The Portland daily press., 1895-01-24
CUMBERLAND CONFERENCE,
The 15sth Meeting Held With West End
Church Yesterday.

The 15Sth meeting OF the CUMBERLAND Con-
gregational Conference was held With the
West End Congregational club yesterday
Mr.. Edmund Garland of Gorham was chosen
moderator and Rev. .. E. Aiken, serbia.
There was so large an attendance that the
church's seating capacity was fully tested
maliy of the ladies having to utilize chairs
brought in for the purpose and placed IN
the rear of the auditorium and OF the
galleries All of the twenty-three churches
in the conference were represented oy the
pastors and delegates, except two, those OF
East Baldwin and Ligonia.
After the organization of the conference
by the choice of moderator and scribe. the
business of the day WAS attended TO, the
principal feature of which was the appoint
ing of the next meeting of the conference,
to be held al Standish with the Rev. u. >.
Bean of West church, Portland. preacher,
and Rev. r. l.. Sheafe of Falmouth, alter
nate. Revs. A. J. Small, q. W. Reynolds
and Mr.. John Chase were chosen commit
tee of arrangements.
After the business meeting the ordinance
of the Lords supper was administered by
Reys Messrs. Wright and Southworth OF
Portland, assisted by Deacons Newconb of
Cumberland Mills and Davis of this city.
At OILS the "Discussion of the Scope and
Efficiency of Prayer" was opened by r. S.
Sheaffe, followed by Revs. G. G. Wilson, 5.
D. Towne of Bangor, Rev. DR.. Allen of the
Methodist church, Rev. DR.. Jenkins, Rev.
A. II. Wright, Rev. E. NJ. Cousins and Miss
Perkins of this city. Then came Dis
cussion of church Membership, its Privileges
n Al, ho prix oS
being presented by Rev. Mr.. Mckinley of
Yarmouth. This was the first meeting of
this church with the conference since it's
transfer. Mr.. Mokinley's points were first,
self sacrifice second, local church fellow.
ship, and last the privilege of the church
universal. Rev. D. M. Pratt spoke on
1.-The Duties of church membership. The
first duty is that of furnishing material
aid to the church. Ever member should
be under obligation to contribute substantial
support. The second, is the social duty.
This is important, for by it the church is
watched and cared for. The third duty is
regularity of service: loyalty to ones own
church attendance and work. The fourth
duty is building up the spiritual tone and
life of the church. The last duty is that of
personal work.
Rev. DIR. Boynton of Boston, secretary of
the Congregational Sunday school and
Publishing society, delivered an able ad-
dress on the valus of the Sunday school
work in the country at large. Ills main
point was that the Sunday school work is
largely the entering wedge for church work.
OfIen times in endeavoring to establish a
church the effort would fail if 1t were not
for the hold gained by the Sunday school.
After DR.. Eoynton's S address recess was
taken for dinner. Three long tables had
been laid by the ladies in Harmon's hall.
and they groaned under the burden of good
things. After all who were seated had
thoroughly satisfied themselves, the seats
were quickly taken by others, but there WAS
plenty for all.
At r. M, the conference re-assembled,
and after singing the roth hymn, II Love
Thy Church oh God,' Rev. W. H. Fem OF
High street church preached the conference
sermon. from ST. Luke E. ST. "And Simon
Answering said unto Him. Master we have
toiled all the night and have taken nothing
nevertheless at Thy word / will let down
the net, and when they had done this they
in losed great multitude of fishes. and the
net broke, and they beckoned unto theil
partners in the other ship that they should
come and help them. and they came and
filed both ships SO that they began to sink y
The preacher compared the church to the
net that Simon used. 1t has great drawing
mower to draw men to it. There is danger
to the church from extreme despondenoy
when its affairs are not satisfactory, and
| danger also from its prosperity. This churcf
net draws people into it in shoals, but
many of these people believe in the gospe
of Jesus Christ SO long as it accords with
their views. 1t is natural for US to revolt
| from the net but. yet we submit. Sometimes
the nets meshes are broken after reviva
BY large and bad fish, but we should memo
the broken places and keep on trustingly
| A great deal of the church's success con
sists of the skill with which its net ii
thrown and drawn. To insure her strength
the church must go to Christ. There should
be thorough revival here, in the city, fol
the benefit Of the Masters cause:
After the sermon. Rev. =. NJ Cousins
smoke on s'How Can Cumberland Conference
| By made to count tor more to the cause o.
Christ and CongIegationalism." Mr.. Cousinl
| thought it could be done through the Fro
gramme of the conferences, or though oul
Conference committees which has charge O.
| the work in the conference and deeper in
| terest in the home work in the state.
| Rev. MI. Aiken was to have followed MIR
Cousins, but was called away to attend
| funeral
Mr. Cousins was followed by the youns
| lady visitors who represent the Women
| Auxiliary in the several parts of Maine. th'
| Misses Washburn and Harlow. They spok,
| of the methods and results of their work
| giving their individual experiences. The!
1 have recently been at work in West Gorhan
| and Sebago Lake. and will continue a
| Standish. North Gorhaln and North Wind
ham. After the ladies had finished, Rev
| Rollin 4. Hack and A. J. Small spoke OIL
| the Best Methods of Soul Whining. Rev
| DR.. C. H. Daniels, former pastor of tn,