The Portland daily press., 1900-09-27
Second Day Of Congregational Con-
ference.
Meeting Maine Mission.
airy Society.
Secret ary's Report Shows Net
Loss in Membership.

Augusta, September 96-The second
days programme OF the 74th general con-
ference of Congregational churches in
Maine and the 93rd anniversary OF the
Maine Missionary society, now meeting
in this city, was replete with meetings
continuing through the day and largely
attended.
at the Maine Missionary society meet
Ing, this morning, the reports OF the OIL
GERS were taken up.
The report of the secretary, Rev.
Charles Harbutt is as Follows:
SECKETARY'S REPORT.
The reports sent in by the pastors of the
missionary churches are not Of hopeful
kind. Thirty -four, at least, show no in
crease, tWenty-six OF them show an actual
decrease; thirty-seven show an Increase.
Yhe total increase is one hundred and
and thirty, thus leaving a net loss of
twenty-One. 1t is perhaps, scarcely fair to
judge the spiritual condition of church
by the number OF additions to its men,
bership. The secretary was long enough
in the country pastorate to know that
cO41ClAAACD OLO clOAbAO4 W AcllOcIb1lU 10 Ut
one conversion, IN some of the country
parishes means more travail of soul, the
output of more spiritual energy than a
dozen such would mean in many anoth-
or parish. There are parishes and par
ishes. Still this does in a measure, tell
what thespastOr and churches are together
accomplishing. If we take into account
the fact that only 65 out Of the one hun.
dred and twelve additions were upon con
fession OF fatth 1t still further emphasizes
the manifest failure to attain to thu de-
sired results In the building up Of the
churches 1t is less than an average OF one
each tor the aided churches. Is there
not a need of an awakening in ali the
churchesG Many OF them have been SC
busy over the material interests, repairs,
new paint, new carpets, new furnaces,
ETC., that the fact OF their existing as an
agency to save men from sin and tC
bring them into fellowship with Jesus
Christ seems to have been overlooked IN
a measure.
A good word for the pastors OF the
churches is in order. Taken as whole
the pastors of our missionary churches
are Is faithful and efficient set or man
as can be found In any church The
work Of some OF them, IN the face oil
great difficulties, has been simply heroic
The devotion of some of them to tneil
work IN spite of small salary, and thai
not paid with any too great regularity, Il
a standing refuta ton OF the charge thai
men today are going into the ministry
for the money there Is in It. That is not
true of the Maine Missionary Society
Many OF the salaries of our missionary
pastors ar. Inadequate to the services
rendered.
Next In Importance is the matter OF
support. In view OF the existing deficit
this is a burning question. -Four churchel
this year disappear from the Society 4
books; Andover and Fort Fairfield by
coming to self-suppOrt. Pittston by be-
ing yoked with South Gardner, and Mer.
Ger by being dropped on the recommended
zion of the local trustee. But to offset
these, North Yarmouth, York Second,
Orland and Neazie come upon the list
for the first time, at any rats. for many
years. The decrease IN grants amount to
$500 and the increase is 500. Only three
churches ask for a decrease, two OF s25
ana one of 500. The Increasing demand
for missionaries to be stationed In the
spareely settled localities in some Of our
Conferences, gives point to the question
While there Is no desire on the part OF
the trustees TO unduly press the matter of
selI-BuppOrr on any church, it cannot be
denied that some OF our aided churchos
might be doing a little more than they
are for themselves. With only little
more hard work on the part of church
finance committee SD or $50 might very
easily Do 340tU 10 inc huOeCTIOLlOu
per IN most OF our villages But the fact
is that some churches askthe same amount
as in former years with unfailing reru-
larity, on the basis of ASK and We shall
receive
1t is true also, that with a little more
thought in some quarters, and a little
mora enthusiasm in others, sufficient
money coul1 be raised in this State to
carry forward the work OF the society
Without the embarrassment of shortage in
receipts and debt Analysis OF the figures
Will demonstrate this The society fell
behind last year about s., 1O7. OF course
we can see how easily this could have
been avoided If legacies had been avail
able as in the previous year, when 81. 935
OF Legacy money was used to pay bills, as
against SS60 this year, a difference Of
-, O67. But we are concerned about the
gifts of the living. LeavinE-out the spec-
ial donations to the society work, wnioh
amount to 81, l34.5O, the receipts from
churches and individuals would fall
short of last year. Taking only the
churches where the increase or decrease
IN donations have exceeded S3J, the de-
crease IS 81, OU6 50 against 1876 Increase
Fourteen churches are responsible for the
decrease and seven for the increase. Cum
berland conference alone is responsible
Tor seven OF the Items Of decrease and has
only one increase. An analysis of these
items would be Interesting It is certain
that no society dependent for its support
upon limited and hxedioonstituency can
successfully stand up against such fuot-
uations as these. 1T would be Interesting
TO know why these churches have allowed
this wide discrepancy, ana who is respon-
81 BILE for it.
Severo' churches show a very honorable
record IN the other direction. One which
gave nothing last year has contribu
BlO2, while another has increased from
VI to $50, and still another from $50 to
SlO0. The question is forced upon ma.
Are not the pastors in a certain zense
This much is certain. that
where old standards are maintained or