The Portland daily press., 1897-04-16
In Interesting Day With the Maine
MeillOdisis.
CONFERENCE REENSTATtES A SUS-
PENDED CLERGYMAN.

visiting clergymen and delegates from
other denominaUioaaal bodies, and vol
luminous amount of bust ness matters
was passed, yesterday, in the Maine
Methodist conference, in session In the
ehureh.on Munjoy Hill.
The case Of the suspension of Rev.
James Wright from she York Village
pastorate, which startad q breeze in the
business session of the preceding day, had
another brief inning, which ended hap
piIy for the accused, and his able coun-
sci, Rev. W. +. Berry. The discovery of
q. technical error in the method pursued
by the investigating committee made
WAY fora ruling which brought the case
10 o. sudden end, and Rev. Mr. Wright is
promksed reinstatement in a passionate
in khe sconference.
Rev. l3r. Hollingsworth, Of Indiana,
conducted the early forenoon devotional
servios.
The business session was opened at 9,
with the reading of the minutes and f.
nal roll calf.
Then the annual reports of the pre-
siding elders were submitted, Rev. J. B.
Lapbarn, who is about to retire from
the charge of the Augusta district, after
six years OF continuous service. being
arst called upon. His report Is here
given in full:
AUGUSTA DISTRICT.
In closing this, my sixth year as pre-
siding elder Of this Augusta district, and
my s6th year, without break or change
of relationship, as a mem bee of the Maine
annual conference, I can but recount
with great tenderness of heart the long
suffering and forbearauce of God. and es-
pecially His tender mercies'in giving me
health that is SO nearly perfect, in sup
plying my wants, both temporal and
rpirirual and in being Himself a present
help in every time Of need. The gospel
has been tested as well as preached, and
its divinity and glory have shown forth
in every test. 1 desire at this Time and
in this presence, to bear testimony that
in my Judgment there is scacrely Rnothe-
organization to be found thai binds the
hearts of its members SO closely together
and begets such a oneness OF spirit as
ut our conference relationship. We aIe mar
shaded of God for the conquest of this
world. and the bond OF mere oreaniza-
ton is far too weak. divine loyet alone
taat binds to the eternal throne, to the
Almighty Father, to lis son. our
can bindsus 10 each other. These years
have Esan passed in cenenting my heart
TO the hearts of my brethren in the
bonds of this love.
The Augusta district comprises SO Cir
cults ana stations, so of which received
preaohers appointed by this conference.
Two East ReadfeiA and Temple, were
supplied III part of the year by pastors of
our churches nearest them, the former
by Rev. S. Hccper, of Winthrop and the
latter by Rev. ". b.. Dukeshire, OF
Barmingtou. Welt parish is composed
of several denominations and these de-
nomination. have taken turns in supply
ing pastorz. The two years previous to
this Methotfis5 preacher supplied them
this year they have Free Baptist min.
lister.
East Wilton is also composed of several
denominations. Rev III. A. Clifford was
appointed to our church there: and with
the exception of a small Universalst ele.
ment, has supplied tbs entire parish with
great acceptance. Kingfield. Salem and
EEstis received the appointment of To-
cal preacher at the last conference, and
he labored for q short time and ther
gave up the work, since which time il
has been without supply.
The presence of the hard times IS still
upon us, but most of our churches with
raised the full cLsim of their pastors, and
the bsnevolences we trust Will not show
decline. Some haveimet all their ap
portionments others part OF them. A
few have failed to meet any In full, ever
though the pastors have worked hard tx
do it.
There are AZ Sunday schools, with 824i
members, andss24bl in regular attend
ance. All but q very few of our schools
use our own publications.
Enrn oy,s
three Christian Endeavor Societies, will
membership of 1876. The annual meet
ing of our district league was held il
Wilton, Sept. 10, and the officers elected
for the year were: President, Harry D
Bryant, Waterv,-le; vice presidents
French, of Skowhegan, Allen Sanborn
of Wilton, Sophia Lapham, of Kent
Hill; secretary. Hortense Smith, of Fair
Aeld; treasurer, Ralph King, of Gardi
ner.
We fear the leagues are suffering de
cline in some of our churches; indeed
they have dropped out altogether in
few. The cause we aDprehend, is main
~ two-fold
The religious services too frequentl,
tend to be formal rather than spiritual
and in many cases the hour OF devotlonB
seryice initiates against the success o
the general prayer meeting that follows
III. work aud interest that should b
concentrated in one meeting are divides
into two. and 10th are rendered les
efficient thereby. On this account it ha
net been thought wise to continue an Or
gauizRtign when the results were TO di
vide instead of 80 unity and strengthen
tIaa religious interest of the church. W
feel sure tbhB These difficulties are NO
,ssartial TO the organization, but grow
euf OF impractical methods, aims to-
is aud ideals too narrow. the Ep-
astf League has grand work to d
- Il mat be properly adjusted ant
fuzzy performed. The department.
.rS inosb needed should he attende
10 work done that is merely per
atfr.