Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-04-08
THE METHODISTS
Holding Forth at East Maine
Conference at PittsfieId.
Profitable Session Now in Progress
in Somerset Town.
Meetings Of Several Branches Of So
eiety, Thursday.

Pittsfeld, Maine. April 7.-(SpeciaD
The morning session of the East Maine
Conference was a devotional service at
the Manson Street church at $50 under
the leadership of Bishop Vincent. The
meeting was very Interesting and was
| largely attended. Delegates and
visitors still continue to arrive, several
| coming on the morning trains.
The business session OF the Confer
ence opened at . O'Clock with the bishop
presiding. Considerable routine bust
ness was disposed of at this time.
The reports of the presiding elders
occupied d large amount of time but
were extremely interesting. Reports
were made by Rev d. b. Dow of Old
town, of the Bangor District; F. l..
Haywood of Bucksport. Of the Bucks
port District: 7. F. Jones of Thomas
ton, OF the Rockland District.
At this session the following minis
tiers passed in character and were elect
cd super;,nnuate preachers:
L. NJ. Fowler, l.. D. Wardwell. Z. A.
Glidden, j. \. Marsh, ]. A. Morel:n, 4.
r. Pentecost, J. II. Baker ]. d. Pay
son. S. NJ. Small, james W. Day, Jacob
III. Bartlett.
Pros. Day. Moreln and Bartlett ad
dressed the conference. The Others
| were unable to be present.
Rev. james w. Day was very much
affected and was only able to speak
after considerable struggle with his
emotions. He said in part:
| Il have lren member of this col-
| ference for Al years. The records viii
show that | have been faithful on every
! charge. | thank you Tor : Iur kindness
and forebcarance to me. l have been
| ten years III the presiding eldership,
and have nioycd myself during the
time. and hope my Ilbors and efforts
have been satisfactory. it costs NE 4
| great struggle to stand here today ana
ask to be superannuat2d. / ann rs
anxious to continue in active service in
1.-THE Methodist church as ut any lime in
lmy life, and | don't know but what
| more so but old age and broken health
| forbid. An abscess in my ear last fall
| rendered me unfit for active service. ]
| should have asked to be Superannuated
at the last session of the conference
but SO many were leaving that I
thought hest To remain another year.
ask your prayers that although In
capacitatCd may while | remain here
on Garth pro.e true to the cause. and
| do every thing in my power to advance
Christianity"
Following Ero. Days remarks sew
cral members Of the conference, among
whom was Rev. T.. VI. Roynton of
Brewer gave beautiful testimonies and
Incidents of Mr.. Days wonderful influ-
encc and power over their lives.
Rev. Mr.. Day was elected conference
historian.
II Rev. G.. G.. Winslow Of Wiscasset
was requested by the conference to
preach tho annual sermon next year.
1t VAS moved that the Rules of Or
der" he published in the Year Book Of
the Conference.
H The afternoon session, the Confer
cncc Claimants Anniversary, With Roy.
|, w. Il. Dukoshirc of OronO presiding,
began ut 80.
i Tic address Of the afternoon was
given by Rev. u. II. Trib"u. y. D..
chaplain Of the United States Navy on
the receiving ship Wabash. Mr.. Fri
bou's discourse WIS very interesting
ana was listened to by a large audience.
He said in part:
At its last session the Conference
rotci to have an anniversary this year
devoted to the consideration of the
host methods OF providing for the worm
ort preachers. ana the widows and or
phans of prca rhcrs. IN accordance
with that vote we arc assembled here
today.
These worn out preachers, with the
widows and orphans. are known rs
conference claimants. The earliest
records of the church show that tn"
original intention OF those VINO founded
American Metho1ism was that all the
members of this class should share and
share alike with the effective minis
tcrs. In those days thnrc We're no sop
laratc Conferences such as VIC now
have. hut one compact body of men al
helor ging to the same conference
This compact body was an army. az
which there were several divisions. but
the same discipline and the same
rights. The soldiers of that army
looked to the church at large for their
support, and the church recognized the
claim of each and every one rs long as
he remained in good neutrality-suspicious.
CT h" were actually fighting on the bat
'tle!lire. or temporarily. or permacent-
~. laid aside by sickness. asc or disa-
hilty. Every surcrannua;ed minister
had his regular allowance, precisely
the same as his more vigorous brother
That was well. 1t was. and is, the only
logical method in correctional
church. We departed from the Very
foundation principles when we made
"FnntcTencc Claimants.
These claimants are supported a!- the
: revenues from the Book Concern. the
dividends of a fund founded by Bishop
Asbury. called the Chartered Fund. by
the income of Conference invested
; funds and by annual collections made
in the public congregations.
1t ought to be said at the beginning
that the East Maine Conference Is one
of which we may be proud when we
consider what orr peOple are contrib