Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-05-13
CONGREGATIONAL Conference at Norway.
Important Changes In the Business Administration OF
the State Body.
Many Interesting the Time Fully Occupied
Next Years Session be Held In Brewer.

tho benefit of both. Power comes iron
large congregations, the larger audience
a speaker has the more enthusiasm h'
puts into his work and the greater goot
be accomp plishes. When any great worl
in q community is to be accomplished
the churches get together and worl
together, why not stay together all th'
time? The divided church denies III
own existence, and the community !!
greater than any particular church
Christianity Is at standstill in many
places because of the divisions of sec
iarianism. This is the ago of cooperation
and the churches must lead the move
ment for social cooperation and unifica
ton.
The next speaker, Rev. E. E. Keedy
of Westbrook, had for his part of the
subject, "The Possibilities Of Uniflca
tion in the Cities" The movement
must start with program OF the work
The time is past when a church Car
serve its people by being nothing but a
worshipping station. The test of faith
is works and the problems of the present
day make it necessary that the religious
men of the country must work together,
In politics and In all branches of the so
cial unrest which is 30 apparent on al
sides at the present time. He spoke oi
the good that had been accomplish cd
by the federation of the churches iu
Portland and was looking forward to
greater things which 1t was possible for
them to attempt in the future.
Rev. j. s. Strong of Limingtou was to
have been the next speaker, but as be
had not arrived his part on the program
was passed until later in the afternoon.
Rev. r. E. Gilkey of Dixfield opened the
discussion of the subject in most inter
estiug manner. He is at the present
time the pastor Of church that was
brought into existence through the
union of Universalist and Free Baptist
churches. He was convinced that unfit
cation in the rural districts was beset
with great difficulties. A preacher in a
rural town who would suggest to bis
congregation the idea OF uniting with
some other church would be little less
than hero and by many Of his people
would be looked upon as traitor to his
cause. We are now face to face with
the mistakes of the past. The wrong
ideas had been allowed to grow and
flourish in regard to the attitude one
church should take concerning the work
OF another of different denomination.
The city dweler can 20 to the church
which stands for the things in which he
believes, but in the rural districts this Is
many times impossible and the church
must be common ground In which those
Of various belief can meet together and
worship. To meet this condition the
pastor must confine himself to the es-
sentials and let alone the unessentials
and trifing opinions that many times
cause breaks in the membership, he
must be a pastor to his whole people,
not to a few who have one idea of faith.
The church needs more Gospel and less
creed. A man has right to his opin-
ions, but he ought not to emphasize
them to such an extent that he will un-
church nine out of every ten of his
neighbors. Young men who are to en-
ter the ministry should be educated
with oneness of thought and the differ.
ences of opinion should not be enlarged
upon.
At the close of his address Mr.. Gilkey
was questioned closely in regard to how
the union In his own church was work.
ing out and gave very highly satisfactory
answers, showing how the church had
grown and saying that in the six months
he had been there, there had been no un-
pleasantness of any kind that he was
aware of. In regard to the creed of the
union church, 1t was simple, contained
nothing but what could be accepted by
all, aud at the same time was ample for
all the needs of an upright, Christian
life. The question was then discussed
by several speakers following which
Rev. Mr.. Strong gave his address.
Mr.. Strong's address was also on the
possibilities of unification In the rural
territories and was largely in line with
the ideas expressed by Rev. Mr.. Gilkey.
The last address of the afternoon was
by Rev. o. W. Folsom of Bath, who
spoke of the work of the Comfy Com
mission. In this movement the state Of
Maine was one of the pioneers. The
commission has no authority but the
moral power which 1t can assert. Some
of the far reaching results which the
Commission had accomplished in its
twenty.three years of life were spoken
of rs follows:
First. 1t has removed much destruct-
i've competition between chruches.
Second. In several notable instances
it has formed church partnerships for
The commencement OF religious work in
new communities.
Third. 1t has prevented the intrusion
of one denomination into the field be.
longing to another.
Fourth. 1t has awakened and culti-
vated the Good Samaritan spirit among
the denominations, so that officials Of
one have actually protected and aided
the work of another.
Fifth. 1t has inaugurated plan Of
reciprocal exchanges between denomina-
tions.
Sixth. 1t has encouraged wiser and
more business-like care Of all religious
interests in the state.
Seventh. It has directed the atten.
tion of the denominational agents to the
religious needs of the foreign speaking
people of the state.
Eighth. 1t has undertaken to ally So
cial and religious organizations for the
| Improvement of conditions In rural COM
munities.
Ninth. 1t has created Q spirit of good
will amongst denominations, so that In
their work one of their first thoughts is
of the interest and welfare Of others.
At the service Tuesday evening the
church was filled to its seating capacity.
The music was by the church quartet,
Mr.. Frank Moore taking the place of
Chester Horne, because of the latter's
illness, as tenor, Miss Iona Noble, So
prano; Mrs. Luells Smiley, contralto
and q. L. Horne, bass; with Mrs. q. L..
Horne at the organ as she was through.
out the services of the Conference. The
scripture and prayer was by Rev. j. B.
Carruthers Of Fryeburg and the sermon
by Rev. G. d. Boothby of Augusta.
The subject of Rev. Mr.. Boothby's
sermon was "The Church in Action. I"
For . text he took . portion OF the oath
verse Of the Goth chapter OF Acts, ITO
Testify the Gospel of the Grace Of God"
In opening he stated that the church waa
being questioned to-day as never before
in It's history and that 1t must arise to
meet the crisis. Most Of the great
things accomplished in the making 0i
the world have been due to the church.
There Is the great need on one hand and
the willingness to meet that need by the
grace of God on the other hand. The
church is an army. The church is q
refuge. The church is great power
house with the power to transform the
world. BY worship We mean socis
worship, and In this there are two ele
ments, the element OF prayer and thu
element Of prophecy. Humanity is gov
j arnad hY idaala of riRhtAauanass anf