Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-04-21

into its place a common term, more
accurate perhaps, but absolutely de-
void OF dignity and any religious flaw
or. Bishops Nicely, Hughes and
others thought 1t a great mistake. /
have always thought so.
"The term, Augusta District has
been in long and honorable use for
very many years. Indeed, 1t has a
kind Of prestige. We can bow 1t
out in five minutes, but in so doing
we lose an intangible value-not to
be gotten back.
1.-THE majority of the committee
would probably say that If we are
to make Lewiston the center of the
district we ought to call it by the
name lewiston which brings us
to the matter of the division of ter
ritory.
Compact Districts
70. Evidently the argument for
the new plan is based mostly upon
contiguity and ease of access, which
of course are desirable.
yet no territory in Maine ever
has been or ever will be ideally di-
vided. The Kennebec river Is the
boundary between the Augusta and
Rockland Districts. The Maine
Central Railroad runs parallel to
the river, mostly on the Augusta
District, sometimes on the other
side. Brother March, in getting to
his territory in winter time, travels
on theA railroad sometimes on the
east side and sometimes on the west
What difference does it make? II
the railroad ran up the east side
all the way he would be travelling
all of the time on his own territory,
but he wouldn't save any time or
money. That argument is more
nominal than real.
"Now, as a matter Of fact, both
Brother March and I use automo-
biles from right after conference till
about December, so that actually
only during the Fourth Quarterly
Conferences are we dependent upon
the railroad. Rockland District is
constantly increasing in mileage.
Now as for the preferences Of
the district superintendents, the
Bangor District superintendent will
naturally not object as it is proposed
to give him Grace church, Bangor
Portland District is the strongest and
most compact. Under the plan ii
loses a little, but Is still compact
and strong.
81 am not claiming that some re.
adjustment may not be desirable, but
I do affirm that the present integ.
rity and identity of the Augusta Dis.
trict, together with certain intangi.
BILE values not easy to appraise but
real, should not be destroyed.
MAY / not ask that you delay
decision till there is time to exam.
inc the matter more thoroughly!
There are certain questions that
am not satisfied about"
Restricting Recommendations
The majority recommendations for
the composition of the four districts
designate the first district as the
Bangor District.
Changes from the present Bangor
District include the placing of
Brownville Junction and Milo on the
District to be called Waterville Dis
trict, and the placing of Bangor,
Grace and West, East Corinth and
Corinth, Mampden and Winterport
from the present Rockland District
to the Bangor District.
There will be SO charges on the
Bangor District.
The proposed new Lewiston Dis
trict would be composed of three
charges from the present Portland
District. From the present Rockland
District, twenty three. From the
present Augusta District twenty
seven, total of So pastoral charges.
All of them are on or near the rail-
road lines running out Of Lewiston
as a center. There is no crossing of
other District lines in order to
travel this District.
The third or Portland District
would be the same as present with
the exception that the following
charges would be placed on the new
Lewiston District: Bath. Beacon
street; Bath, Wesley and w. Bath.
Brunswick.
Taken from the present Augusta
District: n. Pownal and w. Durham.
N. Yarmouth. There will be 81
charges on this District.
And the fourth or new Waterville
District would be composed of two
charges from the present Bangor
District; 20 from the present Angus
ia District: 26 from the present
Rockland District.
This makes a total of 48 pastoral
charges. All of these are on or near
railroad lines running out of Water
vile as a center. There is no cross
ing of other District lines in order
to travel this District. the only
point of contact being at Milo and
Brownville Junction, which does not
form a serious overlapping.
The Green street church of Au-
gusta would be included in the new
ly established Waterville District.