The Portland daily press., 1897-04-16

and strength would permit. preacbed 1871
sermons, presided in III quarterly con
ferences and baptized Sd persons.
Hard tiiaes considered, a good RECORD
has been mace III building and improv
ing church property. Norway has re-
modelled the church editice at a cost OF
$4,000. A square tower was built upop
the corner and the old steeple taken
down. The gallery was removed and
windows put in in place of the old en-
| trance. Windows Of light and dark
amber, card wood floor, 60 new pews.
beautiful fresco within and nav paint
without make church home as good as
the best. The remodelled house was dedi
oated Nov. 81, with appropriate oeIe-
mony, +. C. Rogers preaching the Ger
mon. Only 5000 Indebtedness remains.
Assisted by South Paris, Norway ex-
poets to entertain the next annual con-
ference.
The old edifce at Gray village, disused
for 10 years, has bean removed 80 South
Gray where, rebuilded it furnishes a
pleasant church home for the society cr-
ganized there last June. The dedication
occurred Dec. 80, Rev. B. c. Wentworth
the PASTORS father, preaching the dedl-
catory sermon. A generous gift from
William Deering made possible the sue
cess of the enterprise. No Indebtedness
remains on this church.
Oxford has expended $50 in renovating
the interior of the church; Welohville,
$500 upon foundations, shingling and in
terror. The vestry at Buckfield, tegun
by Rev. +. ". Sadler, has been com.
pleted by the present pastor ut total
cost OF $500. Mrs. Eliza j. Mitchell, for
many years an honored member OF our
church at Buokield, recently deceased,
lett to that church a comNodiOus house
for a Methodist parsonage. The property
is valued at $1,000.
South Waterford has expended $1,000 in
painting and shingling the ohurchsedifice
sweden has built horse sheds at cost OF
Si00. West Paris has the material gath
cred to build two-story parsonage.
Brunswick has the necessary funds sub
scrIhed for shingling the church. The
sum OF SIS has been.used in repair upon
the parsonage. South Paris has intro
ducsd electric lights, alta cost of 5000.
|Rumford' Falls has raised and applied
500 of which $500 was applied to the
church debt, which Is now reduced to
$1,000. G. q. Bridges, an official meni-
be-, has builts.a commodious house in the
rear of the church which is rented to the
trustees for parsonage. The Beacon
street church at Bath has fpaid $3.50 an
old indebtedness; Mechanic Falls, .S65.
Other lesser Improvements have been
made ia various church properties.
An unusual amount of effort has been
put forth in special revival services.
Eleven churches have been assisted by
evangelists, Berlin, Brunswick, Buck
field, Lisbon. Lisbon Falls North Con-
way, Rumford, Rumford Falls, South
Auburn and both churches at Bath.
Evangslists Gale, Martin, Fisher, Rus
sell, Haynes and Mrs Estes are the
workers employed. baldwin, Bethel,
Cbebeague, East North Yarmouth. Lew.
iston, Auburn. Naples, North Auburn,
Turner, Norway, Nelchville, South
Paris. South Gray and perhaps Others
have held protraoted meetings without
the assistance of any evangelist. On the
whole, it would seem that the best and
largest results have been secured where
no evangelist has been employed. The
last edition of the discipline provides
that 'no pastor shall engage an evange.
list, other than those appointed by the
bishop of the conference, without first
obtaining the written consent of his pre-
siding elder" The observance OF this
requirement. will frequently avoid. ths
employment of evangalists known to be
unworthy or inefficient South Gray had
q gracious visitation Immediately follow
ing the dedication of the new church
More than a score Of converts have beer
won. G. Fl. Young, in this first year in
the passionate, has sealed his call with
20 converts.
No extensive revival has been wit
messed in any other charge, but many
churches have been quickened ant
strengthened.
The camp meeting at Empire Grove il
August proved interesting and profitable
ExcellentIpreaching WAS provided, mostly
by preachers of the district. r. q. Grove
G. r. Durgin, Elmer Hitchcock OF the
New England conference were alss
present and preached to the edifcatioI
of the people.
For the purpose of reaching and in
| fuencing the unconyerted and the un.
evangelical mare than. We are nov
doing, the district association at it's Feb
ruary meeting voted to purchase gospe
tent capable of seating 800 people, to be
used in various localities, as need may
require.
twenty five Epworth League chapter.
are reported Most Of them are doing
some good work, especially in the depart
ment of religious work, and mercy ant
help. There are IA junior leagues. Every
church has an organized Sunday SCHOOL
A few are discontinued during the win
| ter.
Church finances are, as a rule, in
healthful cundition. We have felt tbs
presence of hard times the past year
| more than ever before. A few salaries
have been..reduced and none has Ebeen adj
vanced; general deficits will doubtless
appear, and in two or three cases loya
church will hire money to meet the pas
tors claim. Nevertheless, all things con
sidered, it has been good year finan
caily.
| The statistical reports will give full
returns for the general benevolent causes
The card system for taking the benevo
lences is come into quite general use
A good g tstem evidently, If it be sup
plemented by scareful fand frequent in
struction from the pulpit concerning tn,
purpose, method and success of cur vari
Gus denominational enterprises, but nj
/ inadequate and unsatisfactory system
otherwise.
| The Maine conference suffers thiri
reduction in missionary appropriations
reca living the coming year $i210, instead
Of $500 received four years ago. Will
less money to distribute, we have NOR
demands for help. Strategic points, lik'
Berlin, that have neither a parsonage
nor fund, churches in the midst of de
pleted populations seem to have, in TIN
order given, the precedence.
| In conclusion, I.would return SINGER
| thanks to pastors and people for the uni
form courtesy. appreciation and kindnes
bestowed upon me. would also CRATE
| fuIly acknowledges tta Datienca lyindneS