THE CHRISTIAN MINISTRY A WORK FOR THE GOSPEL'S SAKE. SEEMON DELIVEBED AT PORTLAND, JUNE 27, 1855, BEFORE THE MALNE MISSIONARY SOCIETYj FORTY-EIGHTH ANNIVERSARY BY S, C. FESSENDEN, Pastor of the Congregational Churcli in Rockland. PRINTED AT THE OFFICE OP THE AGE. 1855. m i THE CHRISTIAN MINISTRY A WORK FOR THE GOSPEL'S SAKE. SERMON DELIVERED AT PORTLAND, JUNE 27, 1855, BEFORE THE % MAINE MISSIONARY SOCIETY, FOETY-EIGHTH ANNIVERSARY. BY S. C. FESSENDEN, Pastor of the Congregational Church in Rockland. PBINTED AT THE OFFICE OF THE AGE. 1855, SERMON. 1 Cor. 9 : 23. And this I do for the Gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you. Man's life begins in action ; in the action of the lungs and heart, the opening of the valves, the circulation of life's cur- rent in every part of the system, and in the exercise of the mental faculties. For, who can show that the mind of the infant is inactive ? Who believes that it has not its field of observation and thought, into which it enters at once on its discoveries — the circle of which in continuation enlarges its circumference ? Life, with all its energies, its intellectual and moral and physical powers, does, and must, have an object, for the sake of which it is spent. Most deplorably ignoble would life be, were it otherwise. With every man there is a " this,'' which he is doing as the means to an end. And it becomes the chief subject of his thoughts, concentrating his energies ; it is the development of the decision to which he has come, iixing the course of his activity, in which his deeds will make for them- selves a channel, broad and deej), to the judgment of "the quick and the dead." It was so with the Apostle, for he wrote to the Corinthians : ''■ And this I do for the Gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you." The text naturally leads us to consider : The Course of the Apostle ; the Cause for which such was his course ; and the Reason which he gave for his course. THE CHRISTIAN MINISTRY I. The Course of Paul. " This I do," he said. And what was it he did ? There is a synoptical view of the nintli chapter of the first of Corinthians, from which we get aid in this inquiry. Ana- lyzed, we find the chapter to be a record of rights which Paul claims for himself and his fellow Apostles, and in a way which shows that he thought the Corinthians to be harboring unwar- rantable inferences in questioning these rights. His right to maintenance, with whatever family he had, at the expense of those among whom he labored; his right to forbear manual labor, as did some of the Apostles. And still, it is a record of his waiving these rights. It is the Apostle's declaration of freedom from any obliga- tion by which his fellow men could demand that he should be the servant of men for their conversion, with the assertion that he enslaved himself to all, complied with the rites and cus- toms of both Jews and Gentiles to the extent of accommo- dating himself in all things to all men, that he might by all means save some. Have we not here the positive in the life of the Apostle, within which was his entire course for the Gospel's sake ; ex- cluding, on the one hand, everything that was incompatible with Ms purpose, and including, on the other, everything that could be made subservient to it ? Was he of rich intellectual culture, and of ample means to indulge his literary taste ; in judicial knowledge not a novice ; of singularly Untarnished reputation, and in his religion an ap- proved zealot? Did he aspire to go from the school of Gama- liel to the title and office of a doctor of the law, and "to be an eminent member of that theological party, to which so many of the Jews were looking for the preservation of their national life, and the existence of their national creed ?" And sur- rounded by influential friends, and distinguished for the ardor with which lie prosecuted his design of exterminating the infant Christian Church, was he rapidly gaining the goal for which he A WORK FOR THE GOSPEL's SAKE. aimed ? The knowledge wliicli lie had intensely sought, he eagerly abandoned as he came into the light which beamed from the mountains of Judea, eclipsing all that ever shone from Olympus or Parnassus. The religion in which he was nurtured, and whicli he consci- entiously believed, he renounced ; and tliis renunciation involved self-excision from Jewish kindred and society and church, and from the literature, science, and philosophy of his sphere. And the work on which Paul entered, was that of preachino- the doctrines of the despised one of IS'azarcth, who was mocked and crucified at Jerusalem, who died and was buried — to spend his life with all his powers, to know nothing but to do everything in the face of all obstacles, until seas were crossed and continents traversed, and every kingdom leavened with the glad tidings of Christ. In his Second Epistle to the Corinth- ians, he graphically, with his customary brevity, shows what were the obstacles, and perils, he surmounted. And, moreover, there was his labor for daily bread during his Apostleship, insomuch that his hands were scarred with the toil of years when he held them to the view of the elders at Miletus. And to the Thessalonians he wrote, as he might have written to all the churches, " ye remember, brethren, our labor and travaih for laboring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God." The world crucified unto him, and he unto the world; he crucified vrith Christ, that he might live the life which, as an Apostle, he lived in the flesh. How comprehensive, therefore, is the meaning of the words "this I do,'' as they come from the Apostle of the Gentiles. ^*' This I do,'' was his life of renunciation — excision — conse- cration — crucifixion, "for the Gospel's sake." THE CHRISTIAN MINlSTUr 11. The Cause far the sake of which such was the course of the Apostle. " This I do, for the Gospel's sake." We remark — It was a cause of the greatest moy-al dignity. The cause is comprehended in the name of Jesus, which Paul was to bear "before the Gentiles, and Kings, and the children of Israel," as the alone "name under Heaven, given among men, whereby we must be saved." The cause " of the Gospel of the Grace of God,"— the salva- tion of souls, and the conversion of the world by God's grace, through our Lord Jesus Christ. It is impossible to conceive of another cause which, from its nature, is invested with such a measure of moral dignity ; since in this respect it luminously, and immeasurably, transcends every other. The progress and consummation of many another cause may be attended with good to the bodies and souls of men ; but it must infinitely fail- of doing for either what the Gospel, in its achievements, does for both] for, by its inherent properties, its scope compasses the good there is in every cause. The Gospel begins its work for the good of mankind, where no other cause, having in view the welfare of man, begins its ^ork, — at the heart, to new create it, that from henceforth it be the workmanship of God " created in Christ Jesus unto good works." There is contained in the Gospel a system of Moral Science, and Christian Ethics, and Divine Philosophy, which effectually works, and is worked by, the peculiar truths which the sacred writers teach respecting our depravity and ruin, our redemption by Christ, and the result of our present conduct in a state of endless retribution. For a city besieged the problem M-as once solved, how to rid the nation of its enemies by their