The Portland daily press., 1897-11-18
CHURCH CLUB OF MAINE.
First Annual Meeting at Riverton Park
Cafe Last Evening.

hlverton PARK cafe. The party left the
head of Preble street at 6.l5 in special
car and upon arrival at the park the
members IF the club Immediately pro-
ceeded to the assembly room of the Casino
where the annual business meeting was
held.
The election of officers resulted as fol-
lows:
President-John Marshall Brown, Port
land.
First Vice President-J. B. Coleman,
Portland.
Second Vice Presiden TT. NJ. Glidden,
Newcastle.
Third Vice Presidential. e. Tevetts,
Saco.
Seoretary-T. H. Eaton, Portland.
treasurer. H. Ridge, Portland
The appointment Of the executive COM
mittee was left until a later date, the
members to be appointed by the presi-
dent
Messrs. Charles D. Merrill and S. 7.
j. jackson, both of Portland, were
elected to membership in the club.
AT 7.3O the club with their invited
guests sat down to the annual dinner as
prepared by the caterer, d. B. Smith of
Riverton cafe. Supper over, the presi-
dent, John M. Brown, raped for order
and in few words spoke of the small
growth in the ranks of the club and ex.
pressed the hope that during the coming
year their members and influence might
increase. President Brown then intro
duced in a fitting manner the bishop of
the diocese, Rev. H. A. Medley of Port
land. Bishop Neeley spoke of the pleasure
that it gave him to meet with layman s
club and to note that during the year
they had made some if not considerable
progress. "There is however, a lack of
interest among the laity to be deplored.
1 have said on previous occasions that
have never known anything that has
been of such value to the diocese as the
church club. In the future more efforts
should be put forth in the smaller and
weaker parishes to enlist the interest and
sympathy of the laity in the work which
the church club is endeavoring to do
The president introduced Mr.. E. l..
Davis of Worcester, Mass, former presi-
dent of the church club of that city. Mr..
Davis began by congratulating the diocese
on their good fortune in having such
useful organization as the church club
Mr.. Davis expressed the belief that
gatherings of similar social nature did
much to break the barriers to higher and
| nobler church work, as well as to establish
a broader depth of religious view.
EVERY church club should stamp upon
itself a certain individuality. Whatever is
needed for the diocese let the club try and
meet those needs. We are all of us mem
bers of the great church of God and not
simply communicates of local church"
Mr.. Davis concluded his remarks by wish
ing the club prosperity in it's future work.
Rev. Lucius Waterman of Laconia, N.
H.. was next introduced and spoke in
very happy vein illustrating his remarks
with several apt and interesting stories.
He said in brief: 1.-THE church club has
usages of the church, and the members
thereof should at all times be ready to
lend assistance to the pastor in his work
In America we have fine example of the
way in which the pastor and laity work
together. What is still needed, however,
is a greater unity of belief among people
of all churches and creeds.
Rev. H. W. Winkley of Saoo, was next
introduced and spoke In an interesting
manner. Mr.. Winkley referred to the op-
portunities for service in the church and
said that the laity could at all times be of
much assistance to the pastor. Pastor
and people should work together and then
if we go on hand in hand God will bless
our efforts
Rev. J. McGraw Foster of Bangor was
then introduced and said: "We are sure
that our church represents the broadcast
oatbolicity. All over the state there is an
ignorance as regards our denomination.
We don't need to organize mission band
to go out into the state to educate the
people, but in these meetings we can do
much that will bring our church TO the
front and better acquaint people with our
aims and purposes in the kingdom of
Cod
city, was then introduced and spoke in his
usual happy vein. Mr.. Shepherd deplored
the fact that it was the rule that the men
of parish do not take more interest in
the work of the church. Gas rule the
bulk of the assistance given a pastor
comes from the ladies Of the parish. If
the church club is looking about for some
thing to be done efforts should be made to
interest the men of our communities in
the work of our churches. The doctrines
OF Calvanism and other stern theological
dogmas and creeds have been modified,
but the fact still remains that men do not
take the interest they ought in the
church,
Rev. George f. Degen of Augusta, was
the last speaker to respond and his re-
marks were well received. Mr.. Degen
called attention to the great error that
many churches were making in calling
pastors from one passionate to another.
Mr.. Degen said that such should not be
the case, as man who is called of God
to care for the souls of men should be
called Of Him to go into new fields of
labor. Such plan of receiving new
pastor is better than selecting man from
II OF DC