The Portland daily press., 1899-05-17
BOARD OF MISSIONS.

vice OIL bDt ltbafu VI nAfo,fOhos osS0f
Nicely was present and n large number
of clergymen from all parts OF the state.
The attendance at this services was quite
large and the audiences were very In :
teresting. The opening sentences IN the
evening service were read by the very
Rev. Dean Sills who also read the closing
PRAYER. The Rev. Walter Stewart OF Batn
read the first scripture lesson. the rev
Lebanon b. Fowler of Exeter read tne
second scripture lesson and Bishop Nicely
pronounced the absolution.
After the evening service Of prayer the
annual report of the secretary Oh tne
board was read by the Rev. Mr.. Lee. lie
said that the result of the missionary
work of the past year was very encourage
ing. The diocese of Maine Is essentially
a missionary diocese. The missions are
scattered over territory nearly half as
large as New England with the charges
wildly distributed and with only thirty
sacrifices which were being made by the
laborers In this field and the glorious
work they are accomplishing. They are
not paid very large salaries and IL Is nee
essary for them to practice the most rigia
economy In order to live. But none Oh
them complain of their lot ana all OF
them throw into the work their greatest
OF the past year have not been remarkable
the outlook in this missionary field Is
very hopeful. The secretary Of the board
then took up some OF the work whlch is
being done in various parts OF the state.
He spoke of the labors of the Rev. Harry
Hudson In Pressure Isle and St. johns.
Among other things he told OF the ex-
perience of this clergyman in the terrific
snow storm of January 9Th when he was
to hold service in thu evening at Ashland,
nineteen miles away. de was the nrst
person to drive through the almost I'M
passable roads. With the mercury down
to forty degrees below zero Mr.. Hudson
succeeded in reaching Ashland on time
but with his ears frost bitten and very
much exhausted from his long struggle
through the snow. This the speaker men
toned as an example Of the hardships In
the mission field of Maine. The speaker
mentioned also the work which Is being
done in other places in the state and the
progress which has been made in many
of these places during the past year.
Mr. Lee then read the report OF the
treasurer OF the board. William g. Ellis.
This showed that the total receipts had
beea S3,632 n and the expenditures had
been S2,371s7. This report covers only
eleven months of the year and the score
tary stated that there would probably Do
a deficit but not a very large one
The Rev. Mr.. Forth of Lewiston then
delivered an address on the responsibility
of the church in regard to foreign mis-
sions Among other things he said: III
we rejoice at the expansion OF our coun :
try, in the growth of our trade we should
more fully realize our responsibilities In
spreading the gospel among those people
who have come into our country. we
owe 1t TO them and to ourselves to carry
to these people the gospel of Christ.
He also spoke of the great work wn,ch
the Church of England has done IN the
foreign mission field. saying that no less
than 81, 900, 900 a year Is expended in this
way by the English church. He urged
upon bis hearers the necessity of regard
ing this work as one which is necessary
and part OF the Christian duty OF every
church man and woman.
The kev William b. Nicholson of Fort
Fairfield spoke upon his lahors on the
mission field in Aroostook county. lie
said that the reason the progress II aue ln
the mission field of this diocese is sc
small is because the people do not want
to Ieceive the Truth and care nothing
about It, He compared the lators In this
field with the work of the Apostles and
said that the Apostles met with Just the
same kind OF reception as the workers
in some parts of this diocese meet with.
They find Il few faithful and 10y al
churchmen but the others are apparently
indifferent. lie advocated dogmatic In
struction in the mission churches as
remedy fer this evil. He said that ser
mons were all right in their way but they
did nothing to attract people TO the
church. He said that he had found that
while many church people We're loyal &c
[ the chucrh they haven t the faintest idea
of what the church believes In. lie said
his experience had taught him that dog
matte instruction is just what the people
want and demand. He said he had began
to try this sort of Instruction and bad
found that the people received 1t with
| great interest and 1t attached them devot'
| edly to the church. He had even found II
most successful among the children anc
all during Lent had daily given them IN
struction in the doctrine, of the church
with ever increasing attendance at the
meetings and great display of Interest
| all the time. He advised other mission
airy workers to try the same plan.
TODAY'S PROGRAMME.
ga H., morning prayer, after which
the convention will assemble for bust
ness IL u. IN, Holy communion anC
sermon by the Rev. DR.. Lindsay, rector
| of St. Paul's church, Boston; p m.
luncheon in the Parish house; $50 p, m,
| convention resumes its sessions.
Owing to the enfeebled condition OF hii
! bal h the Bishop has been advised IL
| fego the pleasure of receiving the mem
beers of the convention at his house OF
Wednesday evening. The usual reception
will therefore be omitted.
REAL ESTATE TRAINERS.