universal destruction. But for a world conquered^by " the prince of the power of the air," the problem which the Gospel solves is, how to hurl this prince from his throne, and change the enemies of God A WORK FOR THE GOSPEL'S SAKE. into his friends, — whether found in the palace or the hovel, — the schools of philosophy and chief places of learning, or in the nurseries of ignorance and superstition, — how to raise them from the depths of sin to the true dignity of manhood and brotherhood on earth, and to the sublimity " of kings and priests unto God " in heaven. Such is the nature of every other cause except that of the Gospel, that, benevolent as the cause may be, it can never trace its triumphs into that world, where the everlasting anthem of redemption is sung, — the key notes of which the Gospel alone can give. "We adduce the nature of the Gospel, to show that its cause is of the greatest moral dignity. Again. It was a cause which the Apostle knew to be effect- ual in its progress. Even " the power of God and the wisdom of God," " casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." It was from Ephe- sus, that pleasure-loving city in Asia Minor, the most illustrious seat of idolatry in the whole pagan world, Paul wrote to the Corinthians — there, where the worship of idols was intrenched in the hearts of the people, not only by its adaptation to pro- mote every sinful indulgence, but by the learning and wealth which it there concentrated, and by the strength of the civil arm which was around it for its defence. For more than three years had the power of the Gospel, under the preaching of the Apostle, been witnessed in this city, confounding the Jews in the sjmagogues, and oppressors in the school of Tyrannus, gathering a church, and undermining the temple of Diana ; — unmistakable evidence, this, of its being effectual in its progress. And similar was the evidence of the -power of the Gospel, in all the regions through which Paul had passed, and in nearly all the principal cities which he visited, publishing the name of Jesus and salvation by none other. He knew that it was THE CHRISTIAN MINISTRY effectual in its operation, and had the trophies of its victories not only in the cities of the Jews, but in the cities of the Gen- tiles likewise. He had been with Barnabas at Antioch, " the Heathen Queen and Metropolis of the East," and had seen the grace of God, and was glad. With Barnabas he had journeyed on a missionary enterprise to Seleucia, Salamis, Paphos, Perga, Antioch in Pisidia, Iconium, Lystra and Derbe ; and such was the effect with which the Gospel was preached in these cities, that many Jews and Gentiles believed, and glorified the word of the Lord. Churches were established in the faith, and in- creased in number daily. From Troas westward, in answer to the call for help, the empire of Jesus Christ took its way,-" to subdue the powers of an extensive heathen region, and bring the civilization of the world into captivity to the obedience of Christ." In Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea, — in licentious Corinth, — so distinguished for its refinement and learning as to be called " the light of all Greece," the Apostle had preached Jesus and the resurrection, and had seen the Gospel's might, in its progress, to get to itself many believers and faithful disci- ples of its great Teacher, in these strongholds of heathen darkness. But, more than all, he had himself experienced the efficacy of the Gospel in its march, when, on his way to Damas- cus, he was made an obedient subject of the faith which he hated, and called to be an Apostle of Jesus Christ, and to wit- ness in others, by his own preaching of the Cross, what in his own conscience and heart he had felt, that it was mighty through God for the work whereto it was sent. With respect to this cause, we observe, moreover, Paul be- lieved in its prospective conquests. He believed that Jesus Christ of Nazareth, who was crucified, and whom God raised from the dead, was the corner stone of a spiritual temple, — the temple of God, to whicji the law of Moses and the temple at Jerusalem would give place ; that Jesus was " the Christ of God," and the pfeachi?ig of Christ crucified the power of God which was to outroot the tenets of Pharisees and Sadducees, A WORK FOR THE GOSPEL S SAKE. and demonstrate the foolislmess>of the doctrines of the Rab- binical schools, and be the glory of God's people, Israel. He believed that, through the blood of Christ, they who were far off had been brought near, and both Jews and Gentiles made one, the wall which parted them being taken down ; and, that now the light to lighten the Gentiles would shine upon them, to whom, far hence, he was to go, and of whom there would be the seals of his Apostleship. With the eye of faith, the Apostle surveyed the regions through which he was to pass, where so many millions were sitting in the shadow of death, and saw the triumphal progress of the Gospel even to Rome ; and that proud capital of a great pagan empire, yielding to the cross, — a church in the household of Ca3sar, — " and her seven hills as the seven golden candlesticks, to send the light of truth abroad." "Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature ;" and "lo ! I am with you always, even unto the end of the world." "And I, if I be lifted up, will draw all men unto me." " This command and promise which constitute the great missionary charter, of the Church for all tiuie, and in which is the sum and tlieory of all spiritual instrumentality," beihg believed by the Apostle, could he question that facilities would be mul- tiplied to diffuse the knowledge of salvation, until the whole world would be filled with " the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ," "as the waters cover the sea?" Finally. To this cause — the cause of the Gospel — was justly due the offering which Paul made. It was in accordance with the spirit of the Gospel that, hav- ing been made a subject of its renewing grace, and a partaker of its faith, he should most earnestly desire to be its minister " according to the gift of the grace of God given unto (him) by the effectual working of His power, and to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ, to the intent that now unto the principalities 10 THE CHRISTIAN MINISTRY and powers in heavenly places might be known by the Church, the manifold wisdom of God." This onl3^ on the part of the Apostle, would have been Christ-like. The cause was the cause of God — who " so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life.'' And the cause of him "who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God ; but made himself of no reputation, and took upon himself the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." It was the cause of him, who, as the Apostle declares, loved him, and gave himself for him. It was the oiFering of himself. "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do ?" Make me what thou wouldst — use me as thou wilt. My talents, acquirements, property, time, body, soul, life, in all that life can be — from day to day, until life shall end, one continued offering I make to thee. " Zeal and duty are not slow, But on occasion's forelock watchful wait." As it pleased God to make the foolishness of preaching the foremost instrumentality, by which to diffuse the Gospel to the salvation of them that believe — to the Gospel was justly due what the Apostle could give, himself, to be of the great company of preachers