The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-04-20
CHURCH or The FUTURE.
Continued from first Psss.

fullest opportunity to do their work. As
to the Roman Catholics he would dis
eliminate between the religion 1of the de-
vout believers In that church. and the
political aspirations of the hierarchy. He
would give them perfect freedom but he
would watch them. OF the Unitarians
the Bishop said that they exalted and APP
preciated the human side Of Christ's
character which other denominations
were prone to forget. He predicted that
| in the church of the future, denomina-
lions would still exist for there must be
difference In thought and opinion, but
between denominations there would be no
jealousy and all would work together in
| q common cause.
The speaker referred only incidentally
to the Chautauqua idea. When he entered
the room he was greeted with tine
Chautauqua salute, the waving Of hand
kerchiefs and after expressing his pleas
ure at this welcome he told of the origin
of the custom. 1t was at Chautauqua,
after an eloquent address given In sign
language by deaf mute. "There was tha
usual clapping of hands," said the
Bishop, ''but thought that would not
mean much to deaf mute, so suggested
that every body at a given signal should
wave mis- or her handkerchief, clean or
soiled, white, drab or black" and that
was the origin of a salute since repeated
all over the world.
At the close of his lecture. Bishop Vim.
cent was warmly applauded and held
reception at which many Of those present
shook him by the hand.
THE BUSINESS SESSION.
The conference met for organization this
forenoon after q communion service con-
Quoted by Bishop Vincent. Tbs organiza.
ton was effected a. follows:
President-Bishop j. A. Vincent. d.
D., LII. d.
Secretary II. Berry, Portland.
Historical Secretary-Geo. G. An irews.
Statistical Seoretary-Chas. 4. Parsons.
Assistants-W. CaDham, L. p. Baker,
L. q. Chapman.
Conference Treasurer-wilmont p.
Lord.
Assistsnts--George f. Millward. A. S
Jones.
The Methodist brethren discuss the
affairs of their church with freedom and
with vigor, and they started right In to-
day. The question came over an amend
ment to the rules. 1t has teen u rule of
the Maine conference that tho pastors
should report whether or not they have
taken all the collections during the year
required by the discipline. Rev. j. III.
Roberts moved that the amounts should
also be reported. 10 this Rev. DR.. Stack
pole moved an amendment that no figures
should be required in open conference ex-
oept the missionary contributions which
must be stated in accordance with the re-
quirements of the discipline. The matter
lead to an animated discussion which was
made interesting by vigorous expression
of opinion by the Bishop. The debate
turned on the wisdom of requiring figures
which might put some of the pastors in
an EN- barrassing position II their work
had not given results proportionate to
those Of Others. DR.. Stackpols's amend
ment was finally adopted, so that as the
rules now stand the fact as 20 how May
of the collections have been taken must
be stated aud the amount o. the mission.
AIRY contributions. Bishop Vinoent's re-
marks were on the duty of ministers to
take all the collections. He said that
neglect to take all the collections required
by the discipline was almost criminal.
The ministe has no business to neglect
any one of the collections. There is no
conceivable excuss for the neglect of a
single collection required by the church
and II all the ministers were faithful in
their work the Methodist Episcopal
church would startle the NATION with the
grandeur of its achievements. 1t took
two years to pay missionary debt of
slS0,U00 when 1t might have been done in
six weeks If the pastors had done as they
| should and as it was generally supposed
that they would do. All the departments
of the church are necessary works, and
are dependent for support on the work of
the pastors. What the church needs is
men who will do their level best to pro-
mote every interest of the church
As the Bishop prooee led there were
many "anens," and bursts of applause
from the brethren. One member who
asked that the amount of the debt be
stated again that one of the reporters
present might get 1t straight, was told
that the conference had no time to run
newspapers. The reporters would have to
do the best they could. And the confer
ence applauded again.
After the vote was taken the Bishop
said he was glad the statement whether
or not all the collections had been taken
must be made. The apathy of Methodist
minister who would remain year with
Ia charge and neglect any one of his duties
is culpable In the sight of God and man.
Rev. DR.. Charles ii. Parkhurst, repre-
senting Zlo1's Herald. made at this point
a strong appeal for support for that paper,
the profits of which are devoted to the
care of old and inform clsrgynen DR..
Parkhurst said that all religious papers
are having hard time. The war hurt
them. The tendency of advertisers to use