Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1902-08-06

"s"os tpefM Nhtlstian churches was held
at Bar Harbor July % aud 30.
OPENING ADDRESS.
The conferences opened on the evening
OF July - with preaching service. Rev,
II. IL. Sanderson, OF Dorchester, Mass.
spoke on the ''Plan Of Religion In World
OF Law.
People, he said, used to think of the
world as collection of unrelated facts
and forces. Religion, therefore, partook
OF the same character, God was supposed
70 act in hokle and capricious way.
HIS viii was not conformsbIe to law.
Az men began to see that law and order
prevailed, they crowded religion out into
the reign of the supernatural and chaotic.
GODS presence and activity were felt
not In the Law and order, but In the I'M
usual, the miraculous, the mysterious,
Religion, however, ought to see God In
the natural, not merely ia the supernat-
arsi, 10 the order and regulation OF the
uniyerse,no simply In its choatic and un-
usual aspects.
Religion should regard all this law and
order as the expression of the thought and
| life OF God.
MORNING SESSION.
The morning session opened with a
devotional service conducted by X. s..
Forbes, who has charge OF the summer
work at Sullivan.
Then followed the business meeting.
In the temporary absence of the presl-
dent, ID. Y. Mcfarland, Rev. ii. IL. San
derson was elected chairman.
l.. b. Dcasy, OF Bar Harbor, welcomed
the delegates, and the usual committees
were appointed.
The secretary, Ia his report, had urged
the need OF closer organization. In ac-
eofdsncc with this suggestion a COM
mittee was appointed TO look Into the
matter and report later in the day.
The firs, address OF the morning session
was by Rev. W. NJ. Btundsge, who took
Tor his subject, "rhe Church and the
People,
The speaker emphasized the fact that
the church was not a social club, neither
phIlsnthropio institution, nor a source
for intellectual eniig htment. The club.
tho charitable associations. the press aud
the college have usurped these functions
Of the church. They can do these things
so much better that tho church is not
able 10 compete with them.
The special feature OF the church Is that
OF worship. Its chief aim Is that of in
spiration. To make God real and near to
men and women, to interpret our modern
life In the light of religion, is the highest
purpose of the Christian church.
THE =. p. r. U.
The second address was by }. IL.
Holmes, president OF the Young Peoples
religious union. Mr.. Holmes described
the origin, the history and the work OF
the union, and spoke OF the great need Of
organized religion among our young
people.
The conference was glad OF the oppor-
tuniiy OF listening TO SIR. Holmes address
upon such an important topic, After a
long discussion luncheon was provided by
the ladies OF the Bar Hsrbor church.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The afternoon session opened at 80
with bri~i devotional service conducted
by Mr.. Foote, of Northeast Harbor. This
was followed by a short business meeting.
Reports from the various churches were
called tor, and all the churches, with the
exception OF Csstine and Prospect Harbor,
responded. The number OF delegates at
tending the conference was 10.
The following officers were chosen !;
President, l.. b. Deasy, Bar Hsrbor; vice.
president, Rev. Ii. II. Ssnderson, Dorches-
ter, Mass. secretary and treasurer. Rev.
A. ~. coar, Ellsworth.
The customary resolutions were
adopted.
The committee on organization pre-
sented he following report:
RcsoIvsd. That an executive committee be
chossp 20 represent the outward organization
Of liberal Chri-tiaHs In Hancock county.
Any church which 20 desires 10 invited to
eject one member to such committee. and any
church % represented is to be regarded as a
| member OF the conference.
This purpose OF this organization ia TO
streng then the feeling Of fellowship among the
! iaoi,led churches of the county and inspire and
| aid them TO continue active work throughout
the ar.
This report was accepted.
The first address OF the afternoon SEES
sion was by Rev. c. r. Dole, who spoke
ON the Modern Thought of God".
That may be called modern, said Mr..
Dole, which matches with our thought
about other things. The old thought OF
God was that OF greater man, sitting on
throne. God was thought OF as Jealous
God, ehsngesble In His moods.
sach a thought Is no longer modern,
because IL does not harmonic with our
ethical and scientific conceptions. The
modern thought of God is that OF uni
yersal spirit. The world is the expression
OF His thought and life.
The speaker then went on to show how
this thought was as rich and full as the
old thought; how 1t deepened and
strengthened our experience OF God and
thus enriched the essence of religion
which is the consciousness Of the presence
OF God.