The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-04-09
THE METHODlS1'S.
Incidents Of the SeVenty.Second An.
nual Conference.
THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE FIRST
DAYS SESSIONS.

Question-The Church and Preachers
Aid societies-Bright Speeches Made
During the Day-The Conference Bids
Fair To BE Successful One.
EsPECIAr TO THE PREss.I
| Auburn, April s.-On the streets of Au.
burn today, the white lawn tie cleaning
above the expanse of clerical black of the
coat, betokens the presence of the clergy
men. You saw them every where, grave
and earnest men, some grown old
In the service of their church; many but
recently entered upon their careers. The
Maine Methodist Conference is holding
its 72d annual session here, and although
this is really the opening day, yesterday S
proceedings having been preliminary to
the real proceedings, there Ia already a
large attendance. Numerically this ses-
sion bids fair to be as suooqssful as its
predecessors and from the way in which
it's members have taken up the work, it
promises to be success in other direc-
tions. The bright Methodist ministers
are here from all of Western Maine and
l
the Maine Conference oysrdows into
the sister state, and the church at Berlin
is one of its charges. The minister there
is Maine boy. too, Frank G. Potter, who
was born and brought up in North
Bridgton. Mr.. Potter is among the
youngest Of the members attending this
conference The Oldest is Father Randall
who was present for the first time s68
years ago, or some 40 years before the
young brother was born. Mr.. Randall's
title by which be Is known to Methodists
everywhere, is no misnomer for he
takes fatherly interest in the proceed
ings. This forenoon his voice was heard
in the first discussion of the business
session and later in the day he presided
over the meeting of the Church Aid So
oiety and the questions he put to the ap-
plicants for its assistance showed that
he had firm grasp Of it's affairs. An
other venerable man whose face and form
are familiar at the Methodist gatherings,
Is the Rev. Mr.. Patterson, who after
many years Of service in the ministry.
has settled at Old Orchard to pass his de-
clining years. Mr.. Patterson is q tall
man with snow white hair, and still
stands almost as erect as he did when a
boy.
The conference will be presided over
by Bishop Stephen M. Merrill, D. D.,
LII. D., of Chicago, although Bishop
Merrill did not reach Auburn in time
to take charge of the opening session. It
Is IL years since Bishop Merrill has pre-
sided over a meeting of the Maine confer
ence.
The cordiality and hearty good fellow
ship of the Methodist brethren are known
to all men, but they ware illustrated
anew when the delegates mot In the Au-
burn church this morning Such shak-
ing OF hands; such running fire. OF
greetings; such an air of joyousness. II
was worth coming al the way from Port
land to see. There was not much discus
sion of business matters, the ministers
were too busy saying how-do-you-dos s''
for that. In fact there are apparently nc
very grave questions to be discussed al
though of course something unexpected,
may come up. The conference will vote
on the question of admitting women tc
the general conference, but that question
has been so thoroughly talked over that
one OF the mem bers expressed the opin.
ion that the vote would be taken with.
out much disc ussion. The Maine confer.
ence will vote for the women, and it is
thought, by larger majority, too. The
proposition requires first, a vote Of three.
fourJhs of the state conferences and ther
} by two-thirds vote of the general oon
ference itself. Having obtained these
votes, Methodist women will have the
| same rights as the men folks and there
is believed to bo no doubt of the result
, Of 10 state conferences which have acted
upon the matter, II have gone on record
: as in favor of the women. The matter
will probably be brought up on Friday.
In the absence of the Bishop the frs
, business session of the oonferepce was
: called to order by Presiding Elder Pal
msr of Portland District. The confer
ence organized as follows:
Seoretary-W. f. Berry.
Historical Secertary-G. G. Andrews.
: Conference Treasurer IS. Hooper.
Assistant Treasurer-Walter Canham.
STANDING COMMI TTEES.
Public Worship-E. S. 'Staokpole, ]. A
, Corey, e. Il. Adams.
Stewards-D. B. Holt, W. It. Holmes,
J NJ. e. King, M. @. Pendexter, A. Hamil
, ton.
: Methodist Literature-E. o. Thayer
W. p. Merrill, Z c. Strout.
Eduoation-J. H. Roberts, J. r. Cliff
ford, w. d. Dukeshire.
r Admission to Conference-G. d. Lind
< say, T. Grovenor, H. A. Clifford.
t Conference Relations-W s. Jones, A
3 A. Lewis, e. W. kennison.
r Fratornal Relarions-G. D. Holmes, e
| S. Stackpole, S. Hooper.
Tenn peranoe-C. @. Phelan, G. W. Par
SONS, J. Gibson.
Marriage and Divorce-H. Il. Frohock
Q 7. N. kewley, r. Lawton.
Observance of Sabbath-F. c. Rogers
r. o. Thsyer.
Bible Cause-B. C. Wentworth, B. f
Fiokett, II. Hewitt.
Sunday School and Traots-W T. Mar
shall, 1. A. Bean, G. W. Barber.
: Church Extension-F. G. Potter, A
Hamilton, G. !. Lowe.