTON
county, and in Hancock county a convention
would have been held but for circumstances
which prevented it at the last minute
The AroOstook county association is a flour
ishing one, but the county needs town so
cletles- Plscataquis county has strong
county organization. and one town society
Penobscct county has just held its annual
meeting and has been districted for the pur-
pose OF holding conventions in the several
sections. One town association has been
formed IN Androscoggin county during the
year and several towns in that county have
united with Oxford county towns in order
to form an association along the line of the
Portland and Rumford Falls railway Som
erset County association is doing good work
In this county, through the efforts of the
held secretary, several fourishing Sunday
schools have been established in towns
hitherto without them. Waldo county has
had convention at Belfast and is making
plans tor conventions in each of two dis
trlcts. The secretary has been able to sup
ply some Of the weaker schools with books.
Sagadahoc, kennebec and Oxford have each
held conventions and their societies are
prosperous. Cumberland county has taken
an advanced step. During the past year
twelve towns have been organized into four
associations, the most of which have been
doing regular work. Other towns have man
ifested a desire to organize, but we have not
had time to reach them. Mrs. Knowton
has taken up the primary work in several
town conventions and created much inter
est in this important branch of work Home
department work has received considerable
attention. Lincoln has two town associa-
tions, and so far ds the secretary knows has
done but little in organized work. Franklin
has one of the most successful of the county
associations and Knox is we'll organized and
doing good work. York county is the BAN
ner county. because it has every one of the
towns organized Its annual convention
was the best convention the field secretary
attended a1,. xr,.,I
that the town associations were the life
OF the county associations.
The field secretary has attended eleven
county conventions, twenty-five town con-
Nentions, thlrty-seNen religious gatherings,
visited seventy Sunday schools siy1v-0ue
churches, nine union Sunday schools meet
ings, met with fifteen executive committees,
given three hundred and twelve addresses
travelled in all Is 4o3 miles, by private team,
977 miles.
The executive committee find gratifying
condition of sunday school membership to
report upon for while last year decreased at
tendance was the burden of the reports,
this year there has been a gain in Sunday
school membership in the State Of 5000
The committee called attention to the Ut
gent need Of funds to meet the deficit and
MIR. Everett, the treasurer, who also had
something to say on this subject. received
ontrihutlons amounting to 81 200 in re
sponse to his appeals.
The Maine Bible Society was the subject
of Rev. <. P. Wilson of Deering, in which
he reported the results Of the society and its
pressing needs. He asked for cooperation,
that the Bible might be presented to those
who do not know the Word of Life
Mr.. Garland made report in behalf of the
Y. NJ. q. A. He said that the Y. NJ. e. A. is
putting up the finger posts to guide tn e
young men into the room of refuge.
The committee to make nomin atons for
officers for the ensuing year. reported:
President, B. c. Jordan, Alfred.
Secretary, Rev. B. P. Snow, Yarmouth.
Treasurer, E. s. Everett Portland.
Executive Committee, A. T. Dunn, Water
Vile; c. j. Bailey, Winthrop; W. j. New
ton, Portland; Allen c. Moulton, York
Roscoe Vaughn, Wilton.