Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-08-29
ADVENT CONFERENCE.
Annual Address of the President of
the Conference, Wednesday.
The Services Full Of Interest-Another Health
Talk by Miss Wing.

ObDcf Things III MS annual address said .
Brethren and delegates assembled for
the goth annual session of the Maine
State Conference of Seventh Day Advent.
lists, greeting:
AT this hour We reach successful ter
mination of one more conference wear and
enter upon the duties of another year s
labor. Gods blessing has attended our
past efforts in a marked manner. As
delegates to this conference the greatness
of our responsibilities is measured by the
sacredness Of our tasks. l assure you Of
my hearty sympathy 10 your arduous
labors and trust that Gods bencdiction
may rest richly upon you from the begin
ming to the close Of this conference.
In the work Of this message nothing
can supply the place of individual
Christian experience. Its promotion
stimulates all departments Of church and
missionary effort. without it the most
comprehensive plans and elaborate expen-
ditures are practically valueless To
| withstand the direct and aliurlng tempta-
lions of our times and to proclaim this
message in Il proper manner, great spirit
| ual attainments are essential. The Lord
is willing to supply all our needs, and
| if we desire will give the necessary prep
aratlon. As a people we are drawing
nearer to God. The glory Of the most
| High is being revealed In His followers
We believe that the good work already
| begun will continue until time shall
close and the Saviour come to gather his
| people to himself Let us not look at
ourselves or compare ourselves with our
selves, but steadfastly look unto Jesus, ="
earnestly endcayoring to make him our
pattern.
Among the churches the amount of
labor performed has exceeded that of any
previous year We doubt not that the date
is not far distant when by proper manage
ment this will be increased many fold.
Interest to hear the trnth has not
entirely abated. To those who have cast
their lot with us in this great work of the
Lord we extend hearty welcome.
The church at Blaine has completed a
neat and commodious house Of worship,
and the church at East Washburne has a
similar house i'll course of construction.
The brethren at each of these places have
made considerable sacrifice in order to
erect these. We commend their energy
and zeal. 1t is necessary, however, that
are apt to bring discouragement upon a
church, and sooner or later burden on
the conference. 1t ia poor policy for a
people to invest their means in house
of worship to that extent that they are
crippled for other work and practically
unable to assist in other enterprises in
which their sister churches in the con-
ference may deem best to engage. We are
glad that this people realize that true
piety does not consist alone in rearing tall
church spires and sinking deep foundation
stones.
Our State paper, the Vineyard, has
continued to meet with much favor
among the churches in the conference.
The Sabbath schools are on important
department of our church work. They
have well been termed the nursery of
the church." The two are inseparable
| The prosperity of the one Is the prosperity
of the other The experience of the year
with our schools has been no exception to
this rule.
During the past year the 1.-THE has been
$500, go. Year before last, at the close
of the audit we owed laborers S1165 IS.
Last year we owed 1861 20. This year
if all accounts are audited as last. we
shall owe 1916.
The financial resources or income for
| the past two years offerings, 1.-THE
Christmas donations, etc, have amounted
| to some thing over sl5, 900. The member
ship of tho Maine Conference is small
and this means that about $40 per mem
Der of man, woman and child has been
put into the work. My dear brethren,
admire the noble generosity that has
prompted this work believe also that
the Lord is pleased when we manifest
such spirit.
It is now the beginning of another con-
ference year Human experience Is I'M
able to declare the future; new burdens,
new relations and new responsibilities
await u.s. Since my call to another field
has been unexpected and unsolicited on
my part, / accept it as from the Lord,
and am sure that the same God will sup
ply another to carry the responsibilities of
this conference more successfully than
during the past. sincerely hope and
believe that the sympathy and hearty CO.
operation of our people will be given to
whoever may be called to continue this
work. / trust that Gods rich blessing