Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1905-06-13

: then spoke for a few minutes. Rev. j
q. Little read a letter of tribute to Mr.
J Hooper from friend in Hope, and an
/. abstract of the remarks of Rev. o. +.
!, Alvord at the funeral of Mr.. Hooper in
, Utica, N. Y. He was followed by Rev.
w. Fl. Gould OF Dexter.
: Although 1t was memorial service,
] it was not q sad service, but one OF sim
cere testimonial. All gave witness to
the bright and optimistic nature OF Mr..
Hooper, to the great and efficient work
! which he did for the church in Maine,
and finally, to the fact that Mr.. Hooper
was one of the best loved men whom the
denomination has ever had in the state.
Il Following the memorial service was a
short business session at which reso-
lutions were adopted expressing thanks
to the people of South Paris, to DR.. AL
bion, the railroads and the press, for
services and favors rendered, and me-
mortal to Mr.. Hooper expressing SYM
pathy for his family. Messages were
also received and acknowledged from
former ministers of this convention now
in New York state, and from Ex-Gover-
nor Perham, who is i'll at his Washing
ton home.
Wednesday evening the church was
again filled to its full capacity. The
Schubert Quartette assisted in the sing
ing for this session also.
Two addresses constituted the even
ing's programme. The first was very
thoughtful discourse on "The Perma-
renee of Religion" by Rev. A. Gertrude
Earle of Dover and Foxcroft. The mani
festations of religion, said Miss Earle,
are various; the spirit is the same.
Time was when religion was akin to
fear, and the basal idea of fear has long
survived. In the early days, too, men
did not expect to understand God, ex-
cept through the visions of seers, and
the same element of mystery still sur
wives, to some extent. With the passing
of the years and the progress of thought
fear is passing, mysticism is passing.
But religion is none the less because
fear and the mysterious have passed
out of it.
Religion was once other-worldliness,
preparing men to die. Now we are in
tensely busy and interested in this world,
and we are bending our efforts to make
life i'm this world better worth living.
But religion is none the less because we
have learned that the way to prepare for
eternity is to do our duty now.
Religion was once individualistic.
Every man was to make his own calling
and election sure. Democracy has
taught us that no man has right to be
saved if in doing it he neglects the sal
walton of his brother. Now we ask, not
"What shall do to be savcd?" but
"What shall do to be just?" Does that
mean less of religion? The message of
our church to-day is that no man can be
saved completely until all men are
saved.
Men have thought because of all
these changes that religion was losing
it's hold. But it is not that there is less
of religion in the world; rather that
religion is adaptable, and it is mans
present conditions to which it must
adapt itself.
The thing which woke up the conven-
ton, and, from practical standpoint, |
aroused the most interest, was the |
second address of Wednesday evening,
given BY Rev. Chester Gore Miller of |
the Woodfords churcls on the topic, "a
Method of Raising Money for Current
Church Support" Mr.. Miller has re-
Gently attracted attention by revolving
against the long-established method of
raising money through auxiliary organ
izations, mostly of women, by means of
suppers, fairs, entertainments, and
schemes of all sorts. These money rails
ing schemes have been absolutely done
away with in that church, and in March
last Mr.. Miller succeeded in having
enough money promised by direct
pledges to meet all the church expenses
for the year, without pew rents or in
come from suppers or other schemes.
This was done, not by a personal can
vass, but at a demonstration day ban
quet," which was free, and to which
everybody in any way connected with
the parish was invited. For more than
an hour Mr.. Miller explained to the
audience all details of the preparation
and consummation of the banquet,
which took about six weeks, the liter
allure used in carefully working up the
matter, the form of the pledge cards and
the blackboard work used, and so on.
Mr.. Miller is young man of enthusiasm
and ready speaker, and his exposition;
of the method was very interesting.
At the close of Mr.. Miller's address
he was asked numerous questions re-
garding' the method, and had ready
answer for everything. Remarks were
made briefly by several of the ministers
present, and it was very evident that,
whether people believed in the method
as practical, they were strongly inclined
to sympathize with Mr.. Miller when he
declared the church-supper-and-sale
method of raising money to be belittling
and demeaning to the church, and a
serious drawback to its influence.