The Portland daily press., 1895-06-06
THE RECOMMENDATIONS.

-
Two matters of importance to Maine
Universalists were discussed at this morn
ing's session. One was in relation to the
missionary work in the state; the other
in reg ~rd to the manner of giving support
to the general convention. Both these
questions came up when therecommenda-
tions made by the committee on the
annual reports were considered. Rev.
Messrs Payne, Blanchard and Pember
were this committee. These recommends
tlOnS were:
That our present plans for missionary
work be continued and our present
missionary be re-engaged for another year
on the same terms as heretofore.
That the committee invites the State
Missionary society, the Sunday school
convention, the Y. P. G. U. convention
and the general convention to cooperate
with it, by pledging for the coming year
year, inviting as before representatives of
each in council with the executive board
| in it's meetings.
| That this convention asks the parishes
for an annual quota as heretofore for our
state work. While we do not wish to
oppose any plan pursued by the general
convention we think it best to let our
own way, or at least to credit them with
the full amount of their payments.
| That this convention rejoices in the
past and present high standing of West
brook Seminary and gladly recognizes it's
dependence upon it in days to come; /;
therefore it gladly recommends to the
| loyal Universalists of Maine this import
ant educational plant of ours, urging
upon all our people the importance and
even duty of assisting as God has blessed
| them in providing quickly the $40, 600 en-
dowment SO greatly needed.
That the convention be represented by
full delegation at the meeting of the
| general convention.
That Sunday school secretary be
elected as the constitution provides.
That the attention of the people be
called to the Importance of making
provision in their wills for the education
al and religious work of the church, that
being dead they make still work and
labor with us who remain behind.
That this convention urges upon the
parishes of our state the Importance of
earnestly considering the advisability of
deciding to the convention all parish
property, receiving in return the trust
deed of the convention, thereby forever
insuring their property to the uses for
which it was given and making it
impossible for inefficient and indiffee rent
PARISH OluCCIo w IilOIU IUSoSS bll0 Sdlil0 IOI
use in current expenes. Let the older and
richer parishes set the example to the
younger and poorer
That we heartily commend the one
cent day plan inaugurated by the gen
eral convention. There may be inter
ference with raising funds for the state
convention for year or two, but the
committee are fully persuaded that in
short time larger amounts will be raised
by this plan for both general and state
| conventions.
DIR. Blanchard moved the adoption of
the recommendation in regard to mission
airy work. He believed that in a state like
| Maine, where the distances between
parishes are often great, the employment
of one general missionary to devote all his
time to the work would be better than
the plan favored by some of dividing the
state into districts in each Of which one
of the pastors should act as superin-
tendent.
Rev. Mr. Rose of Auburn, said that
the time had come when the Unlversal1st
church was in competition with the Con-
gregational and Methodist churches He
had seen this in Auburn, and it was the
same he supposed the world over. The
pastor of the Congregationalist church
there was Universalist practically. So
was the pastor of the Methodist church.
This unifcation of religious belief had
lead at the same time to cooperation
among the churches. They worked to-
gether among themselves, but competed
| for those who had no church home Mr.
Rose spoke in advocacy OF the district
plan which has been successfully tried in