USA > Maine > History of Methodism in Maine, 1793-1886 > Part 18
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Five members of Conference were reported deceased, during the year : Rufus C. Bailey, Thomas Greenhalgh, James Farrington, Josiah H. Newhall, John Young, and Albert F. Barnard ; also four wives or widows of members of conference : Mrs. Rebecca H. Webber, Mrs. Hannah Burnham, Mrs. Hannah E. P. Hillman, and Mrs. Sarah Wight. Memoirs were read. The memorial services were deeply impressive.
The treasurer of the committee on the Centennial of Methodism, (William Deering) presented the following report :
Forty-seven preachers have reported amounts paid, or pledged on their charges for centenary purposes. About half of the Conference have made no returns to the treasurer. The amounts contributed are as follows :
For Maine Wesleyan Seminary and Female College,
.
$14,692.65
For Preachers' Aid society of Maine Conference,
-
755.70
For Wesleyan University,
316.75
For Biblical Institute,
471.00
For Centenary Mission House, -
109.50
For Chartered fund of Methodist Episcopal Church,
44,50
For Ladies' Centenary Association,
318.00
For children's fund, -
-
474.25
For Bremen Theological school, -
·
1.00
For plate collection, -
-
-
ʻ
74.09
$17,692.56
164
MAINE CONFERENCE. DISCUSSION ON LAY DELEGATION.
Committees were appointed on Education, Temperance, the State of the country, and various other objects.
Able reports were presented and adopted.
The subject of education, for several years, had been kept prominently before the conference, and before the people, and especially the claims of the seminary and college at Kent's Hill. The growing prosperity of this institution, proves the wisdom of this course.
Admitted, on trial : John F. Hutchins, Emerson H. McKenney, John M. Howes, A. Harvey Reed.
ABSTRACT OF STATISTICS.
One hundred and ten circuits and stations ; one hundred and seven preachers appointed ; twelve places to be supplied. Members, 10,479; probationers, 2,059; total, 12,538; increase, 406.
Received for conference claimants, $1,412.31.
Collected for Missions, $5,733.13.
Collected for Church Extension, $517.49.
Collected for Tract society, $459.61.
Collected for Bible society, #343.07.
Collected for Sunday school Union, $213.01.
Collected for centenary objects, $11,709.59.
Collected for New England Educational society, $121.14.
Collected for Biblical Institute, $58.76.
Collected for Freedinen's Aid society, $67.60.
Number of churches, 110 1-2; value $420,000; parsonages, 54; value, $39,825.
1868. The Maine Conference met in Brunswick, April 15, Bishop Simpson, presiding ; C. F. Allen, Secretary.
The following visiting brethren from other conferences, were present : Rev. Mr. Plumer, George Pratt, Bros. Gould, Arey and Winslow of East Maine Conference.
Rev. Dr. Ballard of the Episcopal church in Brunswick, was intro- duced. Rev. Dr. Harris, President of Bowdoin college, was introduced and addressed the Conference, giving an invitation to visit the libraries, paintings and cabinets of the college. Voted to accept the invitation.
Rev. A. S. Packard, delegate of the Congregational churches, and Rev. Mr. Bryan, delegate of the Maine Baptist Convention, addressed the conference, presenting the fraternal greetings of the bodies they represented.
A lively discussion occurred on the subject of Lay delegation. Rev. S. M. Vail, D. D., Hon. J. J. Perry and others in favor, and C. Munger and Rev. William McDonald of New England Conference, against the proposed change in the economy of the Church.
165
REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION.
The subject of education was still foremost in interest; the Seminary and College at Kent's Hill, still flourishing, out of debt, and paying its way. The agent reported $10,000 received towards the contemplated new Seminary building, besides $8,000 available for that purpose.
The Wesleyan University was cordially commended. The completion of the Rich Hall, for the library, at a cost of $40,000, the gift of Isaac Rich, of Boston, is a valuable acquisition.
