The Portland daily press., 1899-04-21
Proposition to Unite
Maine Conferences.
Commission Chosen After Some
Debate.
ESPECIAL TO TIE PREss.l

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Conference of Methodist churches was
In the main devoted to the presentation
OF reports ana the examination of candi-
dates for orders, the dull routine being
relieved by number of two.minute
speeches by Bishop Vincent, who always
has something to say and says it in way
which fixes it in the minds Of his hear
ers. When mention was made Of the long
country rides necessary in some Of the
Maine charges, the Bishop told the breth
rem that just such long rides had contri-
buted to the power of the fathers.
"There are enough such charges in
Maine, interrupted Presiding Elder
Ladd.
"That is the reason you have such able
men" replied the Bishop, adding that
the solitary rides were fine opportunities
for study and thought. Henry Clay was
in the habit Of going into the fields and
delivering 15-minute orations to audi
ences of cows and oxen.
Speaking of the duty Of ministers to
train the children, the Bishop advised
the brethren to Study the system of the
Roman Catholic church. d monument OF
human organization, although the doc
trines to which 1t held did much to coun-
teraot Its power for good.
With these and many other sayings, the
Bishop contributed to the interest of the
proceedings.
THE DISTRICT REPORTS.
The first business Of the days session
was the presentation of the reports Of the
three presiding elders Rev. j. A. Corey
reported for the Lewiston district. Mr..
Corey reported ~ charges. 40 with pas
tors of whom q are conference members
and IS supplies. Rev. A. &. Traitor,
to i'll health, asks for . superannuate
relation. The prevalent unrest of relig-
ious people and the Indifference of others
TO religious matters bave not been con-
ducive to growth in emtership. A
pruning of the membership lists might
show falling Off The prevailing hard
times have caused some of the churches
to excuse themselves from some charges
in order to provide the means to support
the pastors. In the midst of the hard
times, however, the churches at Berlin,
Brunswick, Rumford Falls and Yarmouth
have been able to increase the salaries
of their pastors. The new church at
Runford Falls, the gift of Hon. and
Mrs Waldo Pettengill, will soon be under
the control OF the parish. MIR. Corey's re-
port closed with a few words of thanks
to those who have aided him in his six
years If service. His report was loudly
applauded.
Rev Charles A. Southland presented from
the pastors of the district sum of money
testifying their appreciation of his SER
vices.
In his report for the Portland district,
Rev E.O. Thaypr said: AT the adjourn
ment of the last session Of this conference,
40 churches of the Portland district. All
but two are here ready to report their
charges. Rev FIR Welch,a local preach
er, left his field of labor on Shapleigh cir
cult in October. This circuit is in Sec
ton of abandoned farms and crowded
SiaNc janus A'NN'Ay ''- NAS
members nave died or moved away and
the prospect is not bright for keeping
open many years longer these time
honored churches which have given to
the conference some useful ministers and
eminent laymen. Prof. +. g. Rogers was
transferred from Pine street, Portland, to
Lawrence, Mass, early in Novem Der,
after four years and half of faithful and
successful labors. His departure to an
other conference is deeply regretted by
his many friends in Maine and especially
by his brethren in this conference. He
was succeeded very soon by Rev. Il. 5.
j. McAllister, student in Boston uni
yersity, who has already won his way to
the hearts Of the people and has inspired
them with courage and hope"
The report mentions the deaths of Rev.
Charles Munger, DR.. C.F. Allen and the
widows of Rev. Jesse Stone and Rev.
BENJAMIN Freeman. Mention is also
made of the serious Illness of Rev. g. ".
Parsons, former pastor of the Chest.
nut street church. Concerning the year.
work the report says:
"Sickness and storms do not altogether