The Portland daily press., 1897-04-16


loss, did not long survive, for january
8, our sailor preacher made the heavenly
haven. The next Sabbath, after being
present at the funeral of Brother Turner.
the Rev. H. f. A. Patterson, while on
his way to the place of worship, fell to
the ground, end his spirit took its flight
to join in the triumphant worship above.
Mre. Pease, the widow OF former mem
Der of the conference, has also joined the
ransomed host. October 20 Anna NJ.
Kennison, mother of Rev. Il. w. Kenni-
son, q woman deeply devoted to the
church and to the cause of temperance,
passed from suffering to reward. Edith
Gertrude Smith, the daughter of Rev.
| =. W. Smith, a bright young Christian,
| IS among the early crowned.
sickness, more than usual, has broken
| into the pastoral service. Rev. W. Ii.
BARBER, not yet to life's zenith, will not
DC able to continue in the active work.
brother Walter Canham will need few
| months rest before resumir the care of
charge. 9. W. Parsons had short ILL
ness. but sharp ASA nerve can be. A few
others III the effective relation have had
temporary Illness j. L. Bean, a young
man supplying, has been off duty for
several months. DR.. q. +. Allen, after
preaching IN Pine street church on a
sabbath In August, was suddenly taken
III, anu mas been shut i'll since that time,
| but his mind is often awakened by the
| inspiration OF divine things. Our yener-
able brother, DIR. u. b. Randall, has not
passed the year without battle with
sickness, but he has the pleasure of being
greeted again by his brethren of the Con-
ference convened in his own home
church. Our we'll known and beloved
Laura Collins, waiting with the patience
and faith of the saints, is still The object
| OF tender care OF Br other Collins and
their daughter. The superannuated
preachers not mentioned. so far Az we
know, have about the usual infirmities of
| age.
| Converts are the pastors joy. and most
OF the pastors have known this joy. Few
evanRellsts have served on the district
ana these have not brought large success.
he employment of the evangelist is
| In the divine order, but it is attended
with dangers. One danger u.s. the church
may rely upon the evangelist. When the
| church fOrgets that che Is the agent of
the Lord for the salvation of souls in her
presence. and loses confidence in God and
| herself, then the nerve of her strong right
arm is severed, and the hand that should
bear Christ,s banner aloft hangs limp by
her side. There is n demand for the lay
evangelist who works from his own baee
OF supplies and saves the land from spir-
itual desolatiou. i hey are messengers of
mercy in sympathy with the masses,
touching responsive chord wherever
they go. Unless many more mes and
women enlist in this aggressive service
| there will live in our cities and towns
hundreds of children who never hear a
prayer. The Portland district has need
of ten fold more of these heralds of the
gospel. loo many come TO the church to
rest upon their laurels, when. lie, the
devil steals in and takes away their
laurels.
Too many vainIy hope to win victories
| without warfare, grow strong without
work, live holiness without the Christian
virtues, and wear a crown without hear
ing the cross. Should the hopes of all
such be realized then would the fools
paradise be thickly populated
The number of conversions is iu excess
of the number received on probation.
Following the purchase of parsonage,
and large outlsy upon the vestries, the
Congress street society has during the
past year improved and beautified the
house in which we are assembled, at a
devoted work and generous giving, in-
spired and led by their nastor @. d.
Lindsay, we now enjoy this consecrated
house of worship, and the delightful hos
pitality of this people and the Methodists
of Portland.
The church at Kittery has new memo
rial windows costing 5000. The Knight
vile church has purchased new piano
and organ. The Berwick church is
about beginning the construction Of their
house of worship at cost of about $4,000,
and the money Is subscribed. The Elm
street church, South Portland, is adding
to its fund and will have new church
building in the near future. The Ken
nebunk society has built one of the best
pasronages in the district. This, with
an excellent religious interest, has great
ly advanced this charge. The Sanford
church has also built a convenient par-
sonage. Owing to the recent payment
of debt on tina house ofwprship, and
financial depression, the people were not
able to make large payment on the par
sonage, but the enterprise is SO MANAGED
that it will be great advantage to the
society. While debts upon churches
should he avoided the case is an excep-
tion, where good business methods would
not save money and add strength to q
charge by securing a parsonage if need be
by debt. Il
A district meeting of the Epw0rth
League was held in the Chestnut street
church being SUCCESSFULLY planned and
conducted by the president, E. G. Strout
|
from the field AMI addresses were given
by some of the best speakers employed at
the larger meetings. The reports of the
pastors indicate that most OF these sooie-
ties are as spiritual as any organizations
Of the church. The young people hold
in their hands the destiny of the church
of tomorrow. If they ars despiy in
sympathy with Christ the church will
march to victory; if they are drawn
within the circle Of the worlds enohant-
ments the churches will be social clubs
employing lecturers for preachers
More is.being done for our children but
still there is an urgent call for workers
who are qualified in mind and heart to
instruct the children and lead them unto
Him who took them in His arms and
blessed them. &N
We have employed in benevolences no
dollhouse methods but have encouraged
the permanent work Of giving informa-
ton and thoroughly canvossing Great
credit is due many of the churches and
to some members in nearly all OF the
churches for their offerings prompted
by love but the lack of interest on tn
part OF some is q fundamental defect.
| Our miseriv members have no true con.