Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-09-13
HALLOWELL.
xENNEBEc BAPTIST CHURCHES.
Interesting Facts in Resardto Condition Given
al Convention.


bee Baptist convention the following
interesting report on the state Of re-
ligion was rendered by Rev. A. r.
. RingoId ~ Gardiner:
OF our - churches. Is have reported.
only five churches report baptisms and
these but few; two churches each re-
port having baptized one. one church
reports TWO. another three and one
other four. The large church at Wa
terviilc reports the largest number
baptized. but that only 10. In all there
arv reported y baptized, as against 4
II last year. ] believe no church re-
ports any special revival for the year.
M the ~ churches that have re-
ported, seven show a slight falling of
in amount Of benevolent offerings; one
Of our strongest churches shows a de-
crease Of nearly so per cent. One or
! two churches have fallen below last
| years offerings for certain objects but
! have raised their amounts for certain
other offerings. and so just about hold
| their own on the whole.
These are some unfavorable show
| ir.gs Of our statistics. Now let us note
some rather more favorable and the
first Of these is the good tone Of the
church letters as read to us this year.
The letters not only brea the a hopeful
spirit. but seem to show determined
and courageous effort for the coming
wear This, it must be confessed. IS
due partly. at least, to the good style
in which the letters were read, thing
that is to be heartily commended. 1t
ii painful to have reports. even good
REPORTS, 50 poorly read that they seem
to comic HmpinG in as though they
wore telling wrong tale. This is q
had practice and so properly has place
in a report on the state Of religion ana
irralicion in the churches. This year j.
encouraging along this line. The reader
or readers of the letters ought TO have
The time to get reasonably familiar
With tie facts Of the letters and with
their hieroglyphics before undertaking
IN read them. The letters this year
were for the most part good ana strong
and true to steadfast faith
Several of the churches report their
being apparently on the point q r.
vival interest or even of expected mar
vest. Many of them speak Of tue
eaithfuJ earnest and strong sermons
in their pulpits, which reports are
doubtless a surprise to the pastors
.inuhtIess likewise q rather gratifying
surprise. 49,,
A. IN the benevolences, one OF the
favorable features this year IS what
seems ~ be d thoughtful and careful
distrihutiOn of benevolent funds ana
n
upon one or two specially 1aNofite "
iects. This is a favorable showing 10
ward system and toward prayeriu'
observation-disclosures wisdom IN CIV
mo As an offset to what is Just re-
norted in a falling off with some OF the
,hurcbas il is gratifying to report tiiat
mo waterville church. always large III
its offerings. this year increased illoie
than 30 per cent. over last year oiie.
ipcS 10 henevolenceS, but or course ~
j. our largest church and has srea'
nur,har Of ministers in its memoersIip
uaIIovell church has SURPASSED We,
tarville proportionately: it has douo'eu
III last years offering To beneVoienes
But two little churches in the ~, T.n,,
trv have outstripped all oil US ,,r
Are under the pastoral cart
soraly afflicted brother. b. H. Inns
Thev are the Sidney and Wesf oiune
chrrcbes Think of that little chu.[ ~
a1 sidney Of "a members GiVhib 80.
IN benevolent objects. l undersl"'i =,
thev themselves do not know Viz. III
came from. and perhaps thls = III.
v-,v If ought to he. not TO lei s"", y,
hand know what your rishl h'' !.
don,h II they do not know "neie
oor,a from they know where IL soe.
IN that is best Of all. "est oiu
Iast YEAR gave $3.50 to beheNo'en, ~
tbis ear sl9.25. am not good AT "
,ros hut that looks like an licre's :.
e yearly 500 per cent. Comment .
| unnecessary. ,,.o,o,+ mr.
rho total offerings to benevolent p.
/, noses this year amount 70 s'''0. Ia
AT year. s355S.02. Statistics are n,
a1,,.ovs facts. especially religious Sc Sc
is,ics They are scarcely more ,
IL nroverbial straw that tells VIZ
.,o, rho wind blows If our staus"
teu this. we may congratuia,e. our
sa,vos III 4 favorable breeze ~ nau
,,;li,s as we set out upon tn's u.
.aar Nav our Kennebec fleet ras,
INA ricI, cargo into 1.-THE maven =
A.. ,a Mrs Warren arrlveu =.
pa]tar THURSDAY. and went DIRE. ~
the Lake for few weeks
Camp Aljomawajon.