The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-09-27
SMALL Us. BIG CHURCHES.
Thursdays Spirited Debate in the
Conference.
PASTORS WITH SMALL SALARIES
HEARD FROM.
Addresses and Business at the Westbrook
Meeting-Laree Attendance.

| Meeting-Larse Attendance.
The interesting portion of the proceed
| ings of the Congregational Conference
Thursday was spirited debate which
arose over the distribution of missionary
aid to the smaller churches. 1t was pre-
c:pitated by the addresses OF Messrs.
Cousins and Williamson.
In the absence of Mr.. Howe Rev. u.
W. Reynolds acted as moderator. He
was also chosen moderator for the ensu-
ing year.
After the introduction of certain reso-
lutions, and the appointment OF several
committees, Rev. DIR. j. S. Sewall de-
liyered an address on ''The Beginning
and Historical Eras of Congregationalis
Maine"
To an Island in the st. Croix river,
where the French expedition under De-
Mots wintered in 1904, the speaker traced
THE RELIGIOUS SETTLEMENT OF
MAINE.
The admiral was Huguenot, and the
simple services of that faith were there
held.
| The earlier English settlements in
Maine were under the church OF England.
| The first Congregational church ever
gathered in Maine was the old church at
York, which still exists. The second
church was at Wells, third at South Ber-
wick, fourth in Kittery. fifth in Eliot,
and then in Portland, Scarboro, and Bid
deford, K Kennebunkport, Yarmouth, Cape
Elizabeth, Brunswick, Windham and Fal-
mouth. In general the work Of clearing,
grubbing and planting the original will
derness Of Maine was committed to the
Congregational churches of Maine. For
three generations the terrors of savage
warfare hung over them. Portland was
burned and lay desolate for 16 years
Scarboro was almost entirely deserted for
80 years.
Near the end of these troubles came the
great earthquakes of 1927 and 1755, leading
to extensive religious reviyals
Still more influential was the great
awakening of 174o-42, illustrious by the
names Of Jonathan Edwards and White
field. Whitefield came only as far as
York, but the revivals extended farther.
| The Revolutionary war was followed
by deleterious food of French infdelity,
which made sad havoc.
The members of the evangelical church
es in the United States now number
about one in five Of the entire population.
In 1900 they were only one in fifteen.
| Congregationalism in Maine was not
! wanting in missionary fibre. Among the
earlier eyangelists sent out by the Maine
Missionary Society since its organization
/ in 1907, were Josiah Peet, John Sawyer,
Fifield Holt, Daniel Loyeloy, lothian and
Samuel Sewall, Abiah Wines, Levi Lor-
ing. Nathan Douglas, Charles Freeman,
Gardiner kellogg Jonathan Belden.
/ In the latter part of this century Maine
Congregationalism has shared the results
of the great revival Of 1858, the response
! bilities and results of the civil war, The
labors of the Christian Commission in
4 the army, the influence and achievements
Of the Y. M. c. A., Y. . P. S, G. E.,
Kings Daughters and Bible Society OF
Maine.
In conclusion the speaker dwelt upon
the admirable church polity of Congrega-
tionalis1n, and it's adaptability to its
duties
Rev. Edgar NJ. Cousins's address on the
present status of Congregationalism in
the State, in it's dealing with the problem
of the missionary churches,
PRECIPITATED A VIGOROUS DE.
BATE.
In regard to expenditures for the
weaker churches, he said:
For the year ending last June we ex
pended s23, ,275 OF this $3, 7S1 was fol
Salaries and expenses of the two secre
taries and the treasurer, or omitting the
small amount paid the latter officer, tht
two secretaries received for executive ane
financial and supervision work $3, 4lo
or about Is per cent of the amount ex
pended The general missionaries includ
ing the three lady workers received ",
, 287. and the churches directly for pastora
! and student work $16, 152 or something
over ~ per cent of the whole expenditure
Turning now to consider our relative
, status we are confused by the uncertain
! tv that is connected with that word rela
tive. There are several directions IL
which we might conduct our investiga
t;on We might consider our present statu
S- ~ a rolataf