Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-10-26
AUGUSTA DISTRICT
Well Represented at Water
vile Methodist Meeting.
Unusual Interest in the Business,
Sermons and Discussions.
Religious Subjects Treated in Practical
Manner by the cIsrgymen.

The Methodist Ministerial Association Of
the Augusta district resumed services,
yesterday morning, by holding praise
service at 8 o'clock, which was led by
Rev George d. Lindsey, pastor Of the
Methodist church in this city.
There was a larger attendance of min
listers at the meeting held, yesterday
morning, than at the opening session,
Monday night. Those present at the
morning session were Rev. j T.. Clancy,
Sylvester Hooper NJ. T.. King Rev f. T..
Leach Rev. G. ID. Lindsey. Rev. d. IT,.
Miller, Rev. +. c. Norcross. Rev. Fl. L..
Nichols, Rev 0. S. Pilsbury, Rev. M. L..
Phillips. Rev. c. burlington and Rev. c..
F. Springer of the Eastern Maine Con-
ference, and Rev. +. d. Whiteside.
During the morning praise service men
ton was made Of the death of Rev. A. II.
Chase. president of Kent's Hill Seminary.
Word was also received OF the death Of
the wife of Rev. Mr.. Pottle of Bowdoin-
ham. Prayers were offered for the FAINT
lies of both.
The morning sermon was delivered by
Rev. NJ. T.. King OF Monmouth, who
preached a very interesting and able SER
mon, taking his text from Ephesians,
Wis: But be filled with the spirit" The
prayer was offered by Rev. o. S. Pills
bury of Fairfield.
When the business session was opened
it was found that the presiding elder
Rev. A. S. Laid, was absent, and Rev. j.
Il. Clancy was called on to preside II
was voted to have the morning session OF
the meeting commence at $50 in place of
at o'clock. as was suggested, the after
noon session at and the evening session
at 7.30
The business being finished. the topics
for discussion were brought up. The first
paper was presented by Rev o.. S. Pills.
bury of Fairfield. In treating the subject.
How Shall Person Know that He Is
Christian" he said he had no sympathy
with a minister who stood over q person
who had come forward for prayers, ana
said: Your sins are forgiven" God alone
is able to say that. He believed that was
one reason why there are so many him
ORANGES in the church work. today. He
believed that person knew he was
Christian through the peace and happi-
ness in the persons life, and not through
any deductions.
On account of the absence of some of
the members, Rev. Mr. Lindsey read his
paper a little out of the usual order He
treated the subject: How May Method
ism Be Made to Advance as in the For
mer Days?" He held that the conditions
are different, today, from what they were
years ago. AT that time the Calvinistic
ideas We're being preached, and as the
Methodists preached the doctrine of sal
walton for all who wished it. the church
membership greatly increased. He held
that it was not the fault of the ministers
that such rapid Announcements We're not
made, but the fault of the times and Il
change in the conditions.
Another thing he claimed is that there
is Il timidity among the ministers in a
certain degree. He claimed that the min
listers should take more open stand
than some do at the present time In this
way he thought that while few might
be driven out of the church, more would
be induced to come in. BY the ministers
being more open, he argued, some of tn.
dead wood which is hindrance to the
church would be driven out and the
church given a new life.
In reference to this. he said that there
was certain young lady in his church
who talked of the Holy Ghost, Monday
night, and for three nights in the week
afterwards attended dance in the Uni
tartan vestry. He argued that by a more
rigid enforcement of the church discipline
there would be none of this work and in
consequence the people would have
greater respect for the church and the
church members. I'VE are coddling peo-
pie too much,' he said in conclusion,
land the result is people are laughing
at u.s.
Rev. Mr.. Clancy also agreed that there
was change in conditions, and where
people were once willing TO go a long
distance to attend campmeetings, they
prefer to stay where there are more COM
Portable surroundings. He held that there
are SO many places of amusement thai
people are all tired out from social duties.
and are not in consequence able to go to
church through sheer WEAKNESS.
Rev. Mr.. Hooper held that if the pas
tors were filled with the Holy Ghost, the
people would wheel more readily into
line.
This closed the morning session and the
meeting was adjourned until afternoon
The afternoon sermon was delivered by
Rev. ii. L. Nichols of Monmouth. After
the sermon the unfinished discussion of
the topic before the meeting at the time
of the adjournment was further discussed
Whan thiS diSonScin,,