The Portland daily press., 1899-06-01

Y
State of the Church.
The FREQ Baptist Conference met at
steep Balls yesterday morning, the Rev.
Mr. Malvern In the chair. Nearly every
o hurch was represented, there being q
large attendance The annual business
of the conference occupied the forenoon
session. Ths annual address was omitted
on account OF the absence of Mr.. Freese.
The afternoon prayer meeting was led
by Rev. MFR. Nickerson and was helpful
service. The women's mission meeting
In the afternoon was In charge OF Mrs.
Lewis of Portland.
Rev. DIR. Baker, who had ap appoint
ment In the evening that prevented him
being present spoke in the afternoon. II
was magnificent address on the mean
ing Of Christian Endeavorism. He put
the matter before his large audience as
only DIR. Smith Baker can.
The Young Peoples meeting In the
evening was largely attended. In the alb
sence Of Dr. Baker. Rev. Mr.. Malvern
spoke eloquently and interestingly. The
following report was made by MIR. ID. ".
| Small:
There are ct present time eleven or
dafned ministers In the conference and
four licensed preachers, located as fol-
lows; Rev. K. j. Hatch at Groveville.
Rev. W. L. Nickerson at Cape Elizabeth.
b. II. Penwarden ut Casco. Rev. II. A
childs at Gray, Rev. j. y. Hartman at
Harrison, Rev. w II. Fuiiz at Little
Falls and White Rock, 1almsgs Patter-
son at New Gloucester, Rev. Lewis NAL
vern at Portland, Rev. A. II. Mcleod at
East Raymond, Rev. L. O. Harmon ut
South Gorham and Scarboro. Rev. q. W..
Rogers at steep Falls, North Baldwin
and Knoxville Rev. Frank wiIlcock at
West Buxton, Rev. r.. z. Freese at West
Falmouth, A. K. Hyde ct West Danville.
and d. 3. Small at windham Centre.
These fifteen men holi tw enty -four SER
vices each Sabbath in and out of the con
ference.
So far as can learn there Is harmony
In all the churches. The executive COM
mittee has not been called on during the
year to ssttls any difiicuity. The White
Rock interest 30 which called your
attention In my lass report, 10 we'll cared
for by Mr.. Fultz.
The people at Oak Hill are very de-
sirous that there be preaching there at
least half of the time, the field Ia very
promising one because of the large num-
Der OF young people who have expressed a
desire for meeting. 1t IL not now pos
al BILE for them to unite with any other
church as all are supplied. Unless definite
instructions are given the executive COM
mittee will no doubt aid the interest In
whatever way 1t needs. We have aided
several churches in the past year, and
must continue to do so In the year to
come.
1t is not pleasant TO notice that eleven
churches have made no additions during
the year, while on the other hand. with a
single exception, all have lost. Five
churches have added twenty by baptism
as follows: Cape Elizabeth, 2; Harrison,
/; Portland, 10; Steep Falls, 8; West
Danville, l. The following churches have
aided in other ways: Cape Elizabeth.
2, Little Falls, q; New Gloucester, Il;
Portland, 8; Steep Falls, g; West Buxton,
2; West Danville. /. Total additions, SO.
In quarter Of century.there have been
only two years with SO few additions.
While it is matter of rejoicing that SO
have joined the church during the year.
it Is san fact that these churches have
l0c hau nA <kako
we have not so many members today as
we had year ago by 10.
At the annual session in 1879 we had
ITO members, today we have not that
number by more than 400, although we
have in that time taken in the Harrison
church with one hundrsd members. The
present membership is 1905 resident, and
S08 nonresident. Total, 1908.
The nineteen churches hold property
worth ss5, 600, and spent 1904 in repairs.
Fourteen churches report Sls08 for cur
rent expenses. The fifteen preachers
have received s6S46 as salary. All of the
ordained ministers, with perhaps single
exception, hssve received more than $500
salary.
IL is to be hoped that the four churches
that have no part in the 1924 raised for
foreign missions will enjoy reformation
the coming year Ten OF the nineteen
churches have reported nothing for the
woman's work; the other nine have
raised S276. Home missions have received
$3.50, and state work sls3. Our educa-
tional interests have heen remembered in
the sum of si19. Other benevolent objects
have received SEQ. The nineteen Sunday
schools in the conference with 1893
scholars have raised s55s, and used it
largely for current expenses. There are
sixteen Young Peoples societies In the