by which the earth should be belted with the doc- trines of the One crucified. Had Paul made a less offering to the cause, how vastly below the sublimity of the object of the Gospel would the offering have been ; and how vast the chasm between it and the transcendent character and rights of Him with whom the cause originated ! And standing as the Apostle did, at the very commencement of " the work-days of t^ie spirit process." by which the world was to be reclaimed by such means, as God had appointed to give success to the truth, of what an illustrious exami^le of life-long preaching of Jesus A WORK FOR THE GOSPEL's >SAKE. 11 Christ, and of missionary zeal, would the Church have been deprived, had he not devoted his life to the furtherance of tlie Gospel? III. But let i7S come to the Reason which the Apostle gave for his course. "And this I do for the Gospel's sake, that I might he par- taker thereof with yoii^ That he might save himself, and those to whom lie preached j that he might be of the number of God's laborers iu extend- ing the Kingdom of the Redeemer, gathering and confirnnng churches, and at last be like the Son of God and see him as he is, not only made Paul's soul strong to labor, but to endure great things for the name of Jesus. This great object buoyed him up ; it carried him forward ; it enabled him to surmount obstacles in the way of his preaching the Gospel, such as have not been exceeded in number, nor in magnitude. Though greatly disappointed, and much grieved, at the unpropitious re- sult of his labor in some places ; and most disappointed, and most grieved, by the conduct and state of some of the churches, to which he looked for " better things ;" though deeply con- scious of his weakness, and, at times, filled with forebodings and fears, knowing not the things which should befall him, save that the Holy Ghost witnessed in every city, that bonds and afflic- tions were in store for him, and always weary by incessant toil; yet, never was he so greatly in this condition, as not to find in this reason a motive, which made him persistent in his service of Christ, to the frequent hazard of his life, and through the hottest fires of persecution even to the block of martyrdom. He could recollect the years which he spent in the schools, and all the circumstances which, as they cradled his infancy and nurtured his manhood, gave occasion for the highest expecta- tions, with respect to what he would be and do. for liis nation and the Jewish church. All along through his twenty-years Apostleskip, there were points from which Paul must have 12 THE CHRISTIAN MINISTRY looked back to the scenes tlirougli wliich he had passed, and the conflict he had endured, but no expression of regret in view of his course fell from his lips or had place in his heart. In his first, and in his second Roman imprisonment, when most of his earthly friends forsook him, and he foresaw his sentence to death, not a regretful word did he utter. His life had been an eventful one of exhausting service for the Gospel's sake, for which he was to die, but of which he had no occasion to speak, as it rapidly approached its end, as spoke one of Europe's veteran diplomatists of the results of his life: "Behold eighty- three years past away ! What cares ! What agitation ! What anxieties ! What ill-will ! What sad complications ! And all without other results, except great fatigue of mind and body, and a profound sentiment of discouragement with regard to the future, and disgust with regard to the past !" By the labors of Paul the proclamation of the Gospel had been accomplished in full measure, that all the Gentiles might hear. And his last words were of his readiness " to be offered," and of "a crown of righteousness" which he was confident awaited him beyond the grave. Nor in that " crown of righteousness " is all of what is, for what the Apostle did for the Gospel's sake. But, "bequeathing to the Church in her government and her discipline the legacy of his apostolic labors — leaving his pro- phetic words to be her living oracles — pouring forth his blood to be the seed of a thousand martyrdoms " — truly, he could have said, "' in the very article of death, with his mind as clear as the setting sun without a cloud, and as luminous too," and with meaning in the words — " I yet live !" For, " he being dead yet speaketh," and will speak, until " the .heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat." There is a practical, personal application of this subject by which it is to be made useful. We come to it in the remark, that the Gospel should be no less with us than it was with the Apostle. Is it not to-day the same glorious Gospel of which A WOKK FOR THE GOSPEL's SAKE. IS he was a preacher — to be preached with like glorious results ? The same Gospel now as then, and to achieve like victories ? Truly, to the Gospel all principalities are to come down, even the crown of tlieir glory; for by its " Christ, the power of God and the wisdom of God,* the reign of Israel's Redeemer is to extend from sea to sea, and from pole to pole. The claims of the Gospel upon iis can be no less than they were upon the Apostle, We should be as willing to be wholly used for its advancement as was Paul. "A good minister of Jesus Christ" feels the authority of these claims ; therefore, he is such for the Gospel's sake. Free from all men, yet does he make him- self servant unto all, that he may gain the more. And, far better would it be that that man should be out of the ministry, than in its calling, who cannot say with the Apostle, " Woe is unto me if I preach not the Gospel." And every sacrifice to preach the Gospel has its example in Paul. What though the cost to its minister be the relinquishment of all he counted gain ? What though to continue in the minis- try he is forced to labor with his own hands, or to lack things needful for himself and for those whose interests are intrusted to his care ? What though the measure of his life is filled with cares and perplexities, and shortened too, if it must be, to preach the Gospel of the grace of God ? Come what will, and come what may, in fulfilling his ministry, before him in the path was Paul, who, of " the hope of the Gospel," wrote to the Colossians : " whereof I Paul am made a minister ,• who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the Church." We have heard it said in a censorious spirit, the tendency of ministers at this day is, to secularization. The complaint is, that some of this holy calling combine with it another, and do not give themselves wholly to their appropriate work; as though they did this of choice, and were not compelled to it by 14 THE CHRISTIAN MINISTRY the meagre living which is given them by those mito wliom they have sown spiritual things ; as though it were not with painful reluctance they engaged in any other work, for a day or an hour, than that of performing the duties of the office in which their whole soul is wrapped up, to otttain the means of sub- sistence, which all their fidelity in the ministry has never brought to them from those, who, in justice, should have pro- vided these means for their pastor. Verily, it has come, to pass that if ministers give themselves wholly to the functions of their office and have not a sufficiency for themselves and fami- lies, the question is asked with much astonishment, why do they continue in the ministry to the omission of the christian duty of providing for their own, and their own house. But, if from