The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1901-10-03
THE CONGREGATIONAL coNFrRrNcr

THE CONGREGATIONAL CONFERENCE
The 10Th conference of the Congregation.
Al churches in the State of Maine opened in
day, Sept. oath, DR.. Smith Baker Of Porf I%Ts-
land. presiding. There was an unnsnailv
| large attendance. At O'Clock a devntional
service was led by DR.. Baker followed Nv q
report OF the corresponding secretary. Rev
Z, N. Cummings of Biddeford, who said.
Inc slgnlhcant and serious fact that we
face today is an actual decline in member
ship Of 4o4 during the past year. or oRir combin-
ing !ne TWO past years of 64O This is a
c0ndltlOn that we have not Witnessed at
least Tor this generation, and one that NAV
well challenge our deepest attention. It is
aot condltlon that can be accounted for
by any unusual losses, either by revision or
otherwise. But our losses are fomnd in that
yltal spot, additions ON confession of faith.
LaSC year the number so received. 442 was
tHe SiiaileSt Tor almost 40 years, but this
year the number, 1856, is u per cent less
sn,.,a saam las! year. May we not well ask our
rent now evidently setting SO strongly in a
wrong direction? Some things have been
attempted since the close of our statistical
year last december to meet our present
needs, but with what results other reports
VIII SHOW: Official reports have not been
gathered, but there does not appear to be
evidence of any marked Improvement in
passed
The work among the young as indicated
py reports for the Sunday schools and
1oung Peoples societies is practically the
same as year ago. The same may be said
of our contributors to our larger benevolent
socletles Our gifts of $1O,516 to foreign
work, Sl,116 to education, $11,63S to home
work, S4, 1874 to the A. NJ A., are surpriS-
lngly close parallel to the figures OF a year
ago, while the 81, ,761 to church building is a
gain OF $500 over the previous year and the
$657 to Sunday school work loss of 81 200
from @ the annual figures of the former year.
The total benevolence is $50, ,SS1, an advance
S7,659, during the past two years. The home
expenditures reported are ,596, an in
crease OF $4,000 over the last year.
The reports from delegates to correspond
by Rev. }. NJ. Frost of the Grace Methodist
church, Rev. A. E. Kingsley of the First
baptist and Rev. Wilbur F. Berry of the
Maine Civic League.
At the meeting of the Maine Missionary
President, Prof. H. S. Chapman; vice presi-
dent, j. G. Warren, Esq; corresponding
secretary. Rev. Charles Harbutt; recording
secretary, II. w. Kimball; treasurer, Will
liam +. Hubbard; trustees for three years,
Rey g; S: Mills, Rev. B. S: Rideout. Prof.
g. B. Hiscock, Rev. c. D. Crane, Rev. Nor
man Mckinnon, Rev William B. Hague,
Rey. A. P. Mcdonald, Manley Hardy, Galen
c. Moses, E. E. Parkhurst.
The annual meeting of the Woman's Aid
to the A. M. A. was held in the vestry of
the church at 9.45 O'Clock. Besides routine
business officers were elected as follows:
President, Mrs. Geo. S. Peaslee, Auburn :;
vice president, Mrs. W. C. Curtis, Brown
vile, secretary, Mrs. William Hayes, Au-
burn; treasurer, Mrs. Helen NJ. Davis,
BuckSport.
The committee to decide the next place for
the conference have chosen Bath.
memorial service was held for the late
Rev. j. E. Adams, d. D. of Bangor, former
pastor at Searsport. who was long connected
with the Maine Missionary society, and
who was president of the Maine Charitable
society.
The report of the committee ON creden-
tials showed that the total representation
was 1s4. with 81 pastors.
Rev. r. T. Hack of Portland, formerly of
Belfast, was elected an alternate to the Ma
tional council, and Mr.. Hack and Rev. Geo.
5. Mills OF Belfast are on the executive
committee.
The report of the treasurer of the Maine
Missionary society showed the receipts, in
Guiding S10.53 on hand at last report, to be
S15, 70; the disbursements, S15, 1864,
Following is the report of the work in the
Waldo County Conference:
This, the smallest of the conferences, in
point of number of churches, sestill active.
The work in Jackson and Brooks has pros
pered under Rev. F. w. Barker. The new
church at the latter place has just been
dedicated as Union church. There is no
ecclesiastical organization in Brooks, but it
is hoped that in time, with the exercise of
patience and tact, all difficulties which are
in the way of the formation of church
may be overcome. Freedom keeps on do
ing good faithful work under the many dis
couragements. Frankfort is again moving
fora resident pastor and with every promise
of success.
The Bangor Commercial had the follow
ing complimentary notice of pastor:
Rev. F. W. Barker of Brooks was the first
speaker. There has been no pastor during
| all the sessions of the conference who has
| created more favorable impression than
this young man from a small parish, a grad
uate of Bangor seminary. He was elo-
quent. logical and his words were fired
with depth of sincerity that went home.
Mr. Barker dwelt on the great need for
the emphasizing of the message, for pre-
Senting it in all the points, in all the strength
| that pastors could summon. In closing the
| reverend speaker was cut short by the time
limit. But he had said enough to move his
| hearers.