The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1904-06-16
WALDO COUNTY CONFERENCE
Of Congre gational Churches Held in Bel
fast June 14th.


fast June 14th.
The annual meeting of the Waldo County
Conference of Congregational Churches was
held with the church in Belfast, Tuesday,
June 14th. The morning session was called
to order by Rev. E. E. Colburn of Brooks.
Prayer was offered by Rev. j. R. Wilson of
Frankfort. Harry NJ. Prentss of Belfast
was elected Moderator and Rev. j. R. Will
son of Frankfort, Scribe and Treasurer.
The meeting then adjourned for the noon
hour.
The afternoon session was opened with a
devotional service led by Rev. E. E. Col
burn, the congregation singing "Nearer,
My God, to Thee" Prayer was offered by
Rev. E. E. Colburn.
The moderator then took the chair and
the reports of the churches were given.
Belfast reported new members received
and 5 died, total membership, IA. The re-
cent resignation of the pastor leaves the
church handicapped at present The Chris
tian Endeavor Society pays for a soprano
singer for the church and contributes to
other expenses. The Sunday school is doing
much good.
North Belfast has added and has died.
The church membership is 45; Sunday
school, so; Christian Endeavor, 15 The
church has student supply three months
each year and maintains sunday school and
c. E. meetings the year around.
Brooks is a new church and no statistics
were given. The pastor reported a steady
gain and an increase in the Sunday school
OF IS per cent. under new methods of work.
Frankfort has Sunday school with an
average attendance of so. Two branch
Sunday schools are maintained.
Freedom has large attendance, as the
Academy pupils attend church when in
town. The outlook for the summers work
is encouraging.
jackson reports no additions and death.
The Sunday school averages "a. The church
debt is nearly paid. The average attend
ance of men at the preaching services is 50
per cent.
Standpoint has added 3 to the member
ship. They have supply from the Ban
gor Seminary during the summer and occa-
sional preaching at other times. The Sun
day school and Christian Eudeavor Society
searsport First has 100 members; 1 has
died and l been added. There is good
degree of interest The Sunday school
numbers IS. with an average winter at
tendance of 80, summer 60. The Christian
Endeavor Society has 101 members.
Searsport Second has no change in men,
bership, a. The Sunday school is we'll at
tended and books have been added to the
library. The Christian Endeavor Society
mas Il dCLlV6 members.
Winterport has no pastor, but has added
3 new members.
The topic, sThe second service, what
shall we do with t?" was opened by Rev.
c. w. Hawkesworth of Freedom He re-
ferred to the lack of young people in the
second Sunday service, and discussed some
of the causes that led to it. Many reme
dies have been tried, which work famous
ly for awhile and then the interest flags
Among these are StereOpticOn entertain
ments, special musical attractions, discuss
ing social questions and so-called stvesper
services" 1t will be a sad day when the
church is changed to social gathering
We want the Gospel, both in words and
song. When we meet for true worship, to
talk and sing and listen to the Gospel, then
the question will be solved.
Rev. E. E. Colburn spoke along the same
lines. He believes in preaching the Cos
pei and never lectures from the pulpit of
the house of God.
Rev. ". Is. Hayes, General Missionary of
the Maine Missionary Society, was intro
duced and given the courtesies of the Con-
ference. He thinks it well to try expert
ments, and, when one fails try another, and
keep trying until success comes He has
found it to work well to have a social meet
ing with very brief address by the pastor
for the evening service.
Rev. I. P. Williams of Searsport has
found union meeting of the Christian
Endeavor and the church to work we'll in
Rev, f. f. colburn spoke on '.How may
greater interest in religion be taken by
men?' Man possesses dual nature-of the
earth, earthly, of heaven, heavenly. There is
a lack of religious training in the home, and
its place is taken by education for business,
for appearance in society, etc. The better
part of our natures is left unframed. He
believes that while the secret orders have
tendency in many cases to draw men away
from the church yet he would work with
and through them, doing good wherever
possible among the members. He, himself,
is member of several different orders.
Rev. J. W. Hatch, pastor of the Methodist
church of Belfast, was introduced and
given the courtesies of the convention.
II. NJ. Prentiss said that while not a
member of any secret society he believed
church members should work with the
orders and DO all the good possible with
and through the members. If men can be
given work in the church they will be-
come interested.
1t was voted to hold the next conference
with the church in North Belfast.
Rev. 7. P. Williams was chosen to preach
the conference sermon at the next session.
The matter of doing away with the confer
ence sermon was referred to the committee
OF arrangements.
The following were appointed as the COM
mittee of arrangements, Rev. j. r. Wilson,
w. ". I1dtCn, heV. f. r. COlDurn.
Rev. c. W. Hawkesworth was appointed
visitor to the Bangor Seminary.
Revs. T. p. Williams and J. r. Wilson
were appointed to conduct the communion
service, to be assisted by DeacOns Howard
Small of Th0rndike and Shepherd Blanch-
ard of Standpoint.
Rev. j. r. Wilson spoke on 'sThe Bible,
constructive force in life" He SPOKE of
the value of the Bible for it's literature,
history, poetry and philosophy, but its
chief value is as revelation of the will of
God to man. He compared the Christian
conception of God with those of the various
heather nations, the Bible of David with
the ideas of Homer, Plato and others.
The evening session opened with praise
service led by Rev. T. P. Williams, and
prayer by Rev. c. w. HawkeswOrth. Mod
eraLor Prentiss then took the chair and in
troduced Rev. w. D. Hayes, who gave an
account of some of the work of the Maine
Missionary Society, especially in Northern
ArOOstOOk and on the island OF Matinicus.
The society needs not only the financial
support of its friends, but their moral sup
port and prayers. During the past years
10 new Congregational churches have been
organized in Maine; two churches that had
been closed and one that was suspended
have been recognized, and there has been
a gain in the membership of the denomina-
tion.
Prof. II. w. Hubert, D. D., of Bangor
Theological Seminary, opened with brief
reference to the Seminary, its work, and
its value to the denomination in training
young men for work in which there is an
urgent CALL Waldo county, he said is not
1n ,fr h,,% 70,