The Portland daily press., 1899-06-15
the Annual Reports Show Gains in
the Past Year.
References to the Case
of Prof. Gilmore.
His Sermon in a Unitarian Pull
pit and His Resignation.
ESPECIAL TO THE rREss.l

ESPECIAL TO THE PREss.1
Kennebunk, June 1.-The Maine UNI
tartan convention is holding three days
session in this beautiful, elm embowered
village. The Unitarian ohrwc here IL
one Of. the Oldest in the state, Its house
of worship is a venerable structure,
standing near the centre of the village.
NJ attempt has been MAIDS to conceal
its age by the addition of modern en-
hsllishments, and it stands with Its
white walls and green tllndE very much
as II did when 1T was first dedicated to
the use OF the church. The convention
began last evening when 8 sermon was
preached by the Rev. S. Nj. Crothers OF
Cambridge Mass The first business
meeting was held this forenoon, at the
conclusion OF communion service The
convention was called to order by Judge
Joseph w. Symonds of Portland the
president. Judge Symonds spoke briefly,
referring TO the pleasant auspices under
which the convention began its work in
the beautiful month of June in the beau
tiful village of Kennebunk and the fine
old church so long identified with the
work of the church of Maine.
The first business was the appointing
Of committees and as members of the
committee on nominations Judge Sy-
monds named Hampden Fairfield, Esq,
of Saco, Miss Helen Fuller of Augusta
and Rev. MI. st. John of Passport. The
COMMITTEES on resolutions was formed by
the appointment of Gen. Selden Common
of Augusta Rev. MIR. Beach of Bangor
and Miss Gertrude jenkins Of Portland.
THE SECRETARY 5 REPORT.
Rev. John Carroll Perkins of Portland.
the treasurer. made partial report show
ing. balance. on hand of S2l5.65yI The
conference receipts are devoted to the ex-
penses OF the annual sessions sAhd THE
treasurer stated that these would be met
and there would then be a balance at
the disposition of the conference, Mr..
Perkins then reported as secretary. His
report was d. care fully written paper on
the results of the years work and the
condition of the churches in Maine. 1t
showed that in the year that is past there
had been mnde no gains which could be
estimated in figures although Mr.. Perkins
reminded his hearers that there was q
growth in influence and power for good
which figures would not express. There
are now in the state Is Unitarian church
es which have services regularly all the
year. OF these one, Preble chapel at
Portland. was organized for missionary
work and is designed to be self sustain
ing. There are N addition tivs churches
which have preaching in the summer.
These are the churches tat Bar Harhor,
Standish, East ,Lsmoine. Sullivan and
Winter Harbor All ofnthe 10 churches
supporting services havesministsrs. The
veteran in the service is the Rev. Mr.
Phelan, pastor of Preble'chapel, who has
served that body since 1869 During the
past year Rev. Joseph A. Chase has re-
signed the pastorate at Houlton after a
service of three years; Rev. Walter K.
Hunt has resigned from the Ellsworth
passionate after two years of service. and
Rev. j. L. Marsh, after laboring ten
years at Ssco, has left the church there.
The retirement Of Mr.. Marsh was ap.
propfiately mentioned, Mr.. Perkins
speaking in high terms of his qualities
as o man and bis faithful,labor in Saco.
Mr.. Marsh is now the pastor Of d large
church at Lincoln, Neb., Mr.. Hunt ii
fettled at Orange. N. j., and Mr. Chase
Is still without charge. The three va.
cancies caused by the resignation Of
these ministers have been filled, although
in only one has the new pastor yet been
ordained. Rev. G. Il. MaoIlwain, late
of the Uniyersalist church at Newark, n.
j. has been called to the Houlton church.
Kew. Arthur Herbert Coar has been in.
stalled at Ellsworth. and Saco has called
Rev. W. Il. Skerrye. formerly of the Con-
gregational church, and settled at Prov
incesown. Mass.
Ibe report mentioned the centennial Of
the church in Castine which was observed
on October &c and was made the occasion
of memorable gathering and the pre-
ssntation Of addresses of unusual interest
This original communion service o.
this ancient church was displayed anC
q portrait of it's first pastor hung aboy,
The pulpit while his descendants ocou
pied pew in the front of the house.
Maine is in sense, missionary ground
aid the report, and this year for the frs
dns. thu contributions made by tn,
jhurches 10 the American Unitarian SO
ciety has exceeded the amount expende,
by the society in the state. Two year
ago IA churches gave S672 90. This yea