Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-09-24

Eszzr ut hack many af the psupss
whan - might have had Ind 80 kzpt
I'm Ehureh open. This ID one u IN.
chnrchns IN tina rurzi numuuusfann Il
vhicA - hzzs - mAny in our 9tsfaL
Ne - q Il even II Ne rnllcw 80
nskAnB which hare described Let
TIE c8xentzun taxa charge Of me
churches IN those localities and Try %
hinx thnss churches into nfe-
An0<hAr Elustraticn sf what can 30
dLne- 1hsre in q Cnixerzaltnt minister
n Ca1Aas by The name az nmfth. He
hAG fhe missionary suirdt- Last surfing
wiaM - mud in thu rad was NJ To the
fsEb ~ the wneeis he took q izrxe am
and he and hin choir drove e miles due
nuFxA fntD the country and when he ar
rived n the place Of meeting he epunts
the sgrvice. This in the KIND Of work
mat we must do in our State and il il
Tins kind OF work for which ] am
pleading 1t this time.
u has been said that We have fewer
pafdalaes IN thu stats than we had =
ysArU aEn- STATISTICS tell IN that IN TED
We had listed M parishes but only CD u
thnan were active. Today We have list
ed . parishes md 81 Of them are active
While We have rs lens lisssd thaa we
had . Years ago We have only usven
l.ss than are active. The object Of the
plan which I am presenting 10 To pre-
vent the loss Of 4 single parish
Only ONE Of the churches menfsoneH
-. -->,
convention. We wfsn that MI our
churches would take that step but !
hnd that II is hard To induce them -
do that. So here in another argumen;
in favor Of group NJ these churrhes To-
gefher and opening them up for bust
ness because IL We do not, Tn time the
property viii 60 outxide Of our denumi-
nation and we viii receire no benefit
DO far as I am able 70 dsternine anlv
one of the churches which have men,
toned has a Sunday school in upera-
ton. Here 10 q splendid chance for 4
Sunday school worker. But we need
snmetning more than that We need
some one to 70 To q locality and re-
parish work which in such cases as I
hsve cited IN the al important thing,
The next question arises where is
ta1fs money coming froln2 We fael that
our State cannot turn sn The funds
with which 70 carry On this work Our
churches hare given and are now CIV
int generously. 60 soon after the great
drive We feel that we cannot 90 before
our churches and ask them for any
thing additional for this work. There
fore our proposition 10 this. IN view OF
the great drive. Of the amount of money
that win be realized and believing II is
the attention of the general convention
officers 10 place that nancy where il
viii be the means OF extending orr
faith. We are going u come badly out
ana ask for a small PARTON of thai
money 70 carry On this fnr'wArd aove-
mant IN the State Of Maine. wan
This cunvsntion To memorable the gen.
efzi convention for sh.0ao n year for
q period Of three years. We would not
attempt anything like a work Of this
kind for less than that period and we
MAY need money beyond the three year
period. We understand that this mpnev
Of which speak IN 70 be used fur the
extension Of our church. for the build
ing of churches where there are none
IL conditions warrant and for the reviv-
ing Of churches which have lain dor.
/ mant but which give scrne signs Of liz
To what better purpose cuuid a sinai
part Of that money be at than to such
work within our own Ssate. We believe
that this would be legitimate use for
a small rnrf Of that nunev. I want the
committee on Official reports to repor-
Recommendations recommending that
this convention approve OF some snc-
forward movezneut a. have outlined
and pefitipn the general convention far
TIE ansnc NJ help necessary to carry OF
this work.
In clus;ng I have only this 70 say
Perhaps some other kind of work wou, j
he more feasible than that which
have puinted out. I am not fns.stsng ~
doing the particular thing that an
Recommending nor that il shah be don :
my way. an. only pleading that this
convention take action At this session
looking toward G forward movement IN
the State cf Maine. ! do not care SO
very much what 10 done nor how It is
dune IL il iE only dune. In looking the
field over it seemed TO me that this
forming OF circuits was the best way
Of going forward in our State. II is
true that these circuits viii have to be
re-arranged To some exnent, the hnan-
cial figures win have 70 be revised
other changes win have to be made
am only asking that this matter be Sc
r.iousIy and prayerfuily discussed and
some action taken.
ons thing more. II thu Members OF
thu convention feel that they hal
rxxner TRUST this important work to
other officers. If they feel that they
have not TIM confidence in the present
officers. m far NJ / am personally con-
earned. Am pcrfecriy willing to give
way % une in ws,nan you may have
greater cunfldence. Ay only desire in 70
serve my church the church I love
and to the survice Of which ! have
given the mature wears Of myNlife. the
church that In thuse moments Of an
guiah and snrruw. has brought to ne
that comfort and help and inspiration
that have needed 20 much Il 10 thin
comfnrt and hsip that would carry n
the people in the communities about
which I have been speaking and I hope
that this cunventiun WIN take actio 4
locking 70 q great forward movement
wnirh shall increase the efficiency and
usefulness Of the Cniversaiist church.
Superintendenf's Report