a people whose society-support of their minister gives him not enough to fulfill this manifest duty, he goes to another people of more means, or more willing to have him " live of the Gospel," then the exclamation of some is — " 0, we see how it is ; though they are the ministers of Him who was anointed to preach the Gospel to the poor, yet how unlike the Savior ; they do not remain to preach it, and suffer with the poor, but go to bear it to the rich, or where they will get more of the things of this world." Now, we hold that that minister is but following in the foot- steps of Paul in sacrifice and suffering, who, conscious that he is called to be a preacher of the Gospel, remains in his calling, though at the cost, if necessity requires it, of daily labor in some avocation for daily bread, that he may preach the Gospel. And although in this course there is a hardness which Churches, we are sure, do not lay upon their ministers without the dis- pleasure of God in his withdrawal or withholding of some blessing, still it is comforting to such ministers to know that there was a workshop in Corinth where Paul made tents, by reason of the necessity that was put upon him, and at the same time preached the Gospel to the Corinthians — nor was he for that reason any the less an ambassador of heaven. A WORK FOR THE GOSPEL'S SAKE. 15 And we may learn from this subject, that the well-sustained office of the Gospel minister has distinguished honor, as well as signal labor, and great reward. It is God's ordinance, and gloriously has he owned and honored it in the world ; and he will own and honor it while the world lasts. The subject of the minister is Jesus Christ — his cross his pulpit — his blood his eloquence. Though his preaching the Gospel " may be a poor exhibition of a rich subject, still, the call of God is in it; the Savior is in it ; the promise of the Spirit is in it ; and in it the conversion of souls." I quote the words of Robert Philip : '' Even that kind of preaching, which never won ap- plause by its eloquence, nor kindled public curiosity by its flame, has made Britain and America whatever they are, as holy nations, and much of what they are as free and powerful na- tions. * * * -^ -^ ■?;- And a great majority both of the dead in Christ, and of the living in Jerusalem, were won to Christ not by the giants of genius or erudition, but by the watchfulness and fidelity of hard-ivorking pastors. The claims of the pulpit do not, therefore, rest upon the memory of its brightest ornaments. They rest far more upon the memory of its countless converts. Its record is on high. All in heaven who washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb, are the vouchers and the trophies. " The pulpit — the ordinary pulpit, has always been the chief means of filling heaven. No other chair of verity can point to the multitudes around the throne, and say — ' Behold the chil- dren whom God hath given me.' " The pulpit can say with all truth of all the redeemed amongst men — 'all these souls are mine' instrumentally ; whereas it is more than doubtful whether there be one soul in heaven, to whom anything on earth was so useful as preaching." It is so ; and in the faithful performance of the duties of his office, the bishop shall both save himself and them that hear him; and souls rescued from death are "gems brighter by far, than ever sparkled on the brow of royalty." 16 THE CHRISTIAN MINISTRY It only remains to be said what the text evidently teaches, that if we speed not the preaching of the Gospel for the Gos- pel's sake, we lack evidence that we are partakers of its bene- fits with those who preach it. For the text is the same as if the Apostle had said, that you, Corinthians, may give evidence that you are partakers of the Gospel by your endeavors to dif- fuse its light and to give it abundant success. And now, that I likewise, may afford evidence of my discipleship, and that I share with you in its present and future benefits, " this I do" — such is my life, " for the Gospel's sake." As in the Church there are " many members in one body and all members have not the same office," we do not say that all are to give themselves to the work of the ministry. But what we do say, is, that all are to speed the preaching of the Gospel to every creature, by helping those who are " the called" to the work, into, and helping them in, the field ; and that, if we do not this, we are wanting in scriptural evidence that we have been new created by the Gospel, the workmanship of God unto good loorks. For, how shall men hear the Gospel without a preacher ? " and how shall they preach, except they be sent ?" and how shall they be sent, except those who are all indebted to the Gospel feel the force of their obligations to send every- where its preachers and support them in fulfilling their com- mission? Through the Maine Missionary Society, we have now, as we have had, opportunity to further the Gospel in its progress, by aiding some of its ministers to preach it, where God has placed them in the field, and others to proclaim its truths whitherso- ever His providence shall direct. These ministers are not beggars for our alms. No preacher of the Gospel is of this class. He is a " servant of Jesus Christ," and " is worthy of his hire " from those who are blessed by his service, even as he gives them the opportunity of sending the Gospel to those who have it not. These missionaries are faithful, but straightened A WORK FOR THE GOSPEL's SAKE. 17 servants of God, it may be, for tliey are of the class of whicli an eminent statesman, whose words did not exceed his knowl- edge, said in the most august tribunal of this nation : " I take it upon myself to say, that in no country in the world, upon eithei" continent, can there be found a body of ministers of the Gospel, who perform so much service to man, in such a full spirit of self denial, under so little encouragement from government of any kind, and under circumstances always much straightened and often distressed, as the ministers of the Gos- pel in the United States, of all denominations." There is no ground of apprehension, however large may be your contribution, that any of these ministers will commit the offence, for which the Rev. E. Irving said he would be ashamed of a minister : " Oh if thou grow rich — oh if thou shouldest die rich, I will be ashamed of thee." It is true of them that the cloak and parchments, i. e., their decent apparel and their books, — these are their riches. They are living illustrations in America, of what Dr. Irving meant when he gave it in charge to Mr. McLeon : '' Brother : If God should bless thee with a wife and children put no money in the bank for them, but write prayers in the word of the Book of Life. Be this thy Bank of Faith : Be this thy Exchange, — even the Providence of God, and let the Lords of the Treasury be the Prophets and Apostles who went before thee. Go thou out as poor .a man as thou comest in, and let the living bury thee when thou diest." Therefore show ye to these ministers, " and before the Churches, the proof of your love" for your country and for Jesus Christ, by a ready and Gospel apportioned contribution of your silver and gold " for the Gospel's sake," — the more widely to diffuse, through their instrumentality, a saving knowl- edge of the Redeemer of lost Men. 2 ANNUAL EEPOET Of the Trustees of the Maine Missionary Societi/. Another year has fled since the last gathering of the officers;- members, and friends of