Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-05-08
Maine CongregationaiStS
Meet at Portland.
Centennial Of the Maine Mis-
Sionary Society Today.
Total Membership Of the Conference
Is Now 2l,327.

Portland, Me, May THE S1st annu-
al meeting Of the General Conference of
Congregational Churches in Maine
which was opened this forenoon and
will continue until Thursday evening
is of particular interest on account OF
the celebration tomorrow Of the cen
tennial anniversary of the Maine Mis-
sionary Society, which represents the
Cnngrcga churches of the State.
The entire days program will be given
over to the celebration Of the important
occasion.
The general conference began with q
devotional service led by the modcrat-
or. Greetings and responses followed,
then came the reports of. Bangor Sem
mary and BOWdoin College.
Among the speakers from outside of
Maine who are assigned to address the
meetings are Rev. Herbert C. Herring,
D. d., New York, general secretary Of
the Congregational Home Missionary
Society: Rev. S. p. Cook. state mission
airy of the Massachusetts Home Mis-
sionary Society, and Rev. Nehemiah
Ivy HUN, ~ ~, ItisIcl Vi Tie 1llllDD
Avenue church. Brooklyn. II. Y.
An address Of welcome was made by
Rev. Smith Baker, D. D., pastor of
Williston church, in which the confer
cnce is being held, and the moderator,
Rev. Bates s. RideOut of Norway, re-
sponded. There was an attendance of
about 100 today.
Corresponding Secretary Edgar NJ
Cousins of Thomaston reported the
death the past year Of Revs. David b.
Sowali at South Berwick. Benjamin p.
Snow a Alfred, Ira \. Smith at Hold
en-. Edward p. Greene at Orrington
ard [. r. Stuart at BoOthbay Harbor
There is a total membership of 21,321, a
net gain Of 81. OF this number 5911 are
males. The number of installed pastors
is "a. q loss of 40 per cent. the past de-
cade The number of ministers supply
ing parishes is al. The contributions
for bcnevolcnce aggregated $40, 108
Eleven churches received legacics
amounting to $1,000. In addition the
church at Bristol received $4,000 from
a living donor.
TIE following officers and committees
arc in charge Of this years session:
Modcrutor-I;cv. Bates S. Rideout,
Norway.
RecC riding eecrctary-Rev. Charles y.
Cranr. Watorvill2; from 1894; re-elect-
"a in 1901.
Corresponding secrctary-Rev. Ed
gar NJ Cousins Thom3%ton; from 1881;
reelected in 1901.
wreasircr-D Deacon Oman Adams, !.
q. hox 701. Portland; from 1900; r.
elect ~ in 1906.
Authorization John NJ. Gould.
Portland. from 1900.
Committee of arrangementS-It"N
Smiht l3akcr, Portland; Rev. +. i.
Marston, Lewiston; Deacon +. Il. Gar
land. Portland: Rev. l.. f. Rucll, Wood
fords; Rev. Raymond CalliinS. Port
land.
Committee on nominati0nS-Rcv. 9.
". Folsom Bath; Rev. F. +. Winn,
North Bridgton: Jas. II. Crosby, Ban
COR: Rev. c d BOothby. Madison: Rev.
w. IL. Palmer. Wilton; Rev. c. II. Nc
Ashland.
AT .he afternoon session the question
&c church union as proposed by the
New York conference was discussed
AMI Pov. Asaph Anderson of New
York gave IN address after which
committee vas appointed to present
resolution instructing the delegates TO
the cleveland conferences.
The report Of the committee in sys-
tnmatic benrvolence was made and an
address on this subject was made by
Rev. c. NJ. Gates Of Saco. A committee
was appointed to present plan for
on the systematic beneV-
olence work of the Thursday session OF
the conference