The Republican journal., 1911-10-12
The Maine Baptists
Hold Their Annual Meetings in Skowhes

| uC VldlHc DdpIlSIS
Hold Their Annual Meetings in Skowhegar
The Maine Baptist annual conventio
opened Thursday evening, October 3rd
in the First Baptist church, Skowhegan
Two hundred delegates arrived on tn,
night train and about 100 on the 10. 3
train Wednesday. There was a good at
tendance at the first meeting, Tuesda,
evening. The address of welcome t,
the young people was given by Geral,
Marble, president of the C. E. societ,
of the church. Music was furnished b.
the First Baptist church choir, led b1
Mrs. Philo Steward
The Woman's Federation met Wednes
day morning in the First Baptist church
with about $50 women present. The fol
lowing officers were elected for the en-
suing year: Mrs. J. K. Wilson of Port
land, president; Mrs. F. L. Wilkins
Portland, vice-president; Mrs. E. w
Hall of Waterville, secretary; Miss
! Maude E. Mathews, Belfast, treasurer
nominating committee, Mrs. H. D.
Hutchins, Mrs. Burns, Mrs. Austin,
| The address of welcome was given by
Rev. George Merriam, pastor of the
, Bethany church, Hon. Horace Purinton
of Waterville giving the response.
The Historical Society, which held its
annual meeting in connection with the
! convention, elected the following officers
! President, E. N. Carver, Augusta vice
president, Thomas Cain, Kennebunkport:
secretary, Rev. E. c. Whittemore,
Waterviile; treasurer, H. H. Durham,
Waterville.
Rev. F. L. Cam of Kennebunk deliv-
| cred the annual sermon Wednesday. Re-
ports of committees, the appointment of
standing committees for the current year
and routine business occupied the atten-
ton OF the delegates throughout the day.
At night monster mass meeting was
held at which there were addresses by
Albert E.. Neal of Portland, Jefferson c..
Smith of Waterville, State Y. M. C. A.
secretary; Carl E. Milliken of Island
Falls and Rev. L. C. Barnes, D. D. of
j New York.
Rev. Irving B. Mower, D. D., of
Waterville, made the following report as
! corresponding secretary of the Maine
Baptist Convention:
"The story of another year of our
the 10th time the Baptists of Maine join
hands in annual convention. In 1881,
when this part of Skowhegan bore the
name of Bloomfield, the convention met
on the spot where we are assembled to-
day.. In 1851, 1862, and in 1881 the con-
vention also met within these walls.
''On the last of these dates the treas,
/ urer reported convention funds amount.
| 70 oll II II
tate valued at $40, 900 in Portland. The
gift of Byron Greenough, the first of oul
three great legacies, had been received
The churches contributed that year 81,
1914 There were 29l accessions by
baptism and the entire membership was
20,637. Five years later the convention
was the recipient of 500, 900, the prince
ly bequest of Ex-Governor Abner Co
burn, who for many years was constan
worshipper in yonder pew.
cot the l21 brethren elected to mem
bership in this board one year ago, no
one has been lost by death. Revs. A. H
Stanton, F. W. Irwin and H. S. Kilbor
the love and esteem of those who hav
labored with them in the gospel.
THE YEAR IN REVIEW.
Last year the Baptists of Maine ha,
occasion to rejoice by reason of the pre-
gress that was reported. There wer
1896 accessions by baptism, and a ne
gain in membership of 523. Our Sunda
schools also reported an increase of 93e
There was gain in total benevolence
of about 16 per cent.
''This is the first time for eight wear
that We have failed to report an increas
in membership. There have been al
baptisms, the smallest number sine
1899. The number of churches reportin
baptisms is Is, and of this number
have received convention aid. Of tn
415 accessions Of baptism, 1877, yer
nearly one half, have been added to cor
! vention churches. The complete stats
tics for the year indicate loss in men
bership of 257. The York, Piscataqu
and Bowdoinham associations alone r.
port gains, the rem lining association
reporting losses ranging from 2 to II.
The Sunday schools report loss {
1898, more than one-twent ieth of the er
, tire membership reported one year age
York, Oxford and Penobscot alone r.
port gains, while Aroostook, Cumbel
land, Lincoln and Bowdoinham repol
, losses of more than 200 each.
''The benevolences are we'll sustained
although the total is about 81, 700 les
than the amount reported last veal
But this loss is found wholly in tn
column of miscellaneous benevolence:
so that specific contributions doubles
exceed those of last year.
but these lessened figures may ind
cate losses that are apparent rather tina
real. We know of ore church ths
dropped Sc names from its roll; al
other that removed 80: while sewers
others have erased the names of man
nonresident members. Such action is
witness against the method whereof
years are allowed to pass with no revisio
of the membership list, followed by
spasm of often unrighteous reform. Tn
working membership of our churches
doubtless little less today than one yea
ago.
"But there are many encouraging fe,
lures marking the year. As for Stat
workers, Brethren Young, Hunt, Killan
Cochrane and Miller have continued to {
valuable service. Miss Emma E. Fl
has also remained with us during tt
year. Rev. H. E. White was appointe
early in the convention year, with tt
understanding that he should devote h
time to work along the eastern coast.
May, Rev. w. H. Whittier resigned tt
pastorate of the Presgue Isle church
take up missionary work in Norther
Maine. Miss Gladys l. Bonney was cleo