The Portland daily press., 1896-09-21
lowing causes: Bronchitis. /; entero-
oolitis, 1: ganRrene. 1; meningitis, 2;
myocarditis, l; paralysis, l.; peritonitis,
i; phthlsis, 1: uraernia.1 l.
MAINE coNeREeATIoNALIsTs.
Something About the Seventeen Annual
Convention.

The roth annual meeting of the Gen
eral Conference Of the Congregational
churches in Maine, will be held with
the church at Fort Fairfield Tues.
day. September 90. The programme pre-.
pared by the committee of arrangements
was published week ago. From, the
report of the corresponding secretary,
Rev. Il. M. Cousins of Gray, the follow
ing statistical summary of the denomina.
tional work in Maine for the year begin
ming with the present calendar year is
taken:
Changes from Last Year Books List of
Churches--Added. Little Deer Isle. Sc
bago, South Portland, Stoneham, The
Forks. Omitted, st. Albans, Biddeford
(French).
Churches-57 with pastors installed by
council, ITO with pastors otherwise in
duced.1 with supplies, "a vacant (inolud-
ing IL supplied by licentiates, or minis
ters OF other denominations). Total, 242.
Ministers-57 pastors installed by ooun-
chi, . pastors otherwise indicted, / sup
ply, 46 others. Total. 1877
Church Memberships males, 1888
females. Total, 81, 543 including 1857
absent. Gain. 317.
Additions-949 by confession, 400 by let
ter. Total, 1909.
Removals-3s6 by death, 1851 by dismiss
sal, 307 by discipline. Total. 1864
Baptisms-642 adults, 1879 Infants.
In Sabbath Sohools-23, 100, loss S17,
average, IS, 538.
Young Peoples Societies-Numberl 1885.
9571 memb ers.
Families-207 churches reporting GOA
last year) II, 1853. Gains 303.
Benevolent Contributions-213 church
es report1ng(207 last Year,, foreign, $40, 5S1 !;
education, $1S78; church building, 1894 !:
ehome, $2l, 37S;s.A. NJ. A., $6153; Sunday
school, s12l1; ministerial aid, S529; other,
$27, 752. Total. II, 1874; decrease, $34, 622.
Benevolent Legacies-S88O5.
Home Expenditures-20S churches re-
$4346.
FIom this summary we note first the
addition of five churches to the roll,
while we may add that two others. Ash
land and North Bangor, have been orga-
nized since the beginning of the present
year. SO many churches in the same
length of time have not been organized
within the conference for at least
quarter of century.
from this summary we also learn that
the total additions to mem bership are
the largest since 1888 while Of this num-
Der the additions by letter have been ex-
decided but twice In the history OF the
churches, and that in the two remark
able years following the historic revival
of 1857.
The benevolenoe shows an apparent de-
crease of $34. 6a9, but this loss is In
comparison with the previous year
when there was reported on account of a
few special gifts an abnormal Increase
of over $50, GOO. There is slight falling
of in benevolenoes, but not marked CON-
sidering the financial stringenoy.
The Sabbath schools show slight loss
both in membership and average but not
enough to Offset the decided gain Of the
previous year.
The Young Peoples societies show
a gain Of seven in number but Of 400
In mem bershlp. This marked gain pro-
badly arises largely from the increase
In Junior societies. and from the fig
ures of this branch of the work being for
the first time definitely requested in the
blanks used to obtain the statistics.