The Portland daily press., 1897-07-08


"A welcome Address by Mayor Ran
dall-CompIete List of Out of Town
Delegates.
Along with the other assemblages ia
king place in this city. this week, Port
land is entertaining the annual conven-
tion of the Maine Epworth League, that
active organization of young people con-
nected with the Methodist church. The
convention is being hello in the Chestnut
street church. 1t began yesterday after
noon and will continue today. Inc
church altar is decorated with nags'
bunting, palms and evergreen trees.
Owing to the delay in the arrival OF the
eastern delegates, due to the freight wreck
at West Falmouth, tne opening OF the
convention was delayed three quarters OF
an hour. State President Frank M.
Strout of Portland called the convention
to order at 2.45. After prayer by Rev. E.
C. strout of Saco, and the singing of a
hymn, Mayor G. H. Randall was intro
duced and he delivered the following
address of welcome:
Ladies and Gentlemen-To be invited
to speak in this beautiful church and to
welcome to Portland such noble Chris
tian organization as the Epworth league
is not only pleasant duty, but great
honor, for while l myself was brought up
tt attend the Universalist church my an
cestors were largely Methodists. One of
them, an uncle, who died few years ago
at the age OF 81 years, had been an active
member of the Methodist church for over
rs years. l have therefore Inherited
great veneration and respect for this good
church and feel that l am not entirely
out of place in your midst. cordially
welcome you to this beautiful city, a
city that is celebrated not only for the
beauty of it's location and the hospitality
of its inhabitants, but also for the inter-
est it has always manifested in everything
that tends to improve the morals OF the
state and nation.
A city where is located that noble
church around whose altar few years
ago was organized that small band OF
Christian workers which has since grow n
to such vast army that today it is
bounded by no city, state or nation. A
city where lives today that great reformer
upon whose venerable head are poured
every night the blessings of hundreds who
have been saved through his efforts from
the curse of intoxication. A city that
ylGluS Jut pdllll W IlO luuulCllJdIby Ill uulS
broad land in education, in morals and
in the upright end Christian life of its
inhabitants.
And in behalf of all our citizens l well
come you to Portland, and extend to you
the warm right hand of fellowship. I
hope your stay will be pleasant and your
meetings productive of great good, and
that when you depart for your homes
You will be able to say: "God bless the
people of Portland. !"
The Epworth League, l am informed,
is a branch of that great army OF Chris
tian laborers known as the Christian En-
deayor, and has within a few years grown
to over million and a half in member
ship in the Methodist denomination
alone. This is a noble showing and re-
flutes entirely the claim of the pessimist
that the world is constantly growing
worse. A million and half of upright
Christian young men and women WELD
an influence for good on the morals of the
state and nation greater than we can re-
aliZe. 1t is the leayen which will finally
leaven the whole world. Continue there
and may kind Providence always bless
and protect the membership of the Ep-
worth League.
Rev. DR.. Parsons, pastor of the Chest
nut street church added a pleasant and
hearty greeting. He briefly reviewed the
history of Maine Methodism and referred
especially to the good record of the
Chestnut street church, whose history
dates back. nearly to the last century
He said there are about $4,000 Methodists
in Maine, and nearly one-third of them
are members of the Epworth league.
The response in behalf ofsthe conven-
ton was made by President Strout. He
expressed pleasure at the large atten-
dance and spoke of the good growing out
of such Assem- blages as this.
The reports of the first vice president,
Mr.. A. P. Norton of Lewiston, and the
fourth vice president, Miss Helen P.
Gem of Orrington, were read.
The annual report of the secretary,
Miss Sadie A. Lowell of Dexter, was of
special interest. There has been during
the year, she said, an increase of nine
chapters in the Maine league, and a
growth of interest in the old organiza-
tions; the outlook is bright. There are
now in the state 131 chapters, with a
total membership of Z, 243. The Rockland
district has the greatest number, AGO.
The reading of the report of the treas
urer, M. W. H. Perry of Hallowell, was
deferred till today.
Rev. c. l.. Banghart of Oldtown,
junior superinstendent, reported total
membership of 1889, representing ST
junior leagues, an increase of IS leagues
and 1,179 members since the last conven-
ton. The detailed statistics of the re-
port were:
Augusta district has 10 Junior leagues;
increase in leagues, 3; increase in mem
bership, 2430.
q Bangor district, Is leagues; increase, 8
leagues and 302 members.