Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1910-11-01

MEETING OF OXFORD CONGREGATIONAL
CONFERENCE AT SOUTH PARIS.

MEETING OF OXFORD CONGREGATIONAL
CONFERENCE AT SOUTH PARIS.
Missionary work in It's various phase
was the predominating theme in th,
first days programme of the Oxfort
Congregational Conference which hell
It's semi-annual meeting with the churcl
at South Paris last Tuesday and Wednes
day; while on Wednesday the topics re
lated to the home work Of the churches
and perhaps the most interesting anG
profitable part Of it was the hour devot
ed to the work of the laymen.
While as Is frequently the case, the
programme suffered some changes from
the inability of those assigned parts to
be In attendance, no time was lost or
that account, but substitutes were sup
piled, and most Of the topics laid down
on the programme received full con.
sideration.
Ministers present during the meetings
we're Rev. j. G. Fisher of Mexico, Rev.
A. T. McWhorter Of South Paris, Rev
r. j. Bruce Of Norway, Rev. W. C
Curtis of Bethel, and Rev Charles Har.
butt of Portland. Rev. E. A. Davis OF
the South Paris BAPTIST church and Rev.
T. N. Kewley of the South Paris Meth
odist church also participated in the
services.
Rev. Frederick Newport, formerly OF
this conference, now at Turner, was dis
missed to join the Cumberland North
Conference. and there were added to the
membership of the conference Rev. r. j
Bruce of Norway, Rev. w. c. Curtis of
Bethel, and Rev. Paul Rochinni, whose
ordination to the ministry on Tuesday
evening was a part of the conference
programme.
Rev. J. G Fisher of Mexico, the mod
orator of the conference, presided at the
sessions, and w. II. Eastman of East
Sumner, the scribe, was also in attend
ance until the business was completed.
Dinners on both days, and supper on
Tuesday, were served in the vestry of
the church, and were pleasant feature
of the occasion.
At the roll call Tuesday six churches,
Bethel, East Sumner, Mexico, Norway
Second, Oxford and South Paris, report
ed present by pastors or delegates or
both, and others came in later.
ECHOES from the Boston Meetings"
were given by the only two present who
the meetings, Rev. W. c. Cur
it's and Rev. j. G. Fisher, and the siguifi.
can't feature of what they had to say WAS
the magnitude and enthusiasm of the
work now being done in
various fields. Not only ia this the case
in the foreign field, but the church is
awake, said Mr.. Fisher, to the social
needs of the people.
The woman's missionary hour in the
afternoon was given to Mrs. w. B. John
son of Portland, representing the Wo-
nan's Missionary Union, who spoke very
Of various lines of mission
sry work. At the close of her talk,
promised three barrels to be
packed to be sent to mountain and color
I'd schools in the South. In answer to
he question how best to organize and
missionary society, Mrs.
Johnson's reply was instant and brief,
Pack barre, and talk 1t up all you
,sn."
In considering allow May We Improve
he County Conference" Rev. R. j.
Bruce of Norway suggested that the
should be kept at work-a
church never yet died from over-work.
five the people something that will in
crest and draw them, aud there is moth.
ng that will draw people like the gospel
# Jesus Christ.
The last of the afternoon session on
Tuesday was devoted to the examination
# Paul Rochinni, an applicant for Or
lination. Mr.. Rochinni Is a member of
he Mexico church. He is a native Of
tally, has taken course in the Teach
'rs' Bible Training School in New York,
md has been engaged in work among
he Italians of Rumford and vicinity, in !
he employ of the Maine Missionary So
,iety. He has a wife and child.
The service of Tuesday evening was
devoted to the ordination of Mr..
aochinni. 1t had been expected that
Italian representatives OF the Teachers
Bible Training School would be present to
participate in this service, but on account
VI illness none were there. In their alb
Ience the service was conducted by the
minister's of the conference, the sermon
being given by Rev. w. G. Curtis, aud the
charge to the candidate by Rev. Charles
Harbutt of Portland.
An hour or more Wednesday morning
was devoted to the work of the Knights
,f King Arthur. with the meeting in
charge of the officers of Castle Crusaders
IF Norway. S. b. Cummings, the Merlin
81 the castle, was present with them,
and Carroll Bartlett, the King, presided
with ease and self. possession. There
was quite extensive consideration of
his work with the boys, largely by Rev.
] G.. Fisher, Rev. W. C. Curtis, and
Rev. NJ. C. Ward of Norway, all of
are engaged in the work and
much interested in it.
The Sunday evening service was con-
,idered in two phases. In speaking OF
how 10 make II attractive to young peo-
Pile, Rev. Mr.. Fisher said, we need the
Gospel Have straightforward topics,
that will make people think of their
iuty to God. Make the standard of the
meeting high, and the standard Of the
music high. "When they sing words
act to the tune of Old Black Joe," said
Mfr. Fisher, ~ call halt. Sing Old
Black Joe in your parlor all you want
20, but don't try to make it sacred mu-
tic. To bring such tunes as The Old
Oaken Bucket and Annie Laurie into
he evening service, when we have such
,rand hymns as The Son Of God Goes
Forth to War, is almost dissertation"
IL you want to reach the unchurched
through the evening meeting, said Rev.
4. T. McWhorter, on being drafted to
'upply vacancy on that topic, the
church members have got to be there.
GU need a good sermon, good singing,
md a warm atmosphere. Obstacles to
reaching the unchurched are the lack Of
cordial greeting, and the question OF
iress.
There was general discussion OF the
sunday evening meeting topic.
The last topic of the forenoon was the
aymen's part in advancing the Kingdom
If God, considered from three stand
points. Z. N. SWEET of Norway con-
'idered it from the standpoint of the
Sunday School superintendent, and urg-
ID that the attendance Of church men,
oers on the Sunday School and their
assistance in it's work as far as they
are qualified to give 1t, 10 a duty in
,umbent upon them.
From the standpoint of the business
man, the topic was considered, on brief
notice and as a substitute, by Henry
Nelson of Rumford, who pointed out
number of ways in which the business
man can help, particularly in caring for
The material affairs Of the church.
From the standpoint OF a woman was
ha branch of thu tnnic assiQnad To Mrs