The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-06-07
woMAN,s MISSION WORK.

responsibilities of Its members, she was
sorry TO repeat that IL has seemsd almost
impossible during the psst year to estsb
lish new societies. The various parish s
are SO occupied with foreign and home
mission work ana other interests to form
branches Of the state society. she thought
that II the workers want to spread Univer-
saIism they must not confne themselves
to their own churches.
Among the purposes for which money
has been expended during the year has
been $3.50 10 the state convention, aid to
Tufts Divinity students, Pacific coast and
Japan missions.
SUNDAY SCHOOLS.
Rev. L.. W. Coons Of Pittsneld reported
for the Sunday school convention. AS the
year ends in October, the figures for the
present time must be confined to the last
eight months OF "A schools reported the
number of officers is ESQ; teachers, $40;
pupils, 2,252. Seven schools show gain
OF i07 pupils, the largest being "a in
Woodfords; IS schools show a loss, but
this is thought to be due to the fact that
all schools over the state havs9 been7cut-
ting down their enrolment tothe actual
membership; ~ child rem have been chris
tened, and 2s members of Sunday, schools
have been united with churches; S33 vol
umes are reported as added to 10 libra
ries; Oakland comes first with $50 vol
umes added, and Woodfords next with
1ot; s2995 has been raised by the various
schools at entertainments; the four
schools with the largest attendance are;
Bangor, AIS; Auburn, a25; Church of Mes
siah, s75; Congress Square, 2iS.
Y.P. G. U.
Miss Mary Hamilton of Dexter, secre.
tary of the state Y. p. G. u. reported
that as the annua: reports were not due
until June Z, she had not received enough
of them to give the statistics, but she
was confident of increasing interest in the
work throughout the state. In the junior
depa rtment there are nine unions with
membership of 3l6, an increase in MEM
bership of 40 over 1898.
The report OF DR.. Blanchard for the
trustees of Westbrook Seminary, and the
sermon Of Rev. L. W. Coons were neces.
sarily omitted for lack of time.
The convention adjourned its bust.
ness session at mon to Wednesday at
g. 80 o. m.
IN TIE AFTERNOON.
The convention assembled at p. M,
and following devotional exercises which
were conducted by Rev. G. A. Knicker-
booker of Auburn, came the occasional
sermon by Rev. Mrs. @. K. Angel of
Norway. who took for her text the words
"Fervent In Spirit" her principal
thought being the need Of greater fervency
in the conduct of church affairs. Com
munion service followed the occasional
address and 1t was administered by Rev.
II. E. Barton Of Bethel and Rev. o. II.
Alvord Of Kingnsld. 4
At 4 p. M, an educational meeting was
held presided over by Rev. II. S. Whit.
man, who addressed the convention on
the Univsrsalist educational Institutions
and the duty Of maintaining them
and westbrook Seminary in particu.
lar. Rev. DR.. Hersey of Bangor gave q
very Thoughtful talk on education inclu-
sive of the physical. moral and spiritual
as well as the intellectual phases
The report on Westbrook Seminary was
made by Rev. DIR. Blanchard of Portland
In which he described the condition of
the institution and said 10 Is in the best
condition is had ever been in its history
In regard to its buildings, Its corps Of
teachers and its pecuniary strength.
Mr.. O. s. Fobes of Portland, treasurer
of the Westbrook Seminary made short
and stirring address on the condition of
the seminary and the need OF being
earnest in the support of It and all other
educational interests,
IN THE EVENING.
The Church Of the Messiah contained
a large audiences when the convention re-
assembled at 7.45in the. evening, ana af-
ter short devotional exercises Hon. luther
B. Mckinney of Bridgton spoke ont'The
Layman's Idea Of the Minister'S" He
said at times past he had fs.t quite at
home in the pulpit, and mentioned thu
fact that..ths minister had the advantage
over the laynian for he could stand In
the pulpit andi sooldi his hearers and
they were not allowed to open their
heads.
He then proceeded.to speak of ministers
from the standpoint of the good, sensi-
BILE layman who expected the minister to
do what was about right and recognized
the fact that he was human as well as
themselves and not a kind of vessel full
of Simon-pure religion. HIS spoke for
the laymen wholbslieye in churches and
church organization and who want a
leader to guide them in the paths of spir-
itual truth. The sensible layman does
not expect to find in the minister per.
feet saint. ''Why. / am not saint my.
self, said the speaker. A sansihle lay
man is willing to overlook the mistakes
Of a minister, but be does expect him
to be of some ability and have adaptaniIi-
ty for his special work. Some had no
capacity for the work, yet our professors
permit them to 60 through the theologi-