The establishment of the Theological Seminary, at Boston, was highly approved, and the institution commended to the generous patronage of our people.
The following persons were elected delegates to the General Conference : H. P. Torsey, Charles Munger, Joseph Colby, C. F. Allen.
The following resolution on the subject of lay delegation, was adopted :
Resolved, That we have no sufficient reason to believe that the people of our church, desire the introduction of lay delegates, into our General Conference, and we are, therefore, opposed to the further agitation of the subject by our ministers.
The thanks of the Conference, were voted to Congress, for their wisdom and firmness in carrying forward the work of reconstruction ; to General Grant, and to the Honorable Secretary of War, for their firm resistance to the Chief Magistrate, in his efforts to subvert the congressional policy of reconstruction.
The treasurer of centenary committee, reported that the whole amount of centenary contributions received and disbursed, was $16,879.84, of which $15,039.17, was for Maine Wesleyan Seminary and Female college.2
Received, on trial : Orange W. Scott, James H. Moores, John A. Stront, Jabez Budden, J. H. Pillsbury, W. H. H. Pillsbury.
ABSTRACT OF STATISTICS.
One hundred and twelve circuits and stations; one hundred and three preachers appointed ; fourteen places to be supplied. Members, 11,157; probationers, 2,090; total, 13,247 ; increase, 709.
Received for conference elaimants $1,369.64.
Collected for Missions, #5,303.81.
Collected for Church Extension, $209.06.
Collected for Tract society, $230,43.
2 Collections were made by many preachers, which did not come into the hands of the treasurer.
166
GENERAL CONFERENCE AT CHICAGO.
Collected for American Bible society, #192.47.
Collected for Sunday school Union, $194.24. Collected for Educational society, $132.13. Collected for Biblical Institute, $45.60. Collected for Freedinen's Aid, $388.45. Sunday schools, 133; officers and teachers, 1,709; scholars, 11,593. Churches, 113; value, $414,700 ; parsonages, 59; value, $46,950.
GENERAL CONFERENCE.
1868. The fifteenth delegated General Conference, assembled in the First Methodist Episcopal church in the city of Chicago, Illinois, May 1st, 1868, Bishops Morris, Janes, Scott, Simpson, Ames Clark, Thompson and Kingsley, were present ; Bishop Baker arrived subsequently. Two hundred and twenty-nine members from fifty-five Annual Conferences, were reported.
William L. Harris was chosen secretary by acclamation. Three assistant secretaries were chosen.
Several conferences having been organized, as Mission Conferences, in the Southern States, and having elected delegates, according to the disciplinary rule for the election of delegates, and the delegates so elected, having appeared at the conference, a question arose as to the propriety of recognizing such delegates, as members of the General Conference.
The following resolution, after considerable discussion, was adopted, by a vote of 212, in favor, to 14 against.
Resolved, That the following conferences, namely, Alabama, Delaware, Georgia, Holsten, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, North Carolina and Washington, arc hereby declared to be Annual Conferences of the Methodist Episcopal church, and vested with all the rights, privileges and immunities usual to Annual Conferences of said church, and that the provisional delegates, to this body, clected by the aforcsaid Conferences, severally, are herchy admitted to membership in this General Conference, on presentation of the requisite credentials.3
Eleven "provisional" delegates were then received into the General Conference, making the whole number, two hundred and forty.
Delegates, from the British Wesleyan Conference, from the Wesleyan Conference of Canada, and from the Wesleyan church of Eastern British America, and of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Canada, were introduced, with mutual expressions of good will.
The addresses were able, and the fraternal greetings were highly interesting.
3 This action opened the door for the admission of Mission Conferences in foreign lands as integral portions of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
167
LAY DELEGATION.
The most prominent subject before the Conference was that of lay delegation.
Numerous petitions, asking for Lay delegation, and some protesting against it, were presented, and referred to the committee on that subject.
In their report, the committee recommended a change in the Discipline, so as to provide for lay delegation in the General Conference, and presented a plan by which this change may be effected.
