Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-04-23


becoming smaller and poorer and hence
the meetinghOuses are deserted. Over
80 of the 40 charges in this conference
pay a salary Of less than $500 yearly,
but they cannot pay more. The little
country churches are struggling hard
and they deserve help. 1t costs more to
carry on religious work or to do any
thing else, than it used to. The Maine
Methodists are not mean. They pay
more per capita for preaching than
the Methodists of any other state. One
reason for less church attendance in
the cities is the relative unattractive-
ness and poverty OF the church as
compared with the clubs and fraternal
orders. Another reason for missionary
work here in Maine is that the State is
increasing in population and moving
forward along industrial lines. People
from out of the State are taking the
abandoned farms and the MethOdiStS
must meet them with welcome. There
is help coming from outside, but in the
main we must help ourselves and do
our own work. Other denominations
net so large as ours are doing moro
than the Methodists here in Maine. The
Baptists are putting $4,000 yearly into
missionary work here in Maine and the
Congregationalists $1,000 The money
must be spent in careful and business
like fashion. The work must be done
in intensive fashion. Strong churches
in the centers must be built up, even
at the expense of work in rural dis
tr:cts where returns are very small.
Some rural churches get more help
now than they really deserve. They do
not help themselves as much as they
might. Too many charges want a min
lister by themselves which ought to be
combined with one or two others. Back
of all this problem is the need of a
greater rnaliZa lion of the necessity of
saving souls.
At O'Clock this meeting adjourned
and there was a business meeting of
the Preachers Aid Society, presided
over by Rev. Israel Luce of Old Or
chard. The report of the treasurer
showed a fund of $4,000 which will
make necessary change in the char
ter which puts the limit which the So
ciety can hold at $4,000. About $500
was turned over to the stewards Of the
conference for distribution among the
superannuated preachers. Rev. w. j.
knoWltun OF Portland and Rev. II. r.
Dunnack of Augusta were made a
committee to have the charter amend
ed by the next Legislature. A friend
whose name is withheld has given the
society $4,000 during the past year. The
aim Of the society is to get at least
$1cC. 900 whose income shall be used for
old ministers. The ministers belonging
to the society who get over 5000 yearly
are pledged to pay ! per cent. of their
salary into this special fund as form
of insurance. Officers for the ensuing
year were chosen as follows: President,
Rev. Israel Luce of Old Orchard; vice
president, Rev. J. F. Haley of Port
land; secretary, Rtv Walter Canham
of Saco; treasurer. Rev. w. j. Knowl-
tor of Portland; managers, Rev. d. B.
Holt of Bath, Rev. H. r. Dunnack of
Augusta, Rev. j. r. Clifford of Gardi-
ner and Rev. George A. Martin of
Rumford Falls. 1t was voted that a
booklet be printed giving the history
and aims of the society for distribu-
ton among those from whom contri-
buttons are solicited. At O'Clock the
annual meeting of the society was ad-
jorrned. go ~"
During the noon recess Rev. J. X.
Stratton. secretary of the Methodist
Ministerial Relief Association, met a
large number of the conference mem
bers in the vestry, and the Maine de-
partment of this Insurance work was
re-organized with Rev. F. l.. Hayward
of Auburn as secretary. Rev. Walter
Canham of Saco was made vice presi-
dent for Maine. There are now rs
Maine Methodist ministers in this in
sIrance society which does business in
12o conferences in the world, and it is
planned to greatly enlarge its work in
this State