Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-11-14

Maine INSTRUMENTATION Commission
which was organized at Brunswick and
of which President Hyde is the head.
1t is composed of representatives of the
Baptist, Christian, Congregational,
Free Baptist and Methodist denomina
tons. AS stated in the prospectus of
the commission, these are the denomi-
nations most Immediately concerned in
the problem of the rural church in
Maine. The object is to promote CO.
operation in the organization and main
tenance of churches in Maine; to pre-
vent waste of resources and effort in
the smaller towns; and to stimulate
missionary work in the destitute re-
gons. SO far the commission has done
good work and its advice has usually II
not always been accepted. although 1t
has been hard sometimes for secretary
, or presiding elder. to give up some cher
ished scheme of church extension or
mission work. The wisdom of the idea
and the possibility of its being practi
cally carried out is constantly being
demonstrated.
It's latest undertaking which is at
tracing such wide attention and Win
ming so much favorable comment is the
occupation of the new field at Mill
cl.at This has fra
value of such an organization better
than anything else that has occurred
This young city growing up in the
Penobscot wilderness has not even the
memory of a Sunday school. Not for
some time yet Will it be suitable field
for the Independent existence and work
of the various evangelical denOmina-
tons, but it is just the field for such
united effort as the INSTRUMENTATION
al commission stands for. 1t shows the
growth in the spirit Of Christian frater-
nalism. that the four denominations
have Joined heartily in following the
recommendations of the commission;
and a union mission will at once be or
ganiZed at Millinocket to do Christian
work in the shifting population that
now fills the place. a large temporary
building is being erected with rooms
for religious exercises, reading and
recreation rooms for the Workmen. etc.
This means that the work will be car
ried on with more success and greater
economy than would be possible, if each
denomination tried to go ahead by it
self. Later, when the mills are COM
pleted and the population becomes of a
more permanent character, the field will
be large enough for each denomination
to stand alone. and the union mission
work can be given over advantageously
to their hands.
There is abundant opportunity in
rural Maine for such work as the COM
mission is doing. As an example OF
what it is accomplishing in its quie:
but effective way the New York OBJ
server tells of a Maine town where. in
1892, religious services were intermit-
tent. and vice common. In that year
home missionary went to the place
Now there are two self-supporting
churches, services are held in three
schOolhouses, three. six and nine miles
distant from the town every Sunday
and the two pastors, of different de-
nominations, are said to be working in
perfect harmony along the lines of the
Observation-Disclosures commission. The
general conclusion Of the Investigators
is that the existing condition is encour-
aging and healthful; that the tendency
is not downward, but upward; and that
the good, which now prevails, should
be considered a vantage ground for
further successes, not only in Maine
but all over New England