Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-04-23

THE great major task of the
church today is an educational one,"
was the declaration Of Rev. w. s.
Bovard. D. D.. corresponding secre-
tary of the Conference Board of Ed
ucation, speaking at the anniversary
service Of the board Of education of
the Maine Methodist Conference In
the auditorium Of the Green Street
Methodist church Wednesday eve
ming.
THE real aim Of the church IS to
develop Christian character in as
many individuals as it is possible
to reach" continued DR.. Bovard.
The old idea of the mission of the
church being to save q soul from
eternal damnation is now Of the past,
ana the effort is to grow Christian
character with the boy and girl from
childhood into maturity and OH
through all the years of life."
DR.. Bovard spoke Interestingly and
enthusiastically Of the educational
program Of the Methodist General
Conference and Of the unific.N ion of
the several groups under the one
great program for Christian teach
ings. He told his hearers some
thing OF the magnitude of the pro-
Ject, which embraces the Epworth
League, Junior League, SUNDAY
school, and institutes and deaconess
training schools. The corresponding
secretary Of the General Conference
quoted some interesting figures
There are at the present time 11e
educational institutions under the
auspices of the Methodist Episcopal
church. which have an aggregate
property valuation OF forty million
of dollars. Besides these there are
the beginnings OF endowments for
forty-seven millions more. There
are 10 institutions for the education
! OF negroes, with a property valua-
ton of six million dollars. There
are some IS Wesley foundation in,
situations. partly aided by state de-
partments of education: and there
are 10 deaconesses' training schools.
A Monster Organization
The school properties of the Meth
odist Episcopal denomination repre-
sent physical valuation Of $780,
000.000.00. but DR.. Bovard told his
audience that more valuable still
were the young students-10O,00 of
them who are marching across the
campuses of those institutions and
on to the leadership Of the church.
constantly being reinforced from the
ranks Of the five million young people
In the church schools Of the Metho-
dist conferences.
The auditorium Of the Green street
Methodist church, the host parish
for the Maine Conference during the
week and until next Monday. was
crowded with members Of the Con-
ference, laymen and interested OBJ
servers Of the proceedings at the an
niyersary session Of the Board Of
Education. DR.. Bovard is one Of the
most striking figures Of the confer
ence, a forceful and ever interesting
speaker, with a most pleasing and
captivating personality.
The session Of last evening was
presided over by Rev. L. 8. Staples
Of Livermore Falls. and during the
early part of the program music was
furnished by the faculty and students
Of Kents Hin Seminary. IL intro
ducing the subject for the meeting,
Rev. Mr.. Staples called upon repre-
sentatives Of the Epworth League.
the Sunday school. and the educa :
tional Institutes, who explained
something Of the program in their
departments.
Rev. N. F. Atwood told something
Of the history of the Conference
Epworth League. and of its forma-
ton from the cabinets Of the four
District conferences, and the insti-
tute commissions. Miss Alice Louise
Brown, who is employed as a full