Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-04-15
Centennial Of The State
Society in May.
viii be Celebrated at WiIIiston
Church, Portland.
4 Review Of the Organizations
Work Since 1907.

Portland, Me-, April 1.-THE CEN
,ennjal of the Maine Missionary Society
will be celebrated on May Sth at Will
ustOr Church. Portland. 1t is to be
held in connection with the Maine Con-
/ gregatiOnal Conference, which meets
at that time. The secretary Of the So
eiety, Rev. Charles Harbutt, is at work
| now on q history of the hundred years
Something like 2S5 churches have been
aided. of which 220 are still in exist
snce. In 90 years. the receipts have
been 81, 057 ,457. The receipts for the
first wear were $50, and for the first
decade were $S4l. The average re-
eeipts for nine years of the last
decade have been >$17.G33 The CEN
tennial program will include addresses
BY missionaries, a historical paper by
the secretary, and addresses by the
Rev. George Lewis Of South Berwick
Me-. the Rev. Smith Baker, d. D., the
Rev. Raymond Calkins. Phi. D., Of
Portland, and the new secretary of the
Congregational Home Missionary So
riety. New York, the Rev. Fl. G. Her.
ring. D. D.
The Maine Missionary Society repre-
sents the Congregational churches of
the State 1t was organized in 1907.
The society down to 1878 assisted in
| their feebleness all the Congregational
churches of Maine, save A.. Many of
| the strong and self-sustaining churches
| Of the State once drew part of their
. support from its treasury. The so
eiety has annually assisted a large
4 plurality of feeble churches and car
l RED the Gospel into various towns and
re;ghbOrhoods where no churches eX-
list. It's missionaries have been the
PATRONS Of education and morality. the
padvocates Of many reforms. especially
Vol the Anti-slavery and temperance re
Iforms. the promoters of intelligence
\ and social requirements and the gen.
\ eral elevation of society. 1t has re-
reived it's funds from three sources.
4 from the annual contributions Of the
CONGREGATIONAL churches and the so
lcietics worshipping with them. from
Ihgacics and permanent funds. The
3miety has employed as missionaries,
Iren Of several evangelical denomina-
IONS. Presbyterian. Dutch Reformed
6how known as the Reformed Church,
Nrerely) Free Will Baptists and Metho-
4asts. as well as Congregationalists
4rhe extensive emigration from the
4sate has been great hindrance t.
tnsing IN Self-Sustaining churches. 1t
HAS employed more missionaries than
igy other auxiliary Of the American
now CongrcgationaD Home Mission
IGy Society.
4 The Maine Missionary Society aids
fthurches in new towns arising from
The growth of the pulp and paper
Business such as Rumford Falls and
4Nllinockct, and religious work among
1tht 10000 CT more lumbermen in the
Hhmber camps during the winter. The
ASa coast is fruitful field for church
1hilding. where new summer resorts
Hhavp been established; and among the
Stipulation OF fishermen and sailors
Tie society hopes to place a SeacoaSt
missionary at work before long, whose
sole work shall be to minister to the
BATTERED families upon the islands and
HarOund the land-locked harborS Rev
ICharles Harbutt, secretary of the So
4tiety. says: 1T is not true that the
State and the church within its borders
are decadent. that paganism is inn
IFnding or that the people are IT.
ahisous to any greater extent than
The people Of other states. Eut not q
lew boys and girls are still outside the
Isurday school.