our beloved Maine Missionary Society, and through the help of God we meet again, to review the mis- sionary history of the year past, and to gird onrselves afresh for future cares and duties. The last year's laborers in the missionary field are not all with us. Mr. Greenleaf Cheney, who, soon after commencing the work of preaching the Gospel, spent a few months of the year at Jackson and Brooks, and was highly esteemed for his devoted piety, and diligence in the service of his Master, has recently fallen asleep in Jesus. The Rev. James B. Howard, ordained the last December pastor of the new church and society at Rockport, with very fair pros- pects of usefulness in the good work of laying foundations, to which with enthusiastic eagerness he had devoted himself, was soon laid aside by ill-health, and will not probably be able there to resume his labors. The Rev. Harrison Fairfield, ordained as an evangelist at Bristol Mills, in January last, on the same day on which a new church was organized, was prostrated by disease about the last of April, when some ten or twelve per- sons in the congregation were indulging a hope in Christ, and the prospect was very encouraging of a continued blessing. By such events we are admonished faithfully to work in the Lord's vineyard, while strength and opportunity are given us ; and ceasing from man, whose breath is in his nostrils, to trust in Him, who liveth ever more, stnd who never fainteth, nor is ANNTJAL REPORT. 19 discouraged, \i^hile as Head over all things to the church, by a succession of feeble dying agencies, such as it pleases Him to employ, He is steadily carrying forward His gracious designs, often in a very " mysterious way" towards their sure and glori- ous completion. Let us praise Him for all the good effected by means of this Institution, and that upon this, its 48th anniversary, we can find, in the review of the past year, so many tokens of His con- tinued favor. The usual Tabular View will now be given. Where a * is attached to donations to the Maine Missionary Society, it is designed to intimate, that those sums, though collected within the year, are not acknowledged in the Treasurer's Report, but will be in the report of next year. 20 MAINE MISSIONARY SOCIETY. TABULAR VIEW. Churches and Missionaries. 1. Albany. Rev. Lorrain Wood, s. s. 2. Alexander. Cooper. Mr. Charles H. Emerson, 5. s. Mr. S. D. Hosmer, s. s. 3. AtNA. Rev. Samuel Talbot, P. 4. Amhekst and Aurora. Rev. Henry S. Loring, P. Date of Commission. 5. Andover. Rev. Mark Gould, P. June 27, 1854. June 27, 1854. May 1, 1854. April 25, 1855, June 27, 1854. Nov. 1, 1854. 9m. 12 6. Anson Village. Solon Village. Mr. Orson P. Allen. 7. Baldwin. Mr. Prescott Fay. 8. Belfast, North. Rev. J. R. Munsell, P. 9. Benton. Fairfield. Rev. James M. Palmer, s. s. 10. Benton. Hunter's Mills. Mr. N. B. Blanchard. Mr. Mason Moore. Mar. 23, 1855 Feb. 20, 1855. June 27, 1854 June 27, 1854, Jan., 1855. Mar. 23, 1855.J 12 1.^ li 12 2i H 94 114 125 50 126 44 150 38 66 105 100 90 125 50 50 200 50 12 5S oK 9 80 85 29 44 no ch. 19 50 27 73 2* 27 50 38 7 70 2 35 47 49 55 10 12 ANNUAL REPORT. 21 TABULAR VIEW. REMARKS. L Owing to the drought of the last year, and the " loss of two or three liberal sub- scribers," it has been found more difficult to provide for the minister's support for the second year, than it was for the first. "Every one," however, " has willingly and cheerfully done what he thought with ordinary success he might be able to do." 2. The last Fall a very delightful season of spiritual refreshing was experienced at Alerxander, and a Church was organized of nine members, to which three more have been added since. Mr. Hosmer, a young man recently from the Seminary at Andover, commenced his labors in this field on the last Sabbath in May, under very favorable auspices. At Alexander, especially, the prospect of growth and enlargement is highly encouraging. 3. This Church has been afflicted by the loss of several valuable members. One of them, "a young man of large heart and uncommon promise, who was fast making his way towards the Gospel ministry, having already completed his collegiate course- suddenly was not, for Ood took him." 4. This people, after attempting to sustain the ministry without aid for two years, have thought it necessary, by reason of loss in pecuniary strength, again to receive it. They are attending to their own affairs, and fulfilling their engagements, with in- creased promptitude and punctuality, and it is hoped, " that on the whole there is ' some advance in spiritual things." 5. An unusual number of removals during the past year— including four members of the Church— one of them the leader of the choir and a prominent man in the Church. These losses are severely felt. "It is thought that there is at the present time (June 15,) an unusual desire with a portion of the Church for a refreshing from the presence of the Lord, and considerable thoughlfulness and feeling on the part of some of the impenitent." 6. For several years past no attempt has been made to sustain Congregational preaching at Anson Village. Mr. Allen found " a good number favorably disposed," and some individuals, of whom a Church might be constituted. It was a subject of regret, when he left, that the place could not be immediately supplied by some one 7. Of the Church in Baldwin but one male member remains, and the number of female members is small. Mr. Fay was kindly received, and an earnest desire ex- pressed for the continuance of his services. , ?• This Society has raised §50 more this year for the support of their minister, than before. They have also made more liberal contributions to benevolent objects And He who hath promised, that they who sow bountifully shall reap bountifully, hath bestowed upon them rich spiritual blessings. 9. The endeavor to retain Mr. Palmer at Benton failed of success, for want of a house for him to live in. Since his departure (in August last,) there has been no Congregational preaching at Fairfield, and very little at Benton. At present it is not deemed advisable to furnish a supply at Kendall's Mills. Of the Church in Benton but one male member now remains. 10. The services of Mr. Blanchard (of the Bangor Seminary,) and Mr. Moore (from Andover,) were in a good degree acceptable ; and the hope is still cherished, that a stated ministry may yet be established in this region- 22 MAINE MISSIONARY SOCIETY. TABULAR VIEW. Churches and Missionaries. 11. Bingham. Solon Village. Forks of the Kennebec. Rev. Sidney Turner, s. s. 12. Blanchard. Greenville. Sangerville. Rev. John A. Perry, s. s. 13. Bradford. Kenduskeag. Rev. Sol. E. Bixby, P. 14. Bridgton, North. Rev. Horace Wellington, s. s, 15. Bristol Mills. Rev. Harrison Fairfield, s. s. 16. Brownfielix Hiram. Rev. David Gerrv, P. 17. Bro-wnville. Rev. Wm. S. Sewall, P. Date of Commission. June 27, 1854. June 27, 1854. June 27, 1854. June 27, 1854. Sept. 15, 1854. July 1, 1854. Oaa. 11, 1855 June 24, 1854. 18. Burlington and vicinity Rev. E. M. "Wright, s. s. iJune 27, 1854. iNov. 1, 1854. a S a o o o bD ' a lU O a, u 'o o c .2 cj 6D to a O o o bD rt i-, > i s o c 1 o p. ;^ •d IP IS -< < [» c o o a p- o s M Is "S '^ 125 73 10 1 7* 1 9* 12m 126 12 210 75 no 100 55 ch. 26 2 1 32 i 6 12 225 124 175 28 63 3 1 1 7 24* 6 25 100 48 28 9i 100 85 17 2 7 12 27 6 6 91 63 42 16 7 12 100 115 89 1 22 76. 3 9 50 188 100 21 2 19 50* : ANNUAL REPORT. 23 TABULAR VIEW. REMARKS. 