Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-03-08
Arguments Advanced for and
Against Union of MethOdism.

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inspire greater respect.
A united Maine Methodism would
give greater civic and political in
fuenee. An united Maine Methodism
would enable our leaders to do
larger work. The objections are pres
ent, but not vital.
From Winthrop man:
1T seems to me best to continue
our two Methodist conferences.
First, on account of the great dis
tances and expense of travel hardest
for MANY on small salaries. Second,
each conference has it's special school
to push. and other interests"
A Rumford man writes both for and
against:
For: \ larger conference would
mean q greater possibility for the in
dividual preacher. Saving in superin-
tendence. Better plan for Statewide
work would result. There would be
a larger number of preachers from
which the individual churches could
select pastors, The larger body would
command more respect and influence
than two small conferences.
Against: Increased travelling ex-
penses and greater difficulty in en-
PERTAINING conferences The people
would see less of their bishop.
From Greenville Junction:
"A large conference would have in
creased advantages to hold promising
Young men, and strong, older men.
The old time disadvantages of travel
ing are removed. The concentration of
form and influence in all Statewide
questions of interest, civic, evange-
listical, reformatofy. etc. would be
great advantage There would be an
increase of strength, for every good
word and work by an enlarged guam
titative and qualitative personnel. one
four is worth more than four ones. A
16-wheeled mogul is migltier for bus
mess than four four-wheeled loconno-
tiyes. One conference in Maine would
give Maine larger Methodist prestige
and powers in the State and country,
in the general conference than she
has ever known.
The New England Northern Confer
ence, or the Northern New England
Conference, why not?"
A Brunswick man says:
Increased difficulty to secure con-
ference entertainment. an increased
cost of conference and attendance to
the preachers would follow. Longer
moves and more expense to the pas
tors. less desirable conference to
Join. No material advantage to any
church. In the other half of New
England there are four conferences
aud two part conferences. Conference
lines are not drawn on State lines,
etc"
. 9
For the union of conference, a re-
duetion of useless conference ma
chinefv and unnecessary expense: the
greater power and influence OF
strong body as compared with two
weak ones, the power of strong con-
ference to attract and keep men OF
large natural talent
\ Norway writer sees no adyan-
tages whatever in such a union. Both
conferences are large geegraphieally;
we have our own schools and funds
consolidation is next to impossible;
nothing gained educationally The get
together business for conference
would require an average of nearly
300 miles to and from each preacher.
How would Caribou enjoy paying the
expenses of the preacher from Kit
terry or Berwick, 300 miles or more!
No more would be gained than we
have gained by putting three districts
into two What advantage to the
Kingdom"
From Bath, Methodist writes on
his post card against, that the diff
fieulty of entertaining the conference
session; long and expensive removals
fer those who could least afford it and
possible embarrassment growing out
of rivalry of two seminaries. Person
ally, however, he is inclined to favor
union.
Those present at the session We're:
Rev c. d. Holmes, Lewiston; Rev.
c. A. Martin, Bangor; Rev. J. w.
Hatch Bangor; Rev. II. b. Haskell,
Ellsworth; Rev. ID. b. Holt, d. D., OF
Portland and Prin. w f. Russell Of
the Gorham Normal School