Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-03-08

10 lnelf p0SSeSS0TS. ana lHtTe dT-
franchises which may be acquired
through public acGuiescence and con-
cession. OF which the rieihtful owner
cannot be deprived. save OH Judicial
hearing and order. The principle of
fai play has been promoted to i re-
markable degree by The existence and
the work of this commission.
o. The commission has encouraged
wiser and more businesslike care
Of all church and religious interests
in the state. Repeatedly in it's meet
ings the outlook has been. not to the
nera church already existing; but 10
the places where there are no churches.
and the opportunities which ought to
be improved, and the fields which are
uneared for. 1t has fostared the
spirit of growth. enlargement, devel-
opment, and therefore OF real progress
and life.
6) The commission has been the
means of saving money to the
churches of Maine. AS much money
may have been spent. but it has been
spent to better advantage. Money
has not been wasted by two or three
denominations undertaking. in rival
nv with each other, to maintain sep
arate services, when one service was
enough. Appropriations have been
saved which would have been wasted:
and the missionary boards of the sew
eral denominations have been enabled
to strengthen their work by putting
the money saved into places where it
would count for much more.
And now specifically, during the last
year the commission has done these
two things:
First, it has put into effective op-
Grafton the plan of reciprocity between
denominations. which, though voted in
1905, was not inaugurated until 1908.
At our last annual meeting the spe-
cial committee, acting in behalf OF
the commission. reported that recip-
rocal exchanges between denomina-
tons had been made in Is different
Instances. During the past year this
work Of combining weak interests in
to one stronger enterprise has been
going steadily on; and the denomina-
lions which have made surrenders in
one town have received their compcn-
sation through some equivalent sur
render to them In some other town.
The committee charged with the exc
cution Of this plan will make full and
detailed report at this meeting.
Second, under the auspices OF the
commission representative confer
renee was held in Portland, Nov. II,
1906 tn consider the condition and
needs of foreign speaking people in
the State. BY this conference the
executive committee of the commission
wps directed to form larger COM
mites to ascertain the facts and form
ulate q plan. That committee, through
a sub committee. has attended to the
duty assigned II. and will report at
this meeting its conclusions. From
this report 1t will be seen that the
commission is called upon to instigate
and supervise a wise and comprehen-
sive missionary campaign for the FOR
eign speaking people of Maine. 1t Is
an accomplishment of no mean pro-
portions 10 have recognized this prob-
lem and to have worked cut some KIND
Of solution.
|. In conclusion I may repeat what has
been said before:
p First. the commission is not an ex-
ppnsiTe organization. During the
year 1909 no assessment or contribu-
items have been called for. A debtor
balance cf sl9.a2 last year has been
shrunk to $3.50. With this amount of
cash on hand and no outstanding In
dcbtedness 1t is apparent that the
commission Is accomplishing large re-
suits with an insignificant cash out
lay.
Second, the commission is not a
cumbersome organization to maintain
It's machinery is not complicated. 1t
does not undertake to magnify Its
own functions. but merely to extend
its ideals. and render assistance when
it can. 1t has no paid agent in the
field It, asks for no great amount
of time from it's members. 1t is not
consuming energy. Its own ideals
have become so effective and so
thoroughly 4permeate the co-operat-
ing denominations that these ideals
are largely in operation of them
!, selves. There is. no victory greater
than that of. self-effacement when the
ideals and PRINCIPLES survive. The
commission is fulfilling its highest