11. Nothing of special interest reported. At the Forks of the Kennebec, where Mr. Turner has recently spent several Sabbaths, meetings are very well attended, and a flourishing Sabbath School is in progress. 12. The people at Blanchard, during the past year, have expended more than in completing and setting in order the house of God. A very deep interest is taken by them in the cause of temperance. At Greenville a " goodly number" attend public worship ; but they have no sanctuary, no organized Church, and but little is done by the people themselves for the support of preaching. At Sangerville, meetings are ■well attended, and there have been pleasing indications of increased religious interest. In one part of the town a few hopeful conversions have occurred. 13. A debt of SlOO is due upon the meeting-house in Bradford, which will soon, it is believed, be liquidated. The town is increasing in population and prosperity, and there is a fair prospect opening upon this Church of stability and growth. From the Church at Kenduskeag some valuable members have gone to the West. " The gen- eral aspect of things is more hopeful." 14. Since the departure of Mr. "Wellington for St. Johnsbiirv, Vt., an arrangement has been made for the Rev. Mr. Dodd to supply the pulpit at North Bridgton one half the time. 15. On the 30th of January last, a new Church was organized in this place of eight members, to which nine have since been added. On the same day Mr. Fairfield was ordained, as an evangelist, but in the expectation that he would assume the pastoral care of the new church and the society connected with it. Near the beginning of the winter there began to be an unusual interest in the preaching of the Gospel, and sooa after in prayer meetings also. The interest increased, until about the middle of spring, when the Church was much revived, and fifteen persons attended an inquiring meeting. Twelve, from among the best class of young persons in the community, have indulged hope. Since the last Sabbath in April, Mr, Fairfield has beea laid aside by ill-health. [On July 11th, he died.] 16. About the last of July, 1854, Mr. Gerry was able to resume his labors. Until the first of May, he spent the most of his time in Brownfield. Since then, he has divided his time equally between Brownfield and Hiram. In the former place, those who have borne the burden of supporting the ministry for several years, are beginning to be disheartened, for want of co-operation, where they feel that they have a right to expect it ; and whether the things that remain and are ready to die can be strength- ened, appears exceedingly doubtful. At Hiram the prospect is brightening. 17. This people are building a new parsonage, and the ladies are plying their needles to raise ^100 towards it. Church discipline is too much neglected, and " the state of religion is very low." 18. " Temperance has made greater progress, than in any former year of my resi- dence here." "Our chief source of discouragement is the absence of the greater portion of our young men" (being engaged in the lumbering business) " for a large portion of the year. The people generally are coming to feel, that they cannot live -without the stated means of grace, and are willing to do all, they think they are able to do, for their support." Mr. Wright preaches occasionally in several diff"erent neighborhoods in the vicinity of Burlington, some of them eight or ten miles distant. 24 MAINE MISSIONAEY SOCIETY. TABULAR VIEW. Churches and Missionaries. 19. Buxton, North. Rev. Geo. W. Cressey, s. s. 20. Dedham. Mr. Edward S. Palmer, 5. s. 21. Dexter. Rev. Philip Titcomb, s. s. June 27, 1854. 4 Date of Commission. June 27, 1854. Aug. 31, 1854. Jan. 11, 1855. 12m 22. DiXMONT. Mr. George A. Pollard. 23. Dover and Foxcroft. Rev. Wooster Parker, P. 24. Durham. Rev. Wm. V. Jordan, s. s. 25. Farmington Falls. Chesterville. Rev. John Forbush, s. s. 26. Farmington Falls. Mercer. Rev. John Forbush, s. s. 27. Flag Staff and vicinity. KiNGFIELIX Rev. David Turner, s. s. 28. Frankfort Mills. Rev. Alfred L. Skinner, s. s. 29. Garland. Atkinson. Rev. Peter B.Thayer, P. Mar. 23, 1855 June 27, 1854. Nov. 20, ia54. 7 June 27, 1854. Jan. 10, 1855 June 27, 1854. Jan. 11, 1855. June 27, 1854. June 27, 1854. Nov. 1, 1854. 12 150 100 67 28 100 100 37 113 105 105 55 75 170 90 125 90 100 51 39 49 15 140 40 47 19 oK 20 14 15 30 04 71 33 8 55 70 40 20 2j 6 50 3 30 ANNUAL EEPORT. 25 TABULAR VIEW. IIEMARKS. 19. " We have cheering intelligence to communicate, the Lord is in the midst of us. Early in the spring an unusual seriousness and stillness pervaded our Sabbath assem- blies. For the past few weeks (June 12) one after another of our young people to the number of nine have been met by the Spirit, and give pleasing evidence of renewing grace. Others are much concerned for their souls, whom we hope and trust the Lord will yet visit with His salvation." 20. In connection with the meeting of the Penobscot Conference in this place in January last, there has been an increase of religious interest, and " some souls," it is believed, " were converted to God. Four persons are propounded for admission to the Church." During the winter and spring revivals have occurred among the Meth- odists and Freewill Baptists, among whom "a better state of feeling exists towards us, than has hitherto existed." 21. This Church and Society, after an arduous struggle for many years constantly to sustain the institutions of religion, have been so far weakened by the removal of valu- able members, that they feel obliged for the present to abandon the enterprise. 22. For nearly a year there had been no stated congregational preaching in this place. Mr. Pollard was very kindly received, " considerable interest was evinced es- pecially by the young in attending meetings and the Bible class, one hopeful conver- sion occurred," and an earnest desire was expressed for the continuance of Mr. P.'s services. The expectation is, that he will return and spend a few months with them, previously to his departure on a mission to the Armenians in Turkey. 23. This Church expect to raise §'50 more for the support of their minister the coming year, than they have raised before. 24. This society is feeble, but having removed and fitted up anew their house of worship, they deemed it highly important to secure the stated ministrations of the Gospel, and have engaged for one year the services of Mr. Jordan. His report is — " a very pleasant Sabbath School — temperance cause flourishing — a small, united Church, a pleasant people, kindness and courtesy from all, an apparent eagerness to hear the word, and prospects improving." 25. Since the close of Mr. Forbush's labors at Keith's Mills in Chesterville, they have been supplied one fourth of the time with preaching on the Sabbath by Mr. J. Buxn- ham, preceptor of the Farmington Academy. 26. A little improvement at Mercer, since the libors of Mr. Forbush commenced. 27. "The state of things at Flag Staff is quite encouraging at the present time. Meetings are well attended. They feel very grateful for what theSociety has done for them, and hope to be remembered in future. There is a large field in this back region, where a missionary of the right stamp would be useful." 28. Since Mr. Skinner's departure last winter, Mr. P. B. Chamberlain has supplied, and will continue to, until the last of July. They very much need a settled, perma- nent ministry. 