The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1911-10-12
RIG MEMS MEETING HELD In
OPERA HOUSE.
Many Prominent Speakers.

Many Prominent Speakers.
Frederic Brunei of Portland presided
oyer the session Of the Maine Baptist
convention Wednesday evening. The
body of the Opera House was filled
With men, and very few of the 1000
seats in the auditorium were vacant
Rev. p. A. A Killam conducted brief
nraise service, and Mr. E. M. Foster
the devotions, following. Musical
selections by Kendall's orchestra, and
some routine business and announce
ments were followed by an address on
the Silver Bay Conference, by Albert
r Neal of Portland. Mr.. Neal ex-
nlained the relation of this conference
10 the nation wide Men and Religion
Movement, why it was held, who at
tended it, and plans adopted. There
were 300 delegates representing all the
denominations, forty states. ninety
rites and the Dominion of Canada.
Mr. Neal said that no new organiza-
ton was to be formed, but there was
IN he a nation wide and concerted eff
fort to put 1t up to the men OF the
churches to show whether they really
believe what they profess"
Jefferson c. Smith, state secretary
of the Y. M. C. A.. then spoke briefly
on THE Practical Application OF
Christian Principles" He said that
the world had been trying to apply
those principles for 1900 years, but
only recently had shown disposition
to be practical. He protested his be-
lief that the New Testament, abso-
lutely and literally offers solution
for every problem now confronting
society. Referring to the palpable of
the good Samaritan, he said that 1t
was not at all difficult to find men
in every community who had been
robbed, beaten, and sent on their way.
He told a number of stories connected
with his work in Maine, to show how
the principles laid down by Christ
had invariably shown the way out
of every difficulty.
Hon. Carl Milliken of Island Falls,
received splendid ovation as he arose
> speak on 1.-THE Men and Religion
Movement" He said that religion, to
amount to anything, must be a seven
day affair Three million men and
boys had been kept out of the churches
by the thought that the church could
not offer them mans job. To show
them otherwise, eight day campaigns
had been planned for ninety leading
cities, including Portland. Lists of
questions covering the five principal
lines of Christian activity would be
submitted for answer by the local
churchmen. This information would
then be sent to New York for con-
sideration by experts who would plan
the campaign. These men would then
81 Out llOni hCoupuoi ICio ohN oSt uP
before the Christian men, definite
outline of the work needed in their
communities. Social services, boys
work, Bible study and evangelism
would all come In for the most care
full consideration and treatment. Mr..
Niilliken closed with a story aptly IL
lustrating the established principle
that brotherhood, and not personal
salvation afforded the only basis for a
successful appeal to humanity.
After solo by the Rev. F. M. Lamb,
the Rev. L. Call Barnes of New York
closed the program with an address
on The Baptist Laymen's Missionary
Movement" He stated that 80 per
cent of the male members on the rolls
of the Baptist churches in Maine, &C
tually lived elsewhere than the place
of their Affiliations. Only one state in
the union showed higher percentage
of non-residents.