The Portland daily press., 1896-05-01
THE MAINE DELEGATION
To the Methodist Episcopal General
Conference.

Vital Questions to Be Settled by the Great
Governing Body of the Church in ses-
sion at Cleveland.
Maine will have very strong represen-
tat1on at the General Conference Of the
Methodist Episcopal oh1rch. That body
will be called upon TO deal with weighty
questions. not the least important being
| the increase of the number of the bishops.
The Methodist Epioopacy must be
strengthened. Bishop Bowman, the pre-
siding bishop, is 70; Bishop Foster is 76.
These two with Bishop Merrill and
Bishop Andrews were elected in 1872
Bishops Howest Warren, and Foss were
elected in 1880. 1t is believed that the
General Conference will elect four
bishops, the most important duty to be
performed by the great governing body
of the largest church in the United
States. The personnel of the board of
bishops remains the same as four years
ago, but it is felt that with the presiding
bishop on the verge of so, this cannot be
reasonably expected to continue four
years.
| The women of the church are also
asking for fair representation in tbs
General Conference, and that promises to
be subject on which the delegates will
be widely divided in sentiment.
The great missionary work Of the
church will be subject of great import
ance. Bishop Taylor, missionary bishop
of Africa, is now an old man. although
his burning zeal for the advancement of
| Christianity is as great as ever. The
work there must be provided for, and it
is safe to say that the work of the church
throughout the world will not be allowed
position.
| The extension of the church Will de-
mand and receive much thought. At this
| time the church is increasing in member
ship with almost marvellous rapidity, and
the home missionary spirit will not be
allowed to die down.
| The itinerant system devised by Wesley
and which has been so firmly held to by
| the church, has been assailed of late, and
it will be one of the questions with which
the General Conference will deal. The
| advocates of settled ministry, or at
least of a still further lengthening of the
pastoral term will be in the minority,
perhaps, but will still be heard.
| The following delegates will represent
Maine, Portland furnishing in Rev. Geo.
D. Lindsay. the chairman of the delega-
| ton:
MAINE CONFERENCE.
| Rev. George D. Lindsay, ministerial
delegate; born in the North of Ireland,
May 9, 1876; preached in the local ranks
and as a probationer in his native land
for nearly five years; came to Maine and
joined the Maine Conference in 1876; is
ministry in Maine, and in the fifth year
of his second passionate in Congress street,
Portland; has been at the head of the
Chautauqua work in Maine for the past
ten years. and is now president of the
Maine Chautauqua Union and superin-
tendent of instruction. of the Northern
New England Assembly.
| Rev Wilbur Fisk Berry, ministerial
delegate; born in Camden. Me-. Novem-
Der "a, 1851; became Christian willis
student at the East Maine Conference
Seminary at Bucksport in the summer of
1871; prepared for college at Bucksport
and Kenu's Hill, and entered Wesleyan
University in 1876; took work in the
Maine Conference in 1878, joining Con-
ference in 1879; returned to college in
1880, is now pastor at Waterville; has
been the secretary of the Conference since
1889; member of the General Conference
of 1892
| Hon. William W. Merrill. lay delegate !;
born in Westbrook Ga portion of which is
now the city Of Deering), June 10, 1S49;
now living in DeerinQ, Me-, joined
Chestnut st. Church, Portland, June,
1888; transferred by letter to M. e.
church, East Deering, June, 10; steward,
collector, treasurer. and superintendent
Of Sunday school; retired from business
in January, 1885, and is not engaged in
any active business at present; when
Deering became city IN the year 1892
was elected the first mayor.
| William Fl. Miles, lay delegate born
fifty-nine years ago at Limerick, Me. !;
graduated from Limerick Academy COM
menced work in the cotton mill at Bidde-
ford when he left school; was four years
in the Civil War; was five years in the
Hill Mill at Lewiston later he held the
position Of overseer in the carding room
of the Farwell Mills, Lisbon, for eight
years, and in 1883 was promoted to the
agency, which position he now holds:
represented his town In the legislature
two years ago; converted and united
with the Methodist church at Biddeford
in 1855; now trustee, steward, and class
leader in Lisbon church.
EAST MAINE CONFEREN CE.
Rev. J. Frank Haley, ministerial dele
gate; born at Ksnnebunk, Maine, July
26. 1851; educated at Maine Wesleyan
Seminary, Kent's Hill, and at Wesleyan
! University; professor at East Maine Con-
ference Seminary, Bucksport, four years;
| onto no ao+i iric