Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-10-01

tary, KEY. -. u w HltcoIilu' DoH6oi
treasurer G. H. Brown, Auburn; audi
tor, A. K P. Knowlton. Lewiston; te
fill the vacancies made by retiring
members of executive committee, Rev.
N. Summerbell, Lewiston; Hiram
Knowlton, Portland; Mrs. A. B. Web
Der, North Berwick.
At the regular business session.
Wednesday, the corresponding secretary
and State agent, Rev. S. G. Whitcomb,
read a report of the condition of the Free
Baptist churches of Maine from which
the following interesting extracts are
taken:
The following churches have been aid
ed: Caribou: This is brave. devoted
group of Christians who have had much
to discourage them. They Mive had
scarcely any pastoral care for IL months,
but have maintained meetings regularly
and had several conversions. They have
just called Il pastor. Caribou is an i'm
portant point for us and this church must
be assisted the coming year though they
do not like to ask aid.
Limestone. a church northeast OF Car
ibou, located among the best farm lands
of Aroostook. They have built them a
house the present summer and just held
quarterly session in it. The board assist
ed the pastor, C. w. Wheeler with a
trfiing amount while they have been
building this house.
Fort Fairfield-Our church has been two
miles from the village and our people ac-
tually owned but onefourth of the house
They should have planted in the village
long ago. They have now done this Last
winter. Rev. r. c. Bradeen was secured
to lead that interest and a remarkable
change has already been affected. They
worship at present in hall, have meet
ings of interest and power. are having
converts and additions, are winning upon
the public and are fully proving the wis
dom of this movement. They have
bought lot, are grading it and will get
out stone and lumber this fall and winter
and begin to build in the spring. They
must be helped in this great effort.
Dyer Brook--A community wholly Free
Baptists, under the lead of Rev. w. p.
Kinney. They have built> themselves a
house of worship. They should be further
aided.
Island Falls-This church is about Is
months old and has 67 members. This is
a thriving and growing village. They
have put up a house and are struggling
heroically to complete it.. The board has
wished to do much more for their inter-
est than it has been able to do. They
should be helped literally.
Mexico and West Peru-These two
churches are under one pastorate Mexico
is especially important ground. A suburb
of RumfOrd Falls and a growing place
This interest must still be aided and the
work there pressed more vigorously
West Buxton-This church was assisted
in a trying time and has come nobly out
of it's trying depression.
Chester-A thriving community along
the west side of the upper Penobscot
Two licensed brethren keep up meetings
in the schoolhOuses. They have had re-
vivals and additions.
One hundred dollars was appropriated
for missionary work in Ellsworth quar-
terly meeting and results show It to have
been well applied. Rev. C. e. Woodcock
was employed, devoting his labors to
Ellsworth city and the Hancock churches
with such oversight of the other church
es as he was able to exercise. The condi-
ton of Ellsworth city church has much
improved and things are looking decided
ly better in that somewhat contracted and
weak quarterly meeting. One student
from the Divinity school has preached at
RedingtOn the past summer and another
at Eastbrook and Waitham, both with
good results to the churches. Missionary
work is still demanded in that quarterly
meeting.
He recommends that those of evangelis-
tic gifts just suited to the work of look
ing after needy churches be sent out
and this would result in the Quickening
and renewal of many of the churches and
the restoration of State pastorates. The
results of this work. which has been tried
at many of the places is most encour-
aging. Pennington at its last session
+
months among it's churches. Within the
| limits of the Aroostook and Houlton
quarterly meetings. much for the church.
es has been DONE Five new churches are
building and another talked of and many
hundreds of dollars voted to these enter
prises. .ysff7
Mars Hill-Rev. G. G. Haynes. pastor is
building a house and needs much help.
His church has large additions. Bridge
| water. Miss Louisa r. Sprague, pastor.
once a mission church. and Is months ago
| under very serious stress of weather has
more than doubled it's numbers the past
year and is now in very vigorous condi-
| ton.
| He refers to Aroostook county as one
| of the most promising fields in opportu-
nifty. but reminds them that the old in
terests must not be neglected as some are
weak and need special care Edgecomb
quarterly meeting reports gratifying
gains. Bowdoin, Cumberland and York
counties conference are the strongest
but it is noticeable that the largest gains
are not there. Young peoples societies
are increasing in number and doing mach
for the churches b.. = =
In complete returns show 145 SUNDAY
schools with a membership of 951S, with
16O conversions There is permanent
| fund OF 5000 from which the interest Is
used for general expenses but IT Is largely