Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-10-03
GOOD REPORTS
Of Home and Foreign
Missionary Work
Annual Session United eaptists at
Presaus isie-Sermon BY Rev. n. M.
Ford Of PittsfisId-AEnual Report Of
Secretary I. B. Mower


Pressure Isle, Me-, Oct. 2.-Excellent
reports Of home and foreign missionary
work were made today at tho opening
Of the annual session Of the United
Baptist convention Of Maine. The an
nual sermon was preached by Rev. H.
NJ. Ford of Pittsfield, whose subject
was The Kingdom Of God"
Report Of Secretary
The following report was presented
by Secretary l. B. Mower of the Unit
ed Baptist Convention at the meeting
at Pressure Isle One year ago repre-
sentatives of our churches assembled
in Portland for the annual session.
today we are Sl2 miles from there in
Presque Isle, this, magnificent dis
lance is matched by magnificent
country Like Israel Of old we feel
that we have come to goodly lano'
one Of promise and achievement, some
of US have never been so near the
North Pole before. And yet here Is
warmth and cheer and plenty. In the
name of our common Master we sa-
lutte our splendid constituency of Zap
lists in Northern Maine and we trust
that some spiritual gift may enrich
your hearts and homes as a result OF
our contact with you during these an
niversary days.
We meet under unprecedent world
conditions Shall we say the times
40 xNy{n
that the times are eventful, porten-
tous, pregnant beyond any hour Of the
Christian centuries is freely acknowl-
edged. The war cloud still hangs
heavily over US We here simply
give expression Of the conviction that
we should adjust ourselves sanely and
solely to a scheme Of thinking and DO"
ing that recognizes the might and
right.
A summary Of the statistics received
from clerks, of associations, give as
surances of a year of progress and
enlargement. The number OF churches
reported baptisms is one hundred thir-
ty-five, and the number OF new mem
bers is 1884, giving total membership
Of 1864 Our present Sunday school
enrolment is $1,000. Il gain OF 200 over
last year. There has also been a gain
of $500 in benevolences. The number OF
churches receiving Convention aid re-
porting baptisms is As and the number
thus received Is 241. Last year we re-
ported 419 churches. The value OF
church property is given as S1,S95.342
We have 1853 parsonages valued at $685.
go Last year our benevolences were
s99102. This year they have advanced
to 800. The Convention has granted
aid directly to 11s churches while its
eood offices have been extended to
many more by our missionaries and
evangelists. Our permanent funds have
been substantially increased. From
the estate OF Mrs. Mary J. NOVEL; OF
North vassalboro the sum Of $500 has
been received, the same to constitute
a fund bearing the name OF the DON
or and from the same estate s3.ooo'
TIE same to be known as the George
NOVEL; Fund. A number OF special
trust funds have also been received.
Nv an act OF the last legislature
the Convention is empowered TO act
"a. trustees without bonds thus making
il possible for this body to serve cur
churches as custodian of church FUNDS
without expense. The Convention Will
nav a rate Of interest in no case less
than that current at the savings banks
in Maine. The annuity fund has been
increased to the sum of $1,000. Acting
as an appointment committee inc
BOARD of Managers apportioned among
the churches $4,000. OF this amount
81 91i.44 was actually received, gam
of sso91 over the previous year for
educational purposes we have recelV-
ed from the churches s1,O65.S9 and Tor
he BOARD of Ministerial Aid sSS024.
peceints for the Women's Work has
neon 1929 81, making the total receipts
for those branches Of our work SlO,-
oeo % We have made appropriations
~ churches amounting to ss,9S3.90. The
total increase of all trust FUNDS Tor
the year is s7,141.67, making the per
manent Convention fund sSo2, l426s.
From a financial standpoint the year
has been good one.
Among the outstanding events OF the
year is the building of the new church al
Fort Fairfield. Many Of our churches
have made substantial improvements I"
their church properties, among them the
Essex Street. Bangor the Augusta, South
Portland and Waterville First Baptist
churches The Central Square church.
Portland, and the Pittsfeld church have
Installed new pipe organs. At stroud
water a new church has been organized
and received into the Cumberland Asso-
citation We have the two-fold task OF
taking UP new work while not neglecting
TO care for those fields still needing our
help.
The several boards will bring their de-
tailed reports of the work entrusted to
them. The board Of education has had
regular meetings and has done efficient
service during the past year The board
OF Ministerial Aid has given assistance IN
several cases In accordance with the
action recommended last year the funds
Of this board have been turned over to
the Ministers and Missionaries Benefit
board of the Northern Baptist conven-
ton. The income from these funds are
available for beneficiaries in Maine. 1t
is possible that under this new order the