The Portland daily press., 1895-10-16
CUMBERLAND COUNT MISSIONS
In teresting Reports About the Congrega-
tiona1 Work as Read at the Second Par
ish Vestry Last Evening.

There was a very interesting Tuesday
evening prayer meeting at the Second
Parish church last evening. The special
topic was the Congregational Mission
churches of Cumberland county. Rev.
Mr.. Hack had large outline chart of
Cumberland county, showing the location
of these churches. He spoke at some
length about them and mentioned Rev.
Elijah kellogg's church at HarpsweN as
paying out more money for missions
work than it received from the State
Missionary Society,
Mr.. Hack spoke of the discouragement
that comes to those who arc trying to
keep alive a struggling church and their
great need of help. He spoke of the
church at Sobago village, as an example,
saying that it had a membership Of eight,
seven of whom were women. and the
man was out West.
Mr. A. B. Merrill spoke Of Captain
Lanes work in the yacht Alert. He went
along this coast where no other minister
ever went and he established Sunday
schools and held meetings. 1t was very
necessary work and he understood that
Captain Allen, his successor, was doing
the same thing.
A letter was read in regard to the
church at East Baldwin. Its pulpit is
supplied by Rev. Mr.. Sayer, OF Cornish,
who drives fourteen miles to preach every
Sunday Last year the Maine Missionary
Society gave the Baldwin church ninety
five dollars. This year it is cut down to
seventy five dollars.
A letter was read from Mir. Aiken, who
is doing missionary work in Windham,
and North Gorham. in the latter place
the people are trying to buy an old school
house to hold meetings 1t was sold to
them by Gorham for $500. They can only
raise $3.50, and are is in much need of the
remainder.
Deacon Percy spoke of the Abyssinian
church. He said that it had seen better
days.
| Last winter the other POI tland Congre-
gational churches decided to take some
action towards the support Of this church.
The speaker, Mr.. Percy, was appointed
at meeting chairman of the committee,
and Mr.. Dewey Of State street church,
treasurer. These two have had the most
to do with the work. They have received
the contributions and paid the minister's
salary. The church was to pay $3.50 of it.
They have paid SIS more than that. Early
in February Mr.. De Clay brook was called
to the pastorate. Then there were only
nine members, two Of them men; now
there are tw enty-fiye members.
| Captain Allen of thu missionary yacht
Alert, spoke in regard to his work along
| the coast He said that the yacht gave
out early in the summer. 1t cost him
1868 for repairs. He had had to hire $780,
in order to enter upon this work. He had
this summer found the people very en-
thusiastic. The smallest congregation he
had had on board the yacht was twenty
five, sometimes it was thirty five.
| He should go along the coast this
winter if the enthusiasm of the people
warranted it. II not, he should go to
Hampton Roads, Va, to work among the
sailors.
He said: "The collections l get are not
large enough to support me. They do all
they can, but they are fishermen and they
haven't much extra money" His aver
age collections were 81 week. 1t cost
for the support of himself and wife and
boy $12 so month. He picks up his own
wood and catches his own fish. This
s12. so has sut1iced in the pleasant
weather But now the cold stormy
weather is coming on and they are in
need of help
A letter was read by Deacon Steele in
regard to the life and work of Rev. S. S.
York, missionary for Oxford county.
A collection of over 50 was taken up for
Mr.. York and Captain Allen.