Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-05-13

L
of these societies coming into Oxfor'
County for the first time in their history
In the matter of attendance, the impor
tance of the business transacted and tn
quality of the addresses given, 1t wa
one of the most beneficial meetings tn
conference has ever held. At the open
ing meeting there were present SO dele
gates, number which beats all records
for first meeting attendance. This mum
ber was later increased to 1925.
The most important business OF th'
Conference was transacted at the fore
noon session on Wednesday, or rather I
start was made on it at that time. This
was the changing of the methods in th'
administrative department of the work
The changes were all made with th'
idea of centralizing and concentrating
the work so that all papers and valuable
records could be kept In one place anf
be available at any time. The changes
were made only after prolonged discus
sion and it was evident that the bod!
was proceeding with much care. Th'
final vote on these matters resulted II
the establishment of a headquarteri
Office, to be located for the present, q
least, at Portland. Here the Superin
tendent and the Treasurer are to have
offices. A competent bookkeeper and
stenographer Is TO be employed, who
shall have the title of assistant treasurer
and who shall do all clerical work OF the
body. A treasurer must be elected who
resides near the headquarters Office and
as he will only be obliged to oversee the
work he ia to serve without salary. An
accredited accountant Is to be employed
as an auditor, who shall examine the
books at least once year and at such
other times as the finance committee
may desire. 1t was also voted at this
time that because of the efficiency of the
present Superintendent, Charles Har-
butt OF Portland, and the fact that under
the new arrangement his duties would
be somewhat enlarged, his salary be In
creased from $3.50 to $4,000 a year.
The following resolution in regard to
these changes caused nearly all the dis.
cussion and after 1t was considered and
reconsidered several times 1t was laid on
the table without action, thus allowing
the matter to 60 into the hands OF the
directors for settlement. The resolu.
tion follows: "In view of the changes
already ordered by the Conference, Re-
solved: That the Office Of Registrar be
abolished and that the duties OF that
Office be henceforth done by the Superin-
tendent at the headquarters Office with
out extra expense Cfhus saving the sal.
ary of the Registrar which has been $3.50
per year, and that we authorize such
changes in the Bylaws as this action
shall require" 1t did not seem to be
understood that the Conference could
not abolish the Office without first
amending the Bylaws and that any vote
taken would have been simply an OK.
preston of how they felt in regard to
such future action. The matter re-
mains in the same condition as before
the discussion, but now must be under
stood by all.
At the opening session of the confer
ence Tuesday afternoon the devotional
service was led by Rev. A. T. Nc.
Whorter of South Paris, following which
Rev. r. j. Bruce, pastor of the enter
tanning church, gave the address of wei
come. In so doing he spoke briefly of
the history of fCongregationalism in Nor
way from the time the first church was
built in the north end of the town to the
present time. The Second Church In
which the conference is being held has
met with more than its share Of financial
losses! and discouraging events but has
emerged from each stronger and ever
ready to take up again Its helpful work
in the com munity.
Twice the church building was totally
destroyed by fire and third time 1t was
partially destroyed, but each time bet
ter structure has risen from the ashes of
the former one. The present church
was built some fifteen years ago aud now
has membership of one hundred and
sixty. 1t has done notable work among
the young people of the community and
| at tho present time ten of it's young peo-
pie are in higher institutions of learning,
from which they will emerge we'll forti-
fed to meet the conditions of life In a
Christian and upright manner. He was
glad to welcome the conference to Nor
way and felt that the series of meetings
would be very beneficial to his people
and the village. Closing he said, I'VE
Will uo Oil Wo oau " uoho you loo, os
home and to make you comfortable
while you are with this church."
The response was by the president,
Prof. Calvin NJ. Clark of Bangor, who
presided at the meeting. He expressed
bis pleasure and that of the conference
at the opportunity to come into old Ok
ford County for :ts meeting, saying, "It
Is the country town and the country
church that is molding the very best life
In the world to-day" In the magazine
"Who Is Who" it ia said that there are
more names of Maine born men than of
any other state.
The president then proceeded with the
business OF the conference. As a Com.
mittee on Nominations he named Rev.
q. P. Woodin of Auburn, Rev. j. b.
Lyman Of Orono and Deacon +. A.
Hambliu of Woodfords. The Credential
Committee appointed was Rev. w. H.
Mouseley OF Portland, Rev. j. NJ. Bieler
of Machias and Deacon Osgood of Cum.
berland. On the Committee of Resolu.
tions Rev. j. II. Quint of Brunswick,
Rev. e. 4. Keedy Of Westbrook and
Deacon E. T. Garland Of Portland were
appointed.
| Various reports were then called for,
the first of which was the report of the
Registrar, Rev. K. NJ. Cousins of Brewer
This showed that the conference had
lost nine members by death during the
past year, one OF which bad been taken
from the active ministry. Six new
churches had been added. to the lisl
while two had been dropped. These
two were churches that were burned In
the Bangor fire and they have now CON
solidated into one body, which is strong
and fourishing. There are now 261
churches on the roll with membership
Of 81, ,0S8, slight decrease from last yeal
due largely to the revision of the rolls in
q number of the churches. The subject
Of revision was then discussed, to some
extent. The treasurer was unable to bt
present on account of sickness and few
OF the leading items of his report were
mentioned by W. s. Bass Of the Finance
Committee. The report Of the auditor
was read and all Of the reports accepted
Then followed short memoria
service in which tribute was paid to ths
workers who had passed away durin(
the year, Rev. W. G. Curtis of Bethe
leading the service in prayer. Severa
others spoke briefly.
The principal discussion Of the after
noon was then taken up, the subjec
being "Unifying the Religious Forces o
the Community" The first speaker
was Rev. j. B. Lyman, Orono, who tool
for his psrs CT the subject "The Need.
First he pointed out the need Of uniflca
ton among individuals of communit.
and the great progress that could b.
mada hv such work. The chnreha