29. The parsonage at Garland, a very good building, has been completed and paid for (nearly) during the past year. " Some five or six persons, all in the morning of life, have believed, as we hope, to the saving of the soul. Two are pursuing their studies, and we hope may by the Providence and Spirit of God be directed to the ministry." At Atkinson nothing has occured of special interest. The Church has been weakened by removals. 26 MAINE MISSIONARY SOCIETY. TABULAR VIEW. Churches and Missionaries. 30. GofLDSBOROUGH. Mr. Truman A. Merrill. Mr. Samuel Hopley. 31. Gray. Rev. Allen Lincoln, P. .32. Harrison. Rev. John Dodd, s. s. 33. HOULTON. Mr. C. P. Felch, s. s. Mr. R. W. Emerson, s. s. HODGDOX. 34. Isle de Haut. Rev. Joshua Eaton, s. s. 35. Industry. Mercer. Rev. E. S. Hopkins. 36. Jackson and Brooks. Mr. Greenleaf Cheney, s. s. 37. Kennebtjnkport, 1st p. Rev. John Baker, P. 38. KiTTERY Point. Rev. A. W. Eiske, P. 39. LiMINGTON. Rev. J. H. Garman, P. 40. Lincoln. Rev. Alvan J. Bates, P. Date of Commission. Aug. 31, 18-54. April, 1855. June 27, 1854. Aug. 1, 1854. June 27, 1854. Jan. 11, 1855. June 27, 1854. June 27, 1854. June 27, 1854. June 27, 1854, June 27, 1854. June 27, 1854, June 27, 1854, 2m. 12 12 ih 12 12 12 12 41 150 44 150 75 100 53 42 100 100 150 225' 100 125 125 50 75 100 75 150 95 no ch. 55 90 no ch. 67 60 73 40 90 21 ss oW 43* 18 13 50 20 87 3 16 20 11 24 25* 12 76 23 75 26 79 11 79 12 ANNUAL EEPORT. 27 TABULAR VIEW. REMARKS. 30. " In the different portions of this town there are (1854) six or seven Sabbath Schools — two of which are conducted wholly by ladies. — Most of the people respect the institutions of religion." Since the short mission of Mr. Hopley the last spring some effort has been made to procure means for his permanent support, should he labor among them again. 31. " This Church is in a low and depressed condition. Several of our more promi- nent and leading men have removed to other parts of the country, some who have always been pillars have fallen, and we look in vain for others to rise up and supply their places. The congregation is not diminished, nor is the Sabbath' School smaller than usual, and one hopeful conversion of a most interesting character has convinced us, that God has not entirely forsaken this part of his Zion." 32. "Five or six families have moved away during the year, three of whom were mem- bers of the Church — a great loss to the Church, the Sabbath School, and will hereafter be in pecuniary support." Since the commencement of the present year (18r5.5) Mr. Dodd has divided his Sabbaths between Harrison and North Bridgton, in the latter of which places he now resides. 33. Mr. Felch's valuable services at Houlton ceased in December last. Since then Mr. Emerson has supplied three-fourths of the time there, and one-fourth at Hodgdon. Both these Churches are feeble ; but they know not how to live without the Gospel. Since Mr. Emerson came to Houlton, the congregation has increased, and his services we are told have been " very acceptable." 34. No Church has yet been organized, though "as many as ten or twelve persons give evidence of piety. The good women here feel that we must have a chapel, and have moved in the thing." Some donations have been obtained for this purpose in Massachusetts, and more have been promised. 35. The Church in Industry has been for many years without a pastor, and its strength has been very considerably weakened of late. Mr. Burnhara of Farmiifgton, has been requested to supply them with preaching on the Sabbath. 36. Mr. Cheney's services were highly acceptable, but he was obliged to leave be- fore winter, and was not able to return in the spring, on account of feeble health. They have had several Sabbaths' preaching at Jackson from students of the Bangor Seminary. 37. " The heaviest subscriber for the support of the ministry having removed from town, the young men in the society (most of them out of the Church) rallied and made up the deficiency." 38. The pastor of this Church has united during the past winter with two other ministers of Baptist denominations, in sustaining weekly religious meetings in five school districts. They have been well attended, and are to be continued. He has delivered a series of discourses, endeavoring to make them in a good degree practical, on Church history — beginning with the advent of Christ. Some progress, but many discouragements. 39. Some improvement in the condition of this Church and Society during the year. An unusual religious interest among the young, resulting in several hopeful conversions. 40. A year of more than usual encouragement. " Though we have had no revival in the Church, yet God has been pleased in a still, silent way to move upon the hearts of several, so that they have experience:), as we hope, a saving change. There is seriousness at present (June 4) upon the minds of some." 28 MAINE MISSIONARY SOCIETY. TABULAR VIEW. Churches and Missionaries. 41. Litchfield, (Corner.) Rev. Benjamin Smith, P. 42. Litchfield, {Pleasant Valley.) Mr. J. H. P. Frost. 43. LOVELL. Rev. Joseph Smith, P. 44. Machiasport. Whitneyville. Rev. G. Bacheller, s. s. 45. Madison. South Anson. Rev. Thos. G. Mitchell, s. s. 46. Maple Grove, ) Fort Fairfield, J Salmon Brook, Letters F and H. Rev.- Elbridge Knight, s. s. 47. Mechanic Falls. Rev. Enos Merrill, P. 48. Monmouth. Rev. J. H. Conant, s. s, Fayette. 49. MoNSON. Rev. Horatio Ilsley, P. 50. Mount Desert. Rev. Samuel Bowker, s. s. 51. Naples. Raymond. Rev. N. W. Sheldon, s. s. 52. Newfield, West. Rev. William Pierce, s. s. Date of Commission. June 27, 1854. June 1, 1854. June 27, 1854. June 27, 1854. June 27, 1854. June 27, 1854. June 27, 1854. June 27, 1854. Oct. 24, 1854. June 27, 1854. June 27, 1854. Aug. 21, 1854. Sept. 9, 1854. June 27, 1854, Nov. 15, 1854, 12m 12 12 12 7 12 12 100 42 33 100 100 150 145 150 126 28 150 91 100 100 68 12 50 30 17 80 106 no ch. 10 73 oW 8 55 5 14 48 15 02 14 6 61 20 39 34 48 20 27 83 33 10 53 04 11 ANNUAL REPOHT. 29 TABULAR VIEW. REMARKS. 41. "No marked change, in relation to the circumstances or prospects of this Church, have occurred during the past year. More has been done to sustain the Gos- pel this year, than ever before, with but a small increase of means. They h;ive done what they could, and have done it promptly." 42. For the present the attempt to build up a separate society in this neighborhood has been relinquished. Mr. Smith now spends a fifth of his Sabbaths here. 43. The last winter " there was a very encouraging interest in both parts of the parish ; several were a good deal quickened, there was much wrestling prayer, and some interest among the impeTiitent, but the enemy sowed discord, and the Spirit was grieved away." A bell has recently been purchased for the house of worship at the village — "an enterprise started and carried forward by the Ladies' Sewing Circle. Their next move will be for a parsonage." 44. A more interesting state of religion at Machiasport, than for a long time be- fore. Christians more engaged, a good attendance on the means of grace, error losing ground, and one man, a sei-captain, has indulged hope, and appears well. At Whit- niiyville an effort has been made to set the Church in order, which it is believed they will carry through. 