The report was adopted by a vote of 231 to 3.
Thomas Carlton and J. Lanahan were elected book agents, at New York, Daniel Curry, editor of the Christian Advocate, D. D. Wheedon, editor of the Quarterly Review, and D. Wise, editor of the Sunday School Advocate and books.
The Committee on Education, presented their report, which was adopted, in which they recommended the establishment of a " Board of Education of the Methodist Episcopal Church." The duty of this board being to receive and securely invest, the principal of the centennial educational fund and to appropriate the interest, from time to time, to the following purposes :
(a) To aid young men, preparing for the foreign missionary work, in the Methodist Episcopal Church.
(b) To aid young men preparing for the ministry of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
(d) To aid universities, colleges and academies, under the patronage of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
The report of the committee, on the state of the country, was read and adopted. The report contains the following declarations :
1. That a primary duty of the church, is loyalty to the civil government.
2. The unsettled condition of many portions of our country, is to be deplored. A solemn protest was entered against any system of reconstruction, which does not secure hearty loyalty to the federal government, and place all men equal before the law, in all the rights and eligibility of citizens.
3. The spirit of peace, gentleness, forbearance, charity and good will towards each other and towards all men, is earnestly commended.
4. The attention of our rulers and people is called to the neglected duty of a formal recognition of God, his providence over nations, and of the Holy Scriptures as a divine revelation, in the written constitution of the country.
Delegates from the General Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, also from the Ceneral Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, were received, and a committee appointed to consider their proposals of "affiliation and union."
168
ADDRESS OF BISHOPS. STATISTICS OF M. E. CHURCH.
The subject was treated in a friendly spirit, but it was considered too late in the session to mature a plan of union.
. ADDRESS OF THE BISHOPS.
The address contains a brief survey of the progress and present condition of the Methodist Episcopal Church. " Never in the history of the church has the General Conference convened under more favorable circumstances. The Annual Conferences of the church not only spread over the United States, but the Church, claiming the world for its parish, has organized its conferences in Africa, Europe and Asia."
The number of members and probationers in 1863 was 923,394. The number of members and probationers in 1867 was 1,146,081. The number of traveling preachers in 1866 was 7,576. The number of local preachers in 1867 was 9,469.
Being the largest increase which has ever occurred, with one exception, in any quadrennium, in the history of the church.
The number of churches in 1863 was 9,430; value, $20,830,554.
The number of churches in 1867 was 11,121 ; value, $35,885,439.
1869. The forty-fifth annual session of the Maine Conference was held at Saccarappa, commencing Wednesday, May 5th, 1869, Bishop Clark, presiding ; C. C. Mason, Secretary.
On Thursday, Rev. Dr. Harris, Assistant Secretary of the General Missionary Society, was introduced and addressed the Conference. In the afternoon an educational meeting was held ; remarks were made by Rev. E. R. Keyes, W. R. Clark, H. P. Torsey and A. J. Church. Dr. G. Haven presented the claims of Zion's Herald. J. P. Magee addressed the Conference in relation to the interests of the Book Depository. Rev. A. K. P. Small and Rev. Dr. Shailer, delegates of the Maine Baptist Convention, were introduced and presented the fraternal greetings of that body. Rev. B. F. Frink, delegate of the Congregationalist churches, was introduced and presented the salutations of those churches. Delegates were appointed to return the greetings of this Conference to the churches above named. The usual committees were appointed, and their reports were presented and adopted.
LAY DELEGATION.
The following preamble and resolution were adopted :
Whereas, By the action of the General Conference, the wishes of the people are made the condition of any ultimate decision. Therefore,
169€
REV. E. R. KEYES. MAINE CONFERENCE. VOTE OF LAITY.
Resolved, That we cordially endorse said action, and will see, so far as practicable, that provisions for taking the popular vote are faithfully observed.
