The Portland daily press., 1898-02-18

organization was the phase of the ques
ton considered by Mrs. W. N Thomas Of
lewiston; Systematic Education by
Mrs. Ii. W. Noyes of Portland; "Syste-
matte collection" by Mrs. Bonney of
Portland.
The first speaker told of the Importance
of organization in the churches and Sun
day schools to keep up a perpetual interest
in benevolences. Mrs. Noyes gave some
valuable hints on how to keep the peo'
pie posted in matters pertaining to mis-
sions. Mrs. Bonney advocated hand-to-
hand collection for missions. The ideal
collector for benevolent objects has grace,
grit and gumption.
Rev. L. ]. Ramsell of South Paris,
who was booked for participation in the
forenoon programme, but did not arrive
till noon, read paper on "Why the
agitation concerning system in collection
and distributing funds for Christian
workp' He said the agitation was occa.
stoned by the falling of of receipts from
churches throughout the whole country.
The available funds for missions have so
fallen off during the last few years that
missionaries in the field have been
Obliged to curtail their work, and the
union has been unable to send out volun-
teers who are ready to devote their lives
to labor in the home or foreign fields.
1t will be necessary, he said, for the
Baptist state convention to scale down 25
per cent the sum appropriated for help
nj hn <,Ixx
ton throughout the state. IF every mem
br of the Baptist church in the United
States would contribute two cents per
week to missions, the aggregate donation
would be ample to carry on the mission
airy work with the present force. A con-
tribution of three cents month from
every Baptist in Maine to help carry on
the work Of the Maine Baptist convention
would bring into the treasury Of that
organization a sum larger than was ever
received.
In spite of this disappointing showing,
he said that the contributions in the last
few years for benevolent purposes had
far exceeded those of twenty and thirty
years ago. The stirring up that the
churches of the state received on the
subject of missions during 1896, had been
very helpful and the sums contributed
within the next twelve months had been
considerably in excess of those of the few
need of systematic support of the obli-
cations of the church
The remainder of the afternoon was
largely taken up with reports from. the
associational commissions, appointed
last fall to makes thorough canvass of
the churches in their districts with a
view to ascertaining what methods are
pursued in the raising Of funds and de-
vising means to increase contributions.
Rev. George Merriam of Freeport, spoke
particularly of the state convention work
and the need of funds to assist small
churches throughout the state. The report
from the Bowdoinham district churches
was made by Rev. J. B. Bryant of
Wayne; Cumberland. Mr.. Fred Brunei
of Portland; Oxford, Rev. G.. S. Chase
of Mechanic Falls; York, Mr.. B. Fl. Win
slow of Saco.
These reports showed a diversity OF
methods employed to raise money for
benefcsnce. Some churches use the
envelope system. some the pledge system,
others make collections at regular peri
DDS, some combine all their collections and
then make an even distribution among
the missionary organizations. Rev. S.
Bangs of Buckfeld opened the discussion
of the reports, and he was followed by
Rev. H G. Mabie one of the chief officers
Of the American Baptist missionary
union, who offered suggestions on the
question Of raising money, and dwelt at
considerable length on the personal obli-
cation of Christians.
Judge Bonney presided at the evening
meeting. After the opening exercises
Rev. David Webster of Lebanon discourssd
on "How a returned missionary regards
the present situation in mission work."
and an eloquent and forceful address was
given by Rev. DR.. Mabie of Boston on
| the subject, "The Craftsmanship of
| Jesus