The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-10-28
CUMBERLAND CONFERENCE.
One Hundred and Sixty.Sixth Session
Held Wednesday.

Westbrook Church Entertained the Con
ference-Every Church Represented.
The one hundred and sixty-sixth session
OF Cum berland Conference of Congrega
tlonal churches began it's meeting at 9.3t
a. M, at the Congregational church a
Westbrook, with devotional service led by
Rev. L. A. Smythe. Rev. Leroy S. Bean
pastor of the West End Congregational
church was chosen moderator, and Rev
E. Atkins of Westbrook as secretary. The
reading of the roll call showed every
church represented.
The forenoon was devoted to addresses
on the Christian life, Rev. J. E. Atkins
of Westbrook, speaking first on its nature
and object, and being followed by Rev.
A. H. Wright of Portland, who spoke on
conversion" and by Rev. W. G. Mann
OF Cumberland Mills who spoke on
growth.
The attendance at the forenoon meeting
was large, but in the afternoon the
church was entirely filed.
After devotional service led by Rev. T.
M. Davies the first address of the after
noon was in order.
"The new religious thinker and his in
1uences on the churches, was the rub
ject of the subject of the afternoon address
by Rev. G. W. Reynolds of Gorham The
speaker said that the word newer had
wrapped up in it the possibilities of a
tempest. There is much in us and in our
history that rebels against the new. The
newer religious thinker arouses opposi-
ton. There are two kinds Of opposition,
one that proceeds from cowardice and the
other ON heroism. Strauss Life of
Christ, when published in Germany,
created such a furore that even the gov
eminent thought of interfering to preserve
the integrity of religious thought. But
DR.. Neander, the church historian, said
no. The best way to combat it was by
argument, man against man, truth
against error. We have nineteen centuries
of evidence that when we put truth
against error truth will prevail.
We hear it often said that because of
the new way of thinking the nerves of
missions have been cut, and the old vigor
and organization of the church is sapped.
But we must remember that truth pitted
against error will always prevail. Thought
incites thought. After the tempest raised
by Straus Germany was more orthodox
than ever. So it always will be-. The
newer thought stimulates thought, and
every error will be answered by truth.
The newer thinker makes this universe
larger. 1t has been so ever since the days
of Copernicus. Under the old thought
the world was created in six days. The
newer thought shows that the world was
made in six periods of indefinite length.
1t gives a higher idea of God to know
that he spent six great periods in making
the earth than to believe that the work
was done in six days. 1t gives also a
higher idea of man and his destiny.
Mr.. Reynolds then went on to say that
the newer thinking has broadened the
mission of the church. Formerly the
church dealt with the Individual. Now
it has reached out to society in general.
The Bible is today more powerful in the
earth than ever because more people are
studying it and thinking of it. They are
seeing whether it meets the wants of our
soul, and the necessities of our being;
and by this test they are finding it the
greatest of books
The great thought of religion today
should be in the spirit of the closing
words of the great oratorio, "Hallelujah.
the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.''
Rev. NJ. s. Hartwell next spoke on how
to promote spiritual life in the churches
during the winter.
Rev. Dwight M. Pratt of Williston
church, also spoke on this subject.
Following came the conference sermon
preached by Rev. James 4. Merrill, D.
D., and the communion.
In the evening the programme included
praise service, address on the Education
society ny Rev. F. L. Ferguson, and an
address on the family and the church by
Rev. DR.. J. l.. Jenkins of Portland
The next session of the conference will
be held at High street church in Port
land in January.
During the day the question of aid to
the Swedish Lutheran church in Portland
came up. The conference promised it $40
but so far only $50 has been paid in.
The churches were admonished to be
prompt with their contributions.
The question OF new church for the
society of Portland also came
up and was referred to committee con-
sistlng of Prentiss Loring, j. G. Merrill
and e. G. Wilson,