Rev. E. R. Keyes, pastor of Chestnut Strcet Church, was charged by some members of the church with uttering heretical sentiments in the pulpit. He declared himself before the Bishop and Presiding Elder, a Methodist in belief, and was transferred to another conference. In a few months he entered the ministry of the Swedenborgian church.
Admitted on trial : James I. Cummings, Leroy T. Carlton, Henry Crockett. Frederick E. Emerich, Sylvester D. Brown, Elbridge Gerry, Jr., Charles J. Clark, Daniel Halleron, Onsville H. Stevens.
1870. The Maine Conference met, for its forty-sixth session, at Augusta, May 4, 1870, Bishop Simpson, presiding ; P. Jaques, Secretary.
Rev. I. Luce of Vermont Conference, Rev. M. Trafton of New England Conference, Rev. R. Stinchfield, agent of Macon College, Missouri, were introduced ; also Rev. H. B. Ridgaway of New York Conference, Revs. Dunn, Helmerhausen, French, and C. F. Allen, of East Maine Conference. Subsequently, Bros. Tilton and Pillsbury of Wisconsin Conference ; Beale, Hanscomb, True, Pilsbury, Marsh and W. L. Brown of East Maine Conference.
The vote of the laity on Lay delegation, according to the recommendation of the General Conference, was reported as follows :
For Lay delegation or Lay representation, 1,114.
Against Lay delegation or Lay representation, 320. Majority in favor, 794.
The result of this vote, showing but a moderate degree of interest, in this subject, by the laity of the church in Maine Conference, the Conference, by vote of 69 to 31, declared in favor of a change of the restrictive rule, making lay delegation possible, but objected to the plan of lay delegation, as proposed by the General Conference.
Sunday was a memorable day. Granite Hall, on account of its greater seating capacity, was secured for the occasion.
The exercises were as usual : love feast, in the morning, preaching and ordinations, forenoon and afternoon, and Missionary anniversary in the evening.
The hall was crowded at an early hour. The sermon, by Bishop Simpson, was one of remarkable power, producing a deep impression upon the audience. An able sermon was also preached, by Rev. A. Prince of East Maine Conference.
Addresses were given at the Missionary meeting, in the evening, by
170
MAINE CONFERENCE. WOMAN'S FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY.
Rev. I. Luce, Rev. JJ. Cokler, a returned missionary from China, and Rev. D. D. Currie of Frederickton, New Brunswick.
On Monday, Rev. Dr. Ricker, delegate from the Maine Baptist Convention, presented the fraternal greetings of that body.
Tuesday, Rev. Dr. Warren, addressed the Conference, in behalf of the Womans' Foreign Missionary society, and of the Boston Theological school.
The usual reports of committes were read and adopted.
The report on education was read by S. Allen, containing the following passages :
We have eause for thankfulness, that the superior literary advantages of the church, are bringing upon the stage, young men of cultivated intellects, as well as cultivated hearts, prepared to grapple successfully with the bold spirit of skepticism, which, under the guise of religion, is seeking to subvert the fundamental principles of christianity.
No outlay should be deemed extravagant, which is required to give our institutions of learning the highest degree of efficiency.
The pressing necessities of the Maine Wesleyan Seminary and Female College, give this institution, the first and chief elaim upon our attention, for the present.
Admitted, on trial : James H. Mason, James Nixon, David Church, John P. Cole, Charles K. Evans.
1871. Maine Conference met in Chestnut Street Church, Portland, April 27, 1871, Bishop Ames, presiding ; P. Jaques, Secretary.
The Woman's Foreign Missionary Society, held its anniversary on the evening of April 28th. Addresses were given by Mrs. George E. Taylor, one of the vice presidents ; also by Rev. J. O. Knowles of New England Conference, Rev. G. Haven, editor of Zion's Herald, and Rev. George Pratt of East Maine Conference.
Sunday, the usual Conference services were held in Chestnut Street Church, which were crowded with people through the day. Love feast in the morning ; sermon by Bishop Ames in the forenoon, and by Rev. J. B. Newman, in the afternoon. The preaching was of a high order, and held the large audience in close attention.
