Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1915-06-15
Oxford congreyationalists Meet.
PLEASANT AND PROFITABLE SESSION
HELD AT SOUTH PARIS.

PLEASANT AND PROFITABLE SESSION
HELD AT SOUTH PARIS.
Interesting discussions of matters Of
interest to the Congregationlists of the
county marked the annual meeting OF
the Oxford Association of Congregation
al Chrnches, which was held with the
church at South Paris Tuesday and Wed
nesday. There was good attendance, q
considerable number Of the delegates
coming by automobile. Two cars came
from Dixfield bringing delegation who
remained through the session, and a
number of others from other places.
On the usual plan, dinners and sup
per were served in the vestry by the
ladies Of the local church, and from the
social standpoint the meeting was also
enjoyable.
At the opening session after arrival Of
the trains Tuesday forenoon, the prelim-
mary business of the meeting, appoint
ment of committees, etc., was done,
with the moderator, Rev. 4. Z. Gilkey
of Dixfield, presiding.
Officers of the association for the COM
ing year we're elected as follows:
Moderator-Rev. Malcolm MacKay. Oxford.
Scribe-W. II. Eastman, East sumner.
Treas.-Alton c. Wheeler. South Paris.
The roll Of the thirteen churches In
the association was called, and reports
were heard through the delegates pres
ent from the churches at Bethel, Dix
field, East Sumner, Norway First, Nor
n~fn
A generally good condition of the
and it was noticeable that in almost
every case special stress was laid upon
the work of the Sunday School, and next
to that in Importance, the work of the
young peoples organizations in their
various branches.
At Tuesday afternoons session there
was a symposium on "Our Congrega-
tional Heritage" with several speakers
on different phases of the subject, and
the Woman's Hour. A talk on Home
Missions was given by Miss Edith Scam
man, and talk on Foreign Missions by
Miss Wire OF Portland. This was fol-
lowed by a sermon by Rev. w. G. Curtis
of Bethel.
Rev. Ashley D. Leavitt of the State
Street Congregational church OF Port
land gave the address of the evening
Mr.. Leavitt ia an earnest and eloquent
speaker, and held his audience closely
for some fifty minutes.
Referring to the topic on the program
of the afternoon session, "Our Congre-
gational Heritage" the speaker asked
his hearers to consider the debt We owe
g Ahnr Whan
the truth had become clouded through
those who constituted themselves It's in
terpreters, our UNCONVENTIONAL forbears
went back to the sources of truth, and
determined and proclaimed its funda-
mentals. 1t is our special responsibility
to go back to the sources of our Chris
tian faith, and determine and proclaim
what are its essentials.
Our problem is different from that OF
the fathers. We do not now face the
problem of unbelief. In6delity is practi- /,
cally unknown, but there is no less a
necessity for our return to the central
authority of our Christian truth.
The term Christianity is used in two |
different senses. 10 one sense, as view |
ed from the church standpoint, it means
an organization, a propaganda, vital
force. In the other sense it is used by
people who talk of Christian age, or a
Christian nation, as applying to that
widely dffused Christian spirit or Chris
tian consciousness which has 80 many
splendid manifestations in our day. To
many this is enough. They need no in
stitution, no creed, no special expert
ence, though they themselves are beneti-
Charles of that widely diffused Christian
spirit, which, though they do not realize
it, comes from only one source. They
are like the youth, who, comparing the
sun and the moon, found the latter of
much the greater value, because, be
said, the sun shines in the day when We
don't need it. Living in the universal
of the sunlight, he did not ap-
preciate its source.
Where did our Christian truth come
from? Is it a continuance of man, the
result of his study and his experience?
We know that Christianity came into
the world through the personality of one
man, Jesus Christ. The source of all
this beautiful diffused faith and Chris
tian spirit and consciousness is in him.
There is no other. One must maintain
his connection with the source of things.
The danger to Christianity lies in that
superficial good will which has not ener- |
gy enough to save souls.
We have no right to set up our own
as a standard for the world,
to fit all kinds and conditions OF men.
We need to 60 back TO the source, to
get something bigger than our own little
points of view.
The principal feature Of the business
session OF Wednesday morning was the
report of the committee on revision OF
the constitution. Certain new conditions
having made changes desirable, and en-
tire revision of the constitution OF the
association was made. This will be act
ed upon at the semi-annusl meeting in
October.
"The Working Church" was the theme
of the forenoon's discussion, being con-
sidered under three heads: 1.-THE Work
of the Holy Spirit" Mr.. Harry G. Elliott
of Rumford Point; "Tbe Place Of the
Bible" Rev. Malcolm MacKay of Ok
ford; 1.-THE Part of the Lay Member"
Mr.. Z. N. SWEET of Norway.
Wednesday afternoon the sermon was
given by Rev r. j. Bruce of Norway,
aud the communion was administered by
Rev. Messrs. Curtis of Bethel and Ora
ham of Andover.
The semi annual meeting Of the asso-
citation in October will be held with the
church at Oxford.
Mrs. w. c. Stearns.
:,tuo,. 18th <pharnulooio cOv