Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-04-30

otherwise improved at an expense VI
$500 which has been provided for.
Whatever may be our opinion as 70
the endowment of most churches
surely this particular church should
have q generous one. Its consti-
tuency is too limited to finance 1t
properly.
At Readfield Corner the interior
of the edifice has been changed all
about and modernized at an ex-
pense of $1,000, which IL taken care
Of. This desirable improvement has
been followed by a much greater
spiritual interest than formerly ex-
listed.
About $500 has been expended on
the Virginia Chapel Rumford.
Winthrop has spent $515 on the roof
of the church and in lighting rods,
and all bills are paid. Since the last
Conference this church celebrated
its one hundredth anniversary which
came on June %, 1925.
At East Readfield where the Old
est Methodist meeting house In
Maine rs still standing-being 132
years old and in good condition
$500 has been judiciously expended
on the property and this is all pro-
vided for. l think Methodism IN
Maine ought to have sufficient In
which heard the voices of Francis
Asbury and Jesse Lee, to erect a
suitable marker in front SO that the
passer-by might readily perceive
valuable historical fact. A fund has
already been started for this pur-
pose.
A troublesome old mortgage at
North Yarmouth has been paid up
and steps taken for the improve
ment of the property. HALLOWEEN
has taken decided financial steps
forward. A mortgage debt Of many
years standing has been paid off.
In all $1325 has been raised and
paid on debts. sheds and memorial
window. Hallowell has also fallen
heir to $4,000, which will be added to
| permanent endowment. Livermore
| Falls has installed a new electric
| lighting system in the church at a
| cost exceeding 5000. Madison has
| expended $3.50 in various improve
ments. Oakland has paid an old debt
| of S120. Bethel has paid up the
debt of $500 on its beautiful par
sonage. South Paris has squared up
| 5000. Skowhegan, 1894, besides re-
| ducing the old Indebtedness by $3.50.
| Waterville has~made a great variety
of improvements both material and
in the way OF organization and
training. On account of growth in
both the congregations and the
| church school the church Is now
| favorably considering a plan for
| greatly charging and improving
| the church plant at a probable cost
of fortylflve thousand dollars. Bing-
| ham has put folding doors in the
rear of the audience room at a cost
Of over $500. all provided for. Gar
diner has expended $500 in improve
viding a moving picture equipment
in the Academy, whereby cheap
films may be kept out and this
modern form Of entertainment used
to elevate instead of to debase the
community. Pennington has ex-
| pended $500 in improvements: Phil
| lips, over $500: Mount Vernon, about
| 500; Richmond, 500. East Liver
more has painted the parsonage. In
fact, fully one-half the charges are
! better off than a year ago. Auburn
has paid off the remaining indebted
ness Of S1100 incurred by the extern
Bolsters Mills $75; Minot, $500; OK
ford, 500; Welchville, 500; West
! Paris, $3.50; Wilton, painting church,
! 1915; North Jay, roof recovered,
| $410.
In pastoral support there has been
| gain in twelve places, making a
| total increase of $4,000. Waterville
! having voluntarily twice increased
, the pastors salary during the year,
now pays as much as any church in
! the Conference. Most of our
: churches have had an Every Mem
! Der Canvass with encouraging re-
{ OF Of ho
| smaller churches that leave it to
! time and chance to determine what
the inevitable deficit shall be. If
J we keep at 1t long enough We shall
! doubtless get them all to using
! business-like methods. Happily
| there is an increase in the number
| of tithers. If and when tithing be-
! comes more general, many problems
will be solved.
A few churches. notably Augusta,
included apportionment for World
Service, together with all Con-
! ference askings, with budget for
has been provided for. One great
advantage of this method is that
most business men would rather
| raise one large sum than to have
| numerous special appeals. On the
| other hand, there is a serious dan
! ger that in making only one strong
| appeal during the year the church
| may fail to get the education 1t once
received when the pastor preached
upon the various benevolent objects
and took pledges. The use of
stereopticons and World Service
bulletins is helpful, but some way
must be found whereby our people
may be Informed and inspired as to
tho moods md nncSihilifinS nf
Service. A few pastors are giving
talks on the work of our various
boards.
In number Of places the Young
Peoples societies appear to be doing
fairly well. That our church is
likely to escape the danger of too
great standardization is shown by
the number of independent local
organizations. This makes it harder
to report in the proper blank. but
reveals a growing individuality.
The Epworth League Institute at
Kent's Hill last summer was Of de-
cided value to the fine group of
young people in attendance. Any
one who has closely observed these
gatherings cannot help feeling tn
beneath the harmless effervescence
of youth there is an idealism, a
nascent spirituality. requiring only
right treatment to produce noble
fruitage.
The Vacation Bible School has
come to stay. 1t is pity that more
of our larger places do not have
one. Wherever it has been fairly
tried IN has become permanent.
Kent's Hill Seminary is having
successful year. Principal Watkins
has now growing =. acquaintance
ship in the state and his quality Is
appreciated. Although we do not see
so many students who have the
ministry in mind as in former years,