The Portland daily press., 1897-04-16


have preceded us SO that it reouired n
mans work to follow in their footsteps;
much less should we EXPECT to excel
them. The roots of the vine that bears
the fruit we gather run far into the soil
that has been cultivated for a century.
At the close OF the first yenr Of the term
la change was made in the district lines
leaving us with two appointments less
Ethan before.
The Missionary Society proposed to
contribute money to our Conference work
upon the condition that we would turn
our collection for. Conference work into the
treasury OF the parent society, and with
the disadvantages above named, the
] Portland district in 1886 raised 1915 more
than the offerings for both societies in
! 1891.
Durlng The same period the district
stewards estimated for the So charges the
same amount for ~ esiding elders claim
as before for the IS charges, but made no
oyeriay IN hpportioning it, and during
| the same time the receipts of the preach
ers advanced S1752. While the Confer
eDce reached its maximum of member
| ship long age, and has been decreasing,
| the fortland district increased from 1891
| to 1917 members in full.
by improved methods and more en-
lightened conscience upon the RESPONSE
bilities of steward ship the gross weight of
weight Increase, Some Of the charges
are helped by legacies more than for
merry, and these requests are valuable, ii
we have live men to dminister dead
lmen's money and consecrated church
Ito use ii.
On the basis of available strength that
can be estimated we think that Cne-half
Iof the charges have increased, and not
Imore than one-fourth have decreased.
We attempt no estimate of the real
strength of the church, which is its NOR
lalsand spiritual force, the balances for
which God alone holds, and they are so
finely adjusted that they will "quiyel at
1.-THE touch of 4 sunbeam AS rule the
weak charges are growing weaker, and
ithis condition of things intensifies the
difficulty of the bishop in adjusting the
pastoral supply. Or necessity there must
be sharper stress for some men than
flor their PREDECESSORS, when there was
uniformity in the appointments. Say all
the good things we may, we have not
lyet come to f1owery beds of ease.
/ The credit due to different agents in
the Masters vineyard seludes all world
wise calculations. Possibly the first in
honor may be some invalid in an upper
chamber. But the pastors have positions
i of great influence. If we are wise and
good, if We come near 60 men so that
their heart-beats may be felt. il VIC meet
men facs to face, and make them strong
4 for life's fierce struggle, then will the
people follow us with an everlasting love.
II we deeply feel that the world still
needs church and ministry alive to
the perils of men, if we prenoh gospel
lunsWerving as righteousness and tender
AS infinite love, and "have that same
lspirit that once glowed in the fires, swept
lin the gales and spoke in the tongues OF
Pent ecost, ''s,then will God be nleased to
employ us fer the extension of Christ 8
Kingdom in the earth.
The recollection of cordial greetings,
repeated favors, bounteous hospitality
Jana Christian fellowship, will ever re-
main among the sacred and endearinQ
memories of my life. In some humble
way / may be permitted to quote from
the farewell address of Him who, i'll; the
! full eloquenoe of his soul, said: "And
now, brethren, commend you to God,
and to the word of His grace, who is able
to build you up. and to give you an in
heritanoe among all them who are sane
| tified'
| 10 every host and hostess we seadths
blessing of Paul: 1.-THE Lord give mercy
to the house of Onesiphorus, for he hath
oft refreshed me-" To pastors, to pas
tors wives and to people whom we may
net meet again, we give you benediction
'sGod be with you till we meet again.
! And in submitting, our last report to
the Conference, we submit it also to the
/
| Judgment OF our fellow wnrkers in
Christ: and to your Lord and mine,
whom we joyfully serve and ahoringly
worship, be glory md honor and praise
1 forever more.
The presentation Of gold watch to
/ Presiding Elder Palmer, from the minis
tiers of the Portland district, was a
/ feature not down on The official pro-
fully made by Rev. A. A. Lewis of Saoo
and feslingly acknowledged by the re tir-
ing elder. u
/ The calling for annual reports of be-
| nevolences from the various churches
j brought responses from nearly every
] pastor in the list. The reports were as
/ follows:
Rev. C. S. Cummings, Augusta re-
ported collections of Sl04 for missions, s15
for woman's home missions, 81 for
woman's foreign, $50 for conference
Rev. II. A. Clifford. East Wilton,
missions.$13, conference claimants IS. :
/ Rev. o. S. Pillsbury, Fairfield, mis-
sions 5000.
Rev. E. .. Thayer, Gardiner. mission
i $40, woman's foreign missions $25.
woman's home S22, conference claimants
$50
4 Rev. C. f. Parsons, Hallowelll, mis-
sions $16O, claimants $3S.
Rev. r. E. Frohook, Kentis Hill, mis-
sions $40, claimants S43.
Rev. g. A. Brooks, Aivermore mis-
sions $25, claimants IS.
Rev. c. A. Southland, Livermores Falls,
missions s63, woman's home $50. claima mt
$40
Rev. N. E. King, Monmouth, Emissions
se4 woman's foreign SIG, woman IS
home S., claimants 81.
Rev. Elbridge. Gerry, Mt Vernon, mis-
sions Sill, .woman's foreign So, claimants
So.
Rev. James Nixon, Richmond, mission
$50 claimants SIS.
Rev. B. c. Wentworth, Skowhegan,
missions $40, woman's foreign $2S,
4 wonans home $22. claimants S24
\ Rev. W. L. Chapman, Scion, missions
SIT claimants 80.
Rev. 7. N. Kewley, Strong, missions
] S13 claimants So.
Rev. W. +. Berry, Waterville missions
S2aB, claimants SAG.
Rev. D. X. Ford, Wayne, missions s26,
claimants IS.
Rev. B. +. Pickett. Wilton, missions
S55 claimants 3d.