The anniversary of the Missionary Society, was in the evening. The treasurer reported the amount collected during the year, $4,514.84.
Addresses were made by Rev. C. Munger of Bath, and Rev. Dr. Kynett of Philadelphia, Secretary of the Church Extension Society.
Five hundred dollars were subscribed for the church in Salt Lake City, during the session of Conference.
The usual Committees were appointed and able reports were pre- sented and adopted, all recommending, in forcible terms, an advance in the line of christian activity, and church enterprises.
171
MAINE CONFERENCE AT PORTLAND.
The report on Education, made mention of the new Seminary building at Kent's Hill, erected at a cost of $42,000, mainly through the munificence of Samuel R. Bearce, Esq., of Lewiston, and Hon. William Deering of Portland.
Admitted, on trial : Joseph G. Walker, George Boynton, James H. Trask, Henry Heath, Reuel L. French, Delano Perry, William H. Meredith, Frank W. Smith, David H. Hannaburgh.
172
MAINE CONFERENCE AT GARDINER.
CHAPTER XV.
1872-1879. MAINE CONFERENCE, 1872. LAY ELECTORAL CONFERENCE MEETS WITHI MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE. GENERAL CONFERENCE. RESTRICTIVE RULE CHANGED. LAY DELEGATES RECOGNIZED. FOUR BISHOPS DECEASED. MEMORIAL SERVICES. BOOK ROOM TROUBLE SETTLED. EIGHT NEW BISHOPS ELECTED. STATISTICS OF METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCHI. THE MAINE CONFERENCE, 1873. VISITORS. REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION. MAINE CONFERENCE, 1874. MRS. WITTENMYER. MAINE CONFERENCE, 1875. FRATERNAL DELEGATES. WOMAN'S FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY. MAINE CONFERENCE, 1876. DELEGATES TO GENERAL CONFERENCE, STATISTICS. GENERAL CONFERENCE, 1876. BISHOPS. MINISTERS AND LAY DELEGATES. FRATERNAL DELEGATES. REVISION OF HYMN BOOK. GENERAL STATISTICS MAINE CONFERENCE, 1877. FRATERNAL DELEGATES AND VISITORS. TWO DISTRICTS IN MAINE CONFERENCE. MAINE CONFERENCE, 1878. WOMAN'S FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY. MRS. A. C. TRAFTON. CHAPLAIN MCCABE. THE MAINE CONFERENCE, 1879. FRATERNAL DELEGATES AND VISITORS. MEMORIAL SERVICES. DEATH OF BISHOP AMES ANNOUNCED. RESOLUTIONS.
1872. The Maine Conference met in the Methodist Church in Gardiner, April 10, 1872, Bishop Janes, presiding ; P. Jaques and A. S. Ladd, Secretaries.
The usual committees were appointed ; reports were presented and adopted. Resolutions were adopted recommending a change in the Discipline, so that the Presiding Elder shall not serve more than four years, and shall not be again eligible to that office, until the expiration of eight years, and that the Presiding Elders may be elected by ballot by the members of the Annual Conference.
The Lay Electoral Conference met in the vestry of the Methodist Episcopal church, Friday, April 12; organized, by electing Hon. J. J. Perry, chairman, and F. A. Plaisted, secretary. Hon. William Deering, of Portland, and F. A. Plaisted, of Gardiner, were chosen delegates to the General Conference; J. M. Heath and Chandler Beale were chosen reserve delegates.
By invitation, the Lay Conference met with their ministerial brethren in a union conference, in the evening, Friday, April 12th. The Lay Conference was introduced by the presiding bishop. An address was given by Hon. Elisha Clark, of the Lay Conference, and replied to by Bishop Janes, and the meeting closed with singing and prayer. The Presiding Elders presented written reports giving an account of their work during the year, and of the condition of their districts.