45. The pecuniary strength of the society at Madison has been somewhat increased during the year. " Our Sabbath School is in a flourishing condition. Nearly all the children in the village, of a suitable age, attend it." 46. Very little progress, if any, in this region. It is still a day of small things. Dur- ing the past year Mr. Knight has been taken off much more than is desirable, for the appropriate work of the ministry, by secular cares. It is confidently believed, that, there will not be again the same urgent demand for this, as has existed the past year. 47. Several families, including four church members, have removed to other towns, therebv lessening somewhat the congregation. By removals and death some of the most reliable church members have been taken away. " There is some progress in a disposition to sustain benevolent objects." 48. Nothing of special interest reported from Monmouth. Nothing as yet done towards building a house of worship. At Fayette Mills a good congregation can be collecled, but the number of resident church members has been lessened. 49. " Sabbath School in a good condition. Temperance triumphant." 50. Nothing of special interest reported from this large field, including some 200 families resident in five towns. 51. Mr. Sheldon was very kindly received. No other preaching at Raymond, while he was there. Earnest desire expressed by individuals in both places for the con- tinued services of a congregational minister. The organization of a Ct.urch in Naples is thought desirable. 52. " Sabbath School does well. The cause of temperance prospers. l"he new law works like a charm. No one dares sell— hence but very little drinking. Good atten- tion is given to the Word preached. More of our young people have left for the "West than visual." 30 MAINE MISSIONARY SOCIETY. TABULAR VIEW. Churches and Missionaries^ 53. Norway. Rev. Asa T. Loring, P. 54. No. 11, Masakdis. Salmon Brook. Fort Kent. Rev. M. R. Keep, s. s. 55. Orland. Rev. Hiram Houston, P. 56. Orono. Rev. St. L. Bowler, s. s. 67. Orrington, East. Mr. Samuel Hopley, ,58. Oxford. West Minot. Rev. Geo. F. Tewksbury, s. s. 59. Passadumkeao. Rev. Wm. H. Merrill, s. s. (for half the time.) 60. Patten. (for one-fourth of the time.) Vicinity of Patten. Rev. Ephraim Fobes. 61. Perry. Mr. i am'es W. Kidder, 5. s. Date of Commission. June 27, 1854 Aug. 31, 1854. June 27, 1854 June 27, 1854 Oct. 1, lSo4. Aug. 31, 1854. May 4, 1854. June 27, 1854 Aug. 31, 1854 Jan. 11, 1855 Aug. 31, 1854. 10 2m. 10 12 12 25 167 112 150 150 66 100 37 150 30 100 I 175 lOO 100 100 75 75 85 36 10 no ch. 29 50 67 44 25 20 25 50 20 65 100 29 29 15 24 60 AJS^VAL EEPORT. 31 TABUIiAR VIEW. REMARKS, 53. On the 3d of January last Mr. Loring was installed pastor of this Churchy Under date of June 14 he thus reports—" Our numerical strength continues about the same. The character of our congregation for stability has greatly improved. Our Sabbath School is more than usually promising. This spring a class of young men has been formed numbering about a dozen. Our prayer meetmgs for the last three months have been more than usually interesting. Some indications of more than usual seriousness on the part of several impenitent persons, and quite recently there have occurred two or three hopeful conversions." 54. More than usual religions interest was manifested the last fall in No. 11, and some two or three cases occurred of hopeful conversion. No one has yet been ob- tained for Fort Kent. 55. An addition to this society is reported of " one or two families." The Sabbath School is larger than ever before. The people have added «(.50 to the pastor's salary. 56. " "We are encouraged by the presence of the Spirit, and its effectual working. Our prayer is, that it may not soon depart from among us." 57. This Church and people have been supplied the greater part of the time during the year by students from the Seminary in Bangor. They have now a parsonage, and are hoping soon to obtain a pastor. The labors of Mr. Davis among them ceased with the close of the last missionary year. 58. The whole number of congregational families in Oxford is fifteen. The Church- has been much reduced and weakened by deaths and removals; but some signs of spiritual life remain, and a little band of sisters, and a few brethren who appear to be earnestly engaged in prayer for the Holy Spirit, encourage the pastor in his efforts At West Minot a new (union) Church has recently been built. In that place and Hebron are ten congregational families. Recent prospects are quite encouraging^ ■ For the present Mr. Tewksbury preaches at West Minot one-fourth of the time. In the fall the way will be open for congregational preaching one-half the time. 59. This Church always weak, save in faith and courage, has become unable to do as much as heretofore for the support of preaching, and has been obliged to abandon the enterprise of building a house of worship. Mr. Merrill left them in April last, and is now laboring at Deer Isle. Since his departure they have had but little preaching. 60. " Patten village has been* favored, since the year commenced, with a revivalof religion. A number (all of them young persons) have been hopefully converted — in- cluding three or four of the children of that little Church." Mr. Fobes has preached in the village one-fourth of the time during the last six months. He has also sup- plied (for how many Sabbaths is not reported) at Island Falls, Fairfield's Mills and No. 3. 61. This Church and people have been for several years without a pastor, and while men slept, tares have been sown, in the form of another Gospel. Evangelical relig- ion, however, has too strong a hold among this people to bo rooted out. Father Kellogg's services are still remembered with interest, and the truths which he taught are regarded as sacred and precious. Being without a choir of singers, they have expended during the year §80 for the interests of sacred music and 530 for a Sabbath School library. The Sabbath School suffers for want of suitable teachers. On the whole the prospect is brightening. 32 MAINE MISSIONARY SOCIETY. TABULAR VIEW. Churches and Missionaries. 62. Phillips. Rev. Samuel L. Gould, s. s. 63. Poland. Rev. Stephen Gould, P. 64. Portland. (Abt/ssinian Church.) Rev. Benjamin Lynch, s. s. 65. RocKPOUT, (in Camden.) Rev. James B. Howard, s. s. 66. RUMFORD. Rev. J. G. Merrill, 5. s. 67. Sanford. Rev. Stephen Bailey, s. s. 68. Searsport, East. Rev. David Thurston, s. s. 69. Sedgwick. Rev. Lewis Goodrich, s. s. Date of Commission. June 27, 1854. June 27, 1854 Apr. 10, 1854 Aug. 31, 1854, Oct. 1, 1854. 70. St. Albans, and vicinity. Rev. Henry White, s. s. June 27, 1854. 10 12m 12 12 14 July 10, 1854. 8 June 27, 1854. 3;^ Jan. 11, 1855. 6 June 27, 1854 12 225 50 200 35 150 84 39 50 200 50 60 100 100 125 48 150 38 44 43 24 1 '.? O CO M'^ ^ V,5 o t^ o3 o oW [M 4 25 15 50 11* 16 83 15* 1 23 16 ANNUAL REPORT. 33 TABULAR VIE W. REMARKS. 62. "Decided improvement during the year, and a better prospect of progress for the future. Our average congregation at the village, and on the hill, has been one- third larger the past year, than it was the year previous. Of those added to the Church, two are heads of families, not yet advanced to middle age, the other two are young." 63. "For the year now commencing we expect no aid from the M. M. S., and re- serve our money for our own use." The thought of being thrown upon their own resources, " instead of discouraging them, has awakened more energy." 64. This society cf colored people consists of thirty-five families. The annual rent of pews amounts to $125. §75 more are raised by the Church for the pastor's sup- port. The Sabbath School numbers fifty-nine, and is in a prosperous condition. Mr. Lynch enjoys the confidence of the christian community, and is laboring diligently for the good of his people. 65. The beautiful chapel, