Daily Kennebec journal., 1902-06-04
State Convention Opened in
This City, Yesterday.
Body Welcomed to the City by Gov.
ernor John F. Hill.
Reports Show Denomination to Be in
Prosperous Condition.

|
this city. There was a large attend
ance of delegates from different parts
of the State. In fact, there was more
| than the average number of delegates
| present foran opening session. Among
| the clergymcn present at this session
were the following: Rev. Messrs. w.
H. Gould, Dexter, c. K. Teemey, Au-
| burn, VIM. j. Taylor, Lewiston, j. +.
| Rhoades, Fairfield, Il. III. Chaplin,
Rockland, l.. w. Coons, Pittsfield, w.
w. Hooper, Deering, f. w. Webber,
| Hallowell, II. +. Moulton, Biddeford,
DR.. Bisbee, Boston, editor of the Chris
tian Leader.
The convention was called to order
by the president, Brother A. ]. Mer-
rill Bangor and Rev. j. M. Atwood
of the Church of the Messiah, Port
land, offered prayer.
The president then introduced His
EXccllency, Governor John +. Hill, to
make the address of welcome. Gov
ernor Hill extended a gracious and cor
dial welcome to the delegates. Il am
glad" said he, ITO have you meet here
at the capital of the State and l bid
you cordial welcome. The Univer-
salist church, which you represent is
doing 4 noble work in the upbuiding
of the human race and | trust that
your deliberations here at this time
will add greatly to the advancement
of the socictys work. l shall be
pleased to receive you at the Executive
chamber before you depart from our
city. Again l bid you a hearty well
come to Augusta
The Governors brief address was
received with applause, and then Prcsi-
dent Merrill, in behalf of the conven-
ton, thanked His Exccllency for the
kind words he had spoken and for the
expressions of sympathy in the work
of the church which he had made.
The balance of the forenoon was
taken up i'll reports of officers of the
various societies connected with the
convention. The report of the eXecu-
tive committee was the most important,
as it covered every detail of church
work for the year. 1t was submitted
by A. j. Merrill, w. II. Gould, Charles
5. Hichborn, Nj. b. Coolidge and w. w.
Hooper, who are the officers of the
convention. The following is an alb
stract of the report:
"The Mattawamkeag church was
dedicated last summer. Its cost was
$2l50. A church organization and a
Y. z. c. L. were formed during the
year. The successful Sunday school
| and Y. z. &. L.. meetings are held every
Sunday, quite Il number of preaching
services having been held, sermons
| by laymen have been read and good
attendance has been maintained. The
| debt has been reduced till it is now
| not more than $3.50 or $40O. The North
| Frycburg church, after extensive re-
pairs and improvements, has been re-
dedicated during the year. AS North
Fryeburg now has a regular pastor,
Rev III. ii. Hoyt of Hiram, the out
| look is cheering.
The Andover church has been COM
pletcd and will be dedicated, the last
| of June, free of debt. It's cost must
have been $1,000 or more The history
| of the building of this church is un-
usual in that the friends built what
| they could pay for, then stopped and
waited awhile and built and paid till
at last the building has been finished
| without an unmet obligation and Will
make them IA pleasant church home.
At Dixfcld under Rev. NJ. Il. Town
sends efficient leadership, the church
| is being improved, largely, at cost
of from $500 to $3.50, and will be
practically new, and WILL by fall, prob
ably be rededicated.
At Machias, where the beautlful
church had been burdened with ter
rible debt, the brave souls who are so
faithful there resolved to make an ei-
fort to lessen the obligations out
against them, so at the last conVen-
ton at Bangor, with the faithful anc
sacrificing pastor, Rev. |. w. Cote, you
helped to make plans for campaign.
Rev. Geo. l.. Perrin, ID. D., kindly put
in Sunday at Machias and $1954-S2
has been paid and subscribed, 50 the
debt now is $2727.41, which all feel can
be handled. Those who know the
situation understand the necessity and
the value of this great step. Rev. MISS
Fannie f.. Austin, the successor OF
Brother Cote, is finely carrying on the
work at Machias. The Dover and Fox
croft parish and its devoted pastor,
Rev. III. l.. Garfield. are to be con-
graduated on the wiping out of their
entire indebtedness, which has blocked
the church wheels, hitherto. Sunday,
Nav Is, announcement was made that
notes to the extent of $3.50 had been
cancelled and pledges as good as gold
made for the balance of the debt. $500.
This places the parish on a much more
encouraging footing for future con-
tinued noble work. Congress Square,
Portland, has raised its entire debt of
S45OO. The pastor, Rev. DR. Blanchard,
and people, have done well. Gardiner.
Rev. w. Il. Small. pastor, has paid $3.50
on its debt. The Church of the Mes
siah, Portland. Rev. ]. Murray Atwood.
| pastor, has paid s440.50; Sangerville.
Rev. A. NJ. Bradley, pastor, has paid
$50. Looking over our churches in
] Maine, it seems as if they were in Il
very excellent financial condition as
| far as debts are concerned. Not more
| than seven or eight have debts of any
size and some of these are more than
offset by funds belonging to the parish.