The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1897-06-10
The Observation-Disclosures Com
mission Of Maine.

The INSTRUMENTATION Commission
of Maine was organized at Brunswick Dec.
18th, 1890. This commission is composed
OF representatives Of the Baptist, Chris
tan, Congregational, Free Baptist, and
Methodist denominations. These are the
denominations most Immediately concern
ed in the problem of the rural church in
Maine, with which the commission aims
10 deal. 1t seemed best to confipe the
scope of this movement 10 those denomi-
nations which are sufficiently Homogeneous
in doctrine, modes of worship and form OF
organization, to give promise of harmony
and mutual confidence.
The object of the commission, as stat
ed in the first article of the constitution,
is Ito promote cooperation in the organ
ization and maintenance of churches in
Maine; to prevent waste of resources and
effort in the smaller towns and to stimu-
late missionary work in the destitute re-
gions The heart of the movement is
summed up in the following statement of
principles:
Church extension into destitute COM
munites should be conducted, as far as
practicable, according to the following
considerations
CT. No community in which any de-
nomination has any legitimate claim
should be entered by any other denomi.
nation through its official agencies with
out conference with the denomination, or
denominations, having said claims.
?. A feeble church should be revived,
if possible, rather than new one estab-
lished to become its rival.
g. The preferences of a community
should always be regarded by denomina-
tional committees, missionary agents, and
individual workers.
d. Those denominations having
churches nearest at hand should, other
things being equal, be recognized as in
the most advantageous position to en-
courage and aid new enterprise in their
vicinity.
s. In case one denomination begins
gospel work in destitute community, il
should be left to develop that work with
out other UNCONVENTIONAL interference.
g. Temporary suspension of church
work by any denomination occupying a
field should not be deemed sufficient war
rant in itself for entrance into that field
suspension should be oeemed temporary
abandonment when a church has had no
preaching and held no meetings for an
entire year or more.
7. All questions of Interpretation OF
the foregoing statements, and all cases OF
friction between denominations or church
es of different denominations, should Dc
referred to the commission through its
Executive Committee.
Six years of successful practical work
ing have proved the usefulness of this
organization.
The recent annual meeting, held at
Bangor, May 10 1897, brought out three
facts which it is desirable that every
pastor of church connected with the
denominations represented in this COM
mission should know.
First; Each of the five denominations
is fully, heartily, and finally committed
to the principles of the commission.
The principles of the commission are
the officially accepted and approved prin-
ciples of all the denominations represent
ed in it.
Second The work of the commission
is practical success. During the past
year. for the first time in the history OF
religious work in Maine, there has not
been single case of encroachment by one
denomination upon the rigbtful field OF
another. All five denominations were
represented at the annual meeting, and
while matters were brought up for inquiry
and conference, no denomination had any
complaint to make of any other.
Third: We must not allow these graft
flying results to induce feeling of false Sc
curity or relax our vigilance, Cases OF
encroachment often spring up without de-
liberate intention to interfere with the
rights of others, and they can be dealt
with most satisfactorily al the very begin
ming Accordingly all pastors and all
persons interested in religious work in the
state are earnestly requested to report at
the very outset any movement which
appears to be in violation of the principles
of Christian comfy, either to the mission
airy secretary or presiding elder of the de-
nomination whose interests are affected,
or directly to Rev. A. 7. Dunn, d. D.,
Waterille, Me, the secretary of the COM
mission.