The Somerset reporter., 1904-10-13
Maine Bapfists.

nhInC oAPtAStb'
The Maine Baptist Convention was
held in Waterville, last week, closing,
Thursday evening. IL was the centen-
NAL meeting of the organization In the
state and as largely attended.
On Wednesday Rev. c. <. Owen, pres
ident, delivered the annual convention
address and Rey. B. p. Hope Of Augusta
the convention sermon.
The treasurer, II. NJ. Mailing Of Port
land reported the receipts for the year
aggregating S12 1888 So and the disburs,-
ments aggreeating Sl3,038 Sc; also the
several funds invested amounting sl79 =
260 81 showing an increase for the year
OF S8 056
The report of the executive committee
showed that 20 churches were asslstt
financially. A feature OF this report
WAS the proposed erection OF the Dunn
Memorial church In Portland.
An important feature Of the meeting
of the trustees WAS the adoption of the
following resolution THAT the presi-
dent of this convention appofnt con-
mittee to confer with similar committee
of the Maine Free Baptist association re-
garding the possible union of the two
denominations"
In a historical address by Rev. DR..
Burrage OF Portland reference was made
to the organization OF the Maine Baptist
Convention at Readfeld, June "a, 1924.
IL WAS designed to bring the churches
into a closer fellowship and to secure
unity OF action In the general work Of
the denomination, but IL also undertook
some missionary work, so that as the
missionary work developed the Baptis's
OF Maine had two organizations prose-
cutting this work After a while the
missionary society ceased It's operations
and allowed the convention to do the
missionary work of the denomination.
10 1904 the Baptists Of Maine had only
63 churches with 1920 members. There
are now In the same territory BAG
churches with 20,0l6 members. Then,
the number of ordained Baptist ministers
in Maine WAS about 40. Now there are
l47. One hundred years ago collection
for missionary work in the state amount
ed for the entire year to $3.50 only. The
contributions of the churches last year
were 81 1888 IS, while the total benevolent
contributions OF the churches amounted
to $26, 466.95 At the beginning Of the
invested funds yielding an annual income
In aid of state missionary work. Now
the invested funds OF the Maine Baptist
Missionary Convention amount to $l79,-
260 Ga
In 1904 the Baptists In Oxford county
laid the foundations of Hebron academy
Now the Baptsts OF Maine have Colby
college and its four affi hated academies
t,l,a II
with about 900 students In all and pos
sessing property and endowments Of th'
value OF more than million dollars. o.
Baptist church property in Maine in
1904 we have no estimate, but 1t repre-
scented only few thousand dollars. Tn,
church property Of the Baptists OF Maine
has now value of 81 ,0l3 $50.
Officers for the ensuing year were
elected, Thursday, viz Pres, Rev. c
K. Owen, Waterville; Vice Pres, Rev
j. X. Wilson, Portland Cor. Sec, Rev
|. B. Mower, Waterville; Rec. Sec, Rev
H. s. Burrage, D. D Portland; Treas.
II. NJ. Mailing, Portland; Auditors, w
X Neal and E. q. Foster.
Officers of the Educational society
were elected, viz: President, A. b
Lorimer, Bangor; vice president, r. F
Rouiard, Bath; secretary, Rev. c. E
Owen, WaterviIle; treasurer, Prof II
r. Hatch, Watervile. At meeting o
the Maine Baprists' charitable societie
the following officers were elected: Rev
f. a. Snow, Old Town, president; Rev
Sumner Bangs, Charleston, secretary
Neil Newman, Bangor, treasurer G. w
| f. Barrows, Bangor, auditor; Rev. A
b. Lorimer, Arad Thompson and Rev
j. b. Merritt, PHI D., all OF Bangor, ex
ecutive committee.
Resolutions were adopted in favor o
enforcement of laws and endorsing tn
work Of the Christian Civic League; en-
/ dorsing the suggestion of Presiden
| Roosevelt to call second conference
OF nations at the Hague; in favor o
rational and uniform divorce laws; dc
ploring the tendency OF the times toward
| the destruction Of the Sabbath as
sacred day and rejoicing that some o
tbs great railroad corporations ar
abandoning the Sunday excursion busi
ness; asking our State Legislature Il
pass an act making 1t unlawful for an.
railroad company to sell tickets for Sun
/ day travel at less than regular rates.