Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-03-21
BAPT|STS talk
over NEEDS OF
RURAL CHURCHES

The rural church conference of the
United Baptist convention OF Maine
was held at the Getchell Street Bap-
list church yesterday. The meeting
started at $50 and was largely at
tc3ded. Delegates being present
from every county in the State with
the exception of Washington. DIR. |.
Is. Mower. executive secretary OF the
United Baptist Conference was APP
pointed chairman, and T.. c. White
| more, secretary of the promotion
board was appointed secretary of the
meeting. The convention was called
t Tor an alalysiS of the rural situation
and Tor the rural church needs. The
first speaker was DR.. T. j. Rams
dali of Charleston, who spoke on the
changes of rural church life on ac-
count OF the changes of population
during the last sixty years. He said
that the population of the rural
towns had greatly diminished, and
the membership in the rural churches
had decreased even more. This fact
is offset to some extent by the de-
Nc.opmcnt of several large churches
IN several towns. The incoming of
inc foreign farmer was the subject
OF talk by Rev. ID. w. kimball Of
North \aSsalboro. and the building
, and cquipping Of the rural church
was presented by Rev. William
Fletcher Of Watervillc. Is the inter-
church movement in several commu-
mites increasing" WAS hopefully dis
| cusScd by Rev. &. T.. Young of Hal
lowell. The plan originated by Or.
Pearson of Morrill, of sending out
Pautos and buck boards to convey
, children to the Sunday school was
I tlO1OIlC01N 1icnIlcCpL Il
cided that there should he contn-
, uance of the method. President Ar
! thur }. Roberts was introduced and
expressed a desire that the Young
i men who received 4 college cduca-
tlon might be willing to go back and
hclp solve the rural problem. Rev.
Bocqucll of the French church in
Watcrvillc and Arthur \. Heald were
introduced and gave short talks. In
the afternoon session Principal Drew
I. Harthorn gave a fine talk to the
delegation which was followed by the
/ reading OF a paper sent to the meet
ing by Rev. III. +. Husc of Dover
toXcroft on the subject of 1.-THE
! lures to the Church." The paper
| highly endorsed the radio saying that
it could reach spots where it was i'm
! possible for pastors to got. The prob
| lem OF leadership was taken up by
Kew. Mr.. Bishop of Brunswick. and
| the rural pastors of the churches by
Rev. A. r. kingly of Hebron. The
rural services and evangelical SER
vices was the topic of talk by Rev.
Leroy e. Brcneman of Auburn, and
| Rev. Clarence Emery of Ellsworth
! spoke of the student and the rural
! service Other speakers were Roy
Thurlow of Skowhcgan and Rev. NJ.
Freeman of Livermore Falls.
One Of the maine addresses was
given by Rev. T. Ernest Ham on
the subject Of How to Make the
Gospel tho power Of God in saliva
ton" The committee on findings
| appointed were Rov. I..B Hardy.
! Sanford, Roy Thurlow of Skowhe-
gan. S. A. Evans, Bath: f. B. Turn
or. Hartland: III. Fl. Bishop, Rruns-
wick; I. Il. Mower and F.. G. White
| more. Watervillc. Tho conference
was considered from all standpoints
a success and the finding will be
carefully prepared and given to the
| press.
The commission of education held
| its quarterly meeting ut the close of
tho conference, Rev. George Marion
presiding. Sec, f. c. Whittemorc.
presented rrnort of the work OF
| the last quarter. which consisted of
reports rom the schools of Coburn,
NJ. C. l.. Hebron. II. c. I. and r. G.
| I. Approval was voted for the efforts
| that will be made at an early date
to increase the endowment and to
provide work for the schools.
The convention board of the United
| Baptist church held it's quarterly
meeting last evening. Today start
| ing at 1890 DR.. Atichison of New
York, general director of the board
of promotion, will arrive in this city
and will llspeak at the First Bap-
! fist church at 11.30. A dinner will
be served and at this meeting DR..
| Atichison will be the principal
speaker. He will leave at $50 for
Portland where he will speak before
| q gathering there this evening.