Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-10-06

Merrill, a graduate of Dartmouth Col
lcGe. For many years he had given
instruction to young men studying for
the ministry. Some of these young
men were made familiar with Baptist
views while engaged in evangelical
work. Mr.. Merrill commenced an in
vcstiSation of the scriptures with the
design of showing to these students the
unscrlpturalness of the Baptist posi-
ton, with the result, however, that
he himself became convinced of the
umscripturainesS of his own position,
and soon, instead Of a Congregational
church in S"dgwick there was Il Bap-
fist church, with Daniel Merrill as it's
pastor. What this meant to the
EaptiSts in the district of Maine at
that time it is not difficult to UNDER
stand. The growth of the denomina-
ton vas rapid. In 1910 there We're III
churches and 1887 members. In 1925
there were 1870 churches and 11,519
members. The wilderness had bios
somrd as the rose.
Reference was made to the OrGaniZa-
ton at length transferred this work to
ut Hcadfield, June "A, 1924 1t was de-
signed to bring the churches into a
closer fellow ship and to secure unity of
action in the general work of the de-
nomination, but it also undertook some
missionary work, so that as the mis-
Sionary work developed the BaptiSts
of Maine had two organizations prose-
cutting this work. After a while the
missionary society ceased its opera
tons and allowed the convention to do
the missionary work of the dcnOmina
ton.
The circumstances We're narrated in
accordance with which the conven-
ton atlen%th transferred this work to
the missionary society which hence
forward for many years was the sole
organ of the domestic missionary work
of the BaptiStS of Maine. The impor-
lance of the work WAS more and more
emphasized. In 1916 an agent was en-
pl"ycd for the collection of funds and
the contributions from year to year
We're greatly increased III 1874. at
the scmi-centennial Of the missionary
society, announcement was derived
from the fact that the society's re-
c"ipts for the year bad been upwards
of $1,000
The coming of Rev. VIM. II. Smaller
and Rev. Geo. w. BosWorth to pastor
atcS in Portland about that time was
strong reinforcement to the society
in its work. DR.. BOSWOrth was elected
president of the society in 1898. and in
1919 DR.. Smaller was made chairman
of Il committee on The Method and
Scope of the Operations of the Society
The Influence of such strong. wise,
mastcrful men added to that of the
workers ministers and laymen-lonS
connected with The missionary society,
gave Il powerful impetus to its oper-
ationS; ANA everything bctokcned an
advance movement along the whole
line. when like a storm the civil War
burst upon the country. 1t was feared
that in its destructive sweep interests
would be involved upon which the
cfurC he's were placing a higher esti-
mate than at any previous time in
their history; but while the churches
in their membership were largely rep
resented in the Maine regiments on
the great battlctieldS of the rebellion
as we'll as in the operations of the
navy. and all possible aid was brought
by the churches to che support of the
government, the work of the mission
AIRY society was not allowed to suffer.
On the contrary, during the last two
years Of the war, the contributions Of
the churches for this work were in
creased and the society was enabled to
extend its missionary operations.
When the war closed the note for an
advance movement was at once
sounded. The Maine Baptist Mission
AIRY Society and the Maine Baptist con-
V"ntion were united in 1867 by a legis-
lative act. The country had had d
new birth. and on every side there was
energy "nd activity in the develop
mcnt of our great material resources.
In the UNCONVENTIONAL life Of the Bap-
fists Of Maine there was from this
time on like energy and activity. What
a work has been wrought!
In 1904 the Baptists of Maine had
only Sc churches with 1929 members.
There are now in the same territory
246 churches with POOLS members.
Then, the number of ordained Baptist
ministers in Maine was about 40.
Now there are 147. one hundred years
ago the contributions of the churches
for missionary work in the State
only. The contributions Of the
churches last year were $4,3S365.
while the total benevolent cOntribu |
ti"ns of the churches amounted to S26, |
1850. At the beginning of the CEN
fury the HaptiStS in Maine had no in |
vested funds yielding an annual lin !
come in aid of State missionary work |
Now the invested funds of the Maine |
BAPTIST Missionary convention amount
to sl79 3Go.64.
IN 1904 the Raptists in oxford cOun /
ty laid the foundations Of Hebron
Academy. Now tho Baptists of Maine
hay" Colby College and its four affili
at"d CHd"mics-Hehron. Coburn. /
Kicker and HigEins-with about 900
students in All ana possessing proper
~ ana endoWmentS Of the value Of
morc than a million dollars. OF Pap H
fist church Property in Maine in 1904 .
W" have no estimate but it repre-
scented only f"W thousand dollars.
IN" church property of the Baptists of
Main" has now 4 value of $10l3,S50
IN" denomination has now a goodIy
heritage AMI is well equipped for its
great and growing work.