173
GENERAL CONFERENCE. LAY DELEGATES.
Reports of the various committees were read and adopted. The institutions of learning under the patronage of the Conference, were represented as in a prosperous condition, though all needing more ample andowments.
Admitted on trial : James Nixon, James W. Smith, A. Fitzroy Chase, Richard Vivian, Charles W. Averill, J. Roscoe Day.
Deceased during the year : Samuel W. Russell.
ABSTRACT OF STATISTICS.
One hundred and nine circuits and stations ; one hundred and five preachers appointed ; ten places to be supplied. Members, 11,283; probationers, 2,329; total, 13,612; loeal preachers, 80.
Number of churches, 129 1-4; value, $546,450; parsonages, 61; value, $60,350.
Number of Sunday schools, 135; officers and teachers, 1,737; scholars, 11,919.
Received for conference claimants, $1,453,50.
Collected for missions, $4,114.95.
Collected for Womans' Foreign Missions, $565.00.
Collected for Church Extension, $908.81.
Collected for Tract society, #181.84.
Collected for Bible society, $299.74.
Collected for Sunday school union, $179.84.
Collected for education, $6,712.17.
Collected for Freedmen's Aid, $369.50.
GENERAL CONFERENCE.
1872. The sixteenth delegated General Conference met in the Academy of Music. in the city of Brooklyn, New York, May 1st, 1872.
Bishops present : T. A. Morris, Edmund S. Janes, Levi Scott, Matthew Simpson and Edward R. Ames.
Ministerial delegates, 292; lay delegates, 129; total number of delegates, 421.
Seventy-two Annual Conferences were represented. Nine of these were in states recently in rebellion ; Alabama, Georgia, Holston, Kentucky, Louisiana, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia Conferences ; three were in foreign lands, Germany and Switzerland, India and Liberia; five were German Conferences in the United States.
Delegates from Maine : Parker Jaques, Stephen Allen, Charles Munger, Seba F. Wetherbee. Laymen : William Deering, Chandler Beale.
Bishop Simpson reported that the plan proposed by the last General Conference, providing for the admission of lay delegates into the General Conference, had been laid before each Annual Conference,
174
BOOK CONCERN TROUBLE.
and the aggregate result of their voting was as follows: For the proposed change, 4,915 ; against the change, 1,597.
The following resolution was then adopted, two hundred and eighty- three yeas and six nays, viz. :
Resolved, That this General Conference does hereby concur with the Annual Conferences in changing the second restrictive rule so as to read as follows :
They shall not allow of more than one ministerial representative for every fourteen members of an Annual Conference, nor allow of less than one for every forty-five, nor more than two lay delegates for any Annual Conference.
The plan of Lay delegation proposed by thic last General Conference was then adopted by two hundred and fifty-two ycas to thirty-six nays. It was then voted, (two hundred and eighty-eight yeas, onc nay,) that the roll of the laymen, whose certificates of election were in the hands of the secretary, be called, and that those who were duly accredited, be admitted to seats in the General Conference. The roll was then called and one hundred and twenty-nine men were introduced into the couference, many of them men of prominence iu civil life, as well as in the church ; among them, governors, judges, and successful men of business. Thus this important change, in the highest judicatory of the church, was consummated without serious trouble, and the union of ministers and laymen appeared to be mutually agreeable.
Four bishops had died since the last Ceneral Conference, viz. : Osman C. Baker, Davis W. Clark, Edward Thompsou, Calvin Kingsley. An hour was appointed for memorial services ; prayer was offered ; brief memorial sketches were read by Bishop Simpson, and remarks were made by others.
The tenth day of the session was appointed for the introduction of delegates from other religious bodies ; the Wesleyan Methodist of Canada, the Methodist Episcopal church of Canada, the Wesleyan Methodist Conference of Eastern British America, and the National Council of the Congregational churches of the United States. The usnal addresses were made ou the occasion. Fraternal visitors from other churches were received.
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