The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-09-23
CUMBERLAND BAPTlsTs.
Fifty-fifth Annual Conference at w est
brook Yesterday.

The 55th annual conference Of the Cum
berland Baptist Association opened at
the Westbrook Baptist church yesterday.
There were large number of delegates
present representing the % churches of
the association. The conference opened
at q. M, with devotional service led
by Rev. b. NJ. Webster of Lebanon
This service was followed by business
meeting. Rev. c. G. Speare of Sanford
called the meeting to order and he was
chosen moderator. Rev. W. B. Shum-
way of Sanford, was chosen clerk. The
constitution and rules of the order were
next read by the clerk of the meeting.
This was followed by report of the
committee of arrangements, of which
Rev. N. Dairy of Westbrook is chairman.
Theireports were accepted.
Tbs treasurer's report for the past year
showed that the sum of S84. 81 had been
collected from all sources and that the
total expenditures amounted to ss2 r.
Rev. A. T.. VIM of WATERFORD was elect
ed treasurer for the ensuing year, and
Rev. Fred Burnell was chosen auditor.
Letters were then road from the sew
eral churches of the association. With
n very few exceptions they reported the
several churches in a prosperous o0ndi-
ton. A letter was read from the clerk Of
the Bowdoinham association recommend
ing the receiving of the Yarmouth church
into the Cum berland Association. The
convention took action receiving this
church into its membership. Several
committees were then appointed.
The business meeting was followed by
the annual sermon by Rev. W. S. Ayres
of Portland. His subject was 'tThe
Church the Interpreter of God to HUI
mainly" He opened with forcihle
statement of the power the church would
have if it should truly and fully inter-
pref God. The remainder of his remarks
were confined to summary of
what he believes the church must preach
and practice II it is to be the medium
through which God is revealed to man.
This con cluded the morning. exercises.
At 1.S0 p. M, the afternoon SERVICES
were opened by prayer service led by
Rev. g. @. Speare Of Sanford. At 2. 80
Rev. a. S. Burrage. D. D., Of Portland.
addressed the conference on the "Claim
Of Conventions upon the churches. -
At o'clock Rev. G. h. Spaulding OF
Boston, delivered an address on the
American Baptist Publication Society.
This address was followed by one ON
the American Baptist Missionary Union,
by Rev. W. F. Thomas of Burmah. The
remainder Of the afternoon was spent in
social intercourse.
by a praise service led by Kew. E. b.
Dolan of South Waterbury. This was
followed by q discussion of the topic
Relation of Young People to Den omi-
national Interests. y The principal ad-
dress Of the evening was BY Rev. g. L.
"New Faces and Old Foroesi While
he saw many new faces he knew that
the same force the spirit of God was at
work. In a very Interesting and forcible
manner he cited what great things
in the past this force had accomp lished
and whit it was able to do in the present
and the future.
The conference will continue through
I The programme is rs follows,
ga. m.-Devotional service, led by
Rev. A. L. VIM, WATERFORD.
9.30.-Address, Women.s Foreign Mis-
sionary Society. Mrs H. NJ. ermry,
Boston.
10-Address, Women's Home Missionary
Society. Mrs. Peroival Bonney, Port
land.
| 10 3o-Address, American Baptist Home
Mission Society. Rev. George Merriman,
Freeport.
11-Address, Educational Society, Rev.
W. S. Ayres.
| 11.30-D Discussion. Systematic Giving,
! George W. Hanson, Esq, Springvale.
4 12.-Dinner.
100 p. m.-Prayer service. led by Rev.
g. A. Chapman. Shapleigh.
2-Dis ussion Relation of strong church
ca to weak ones in the association.
Discussion, State of religion in the
churches Rev. Y. @. 6plare.
3-Address, What of the Co., ing Year?
Rev. w. B. Shumway.
0-Oommunicu s<svice, led by raod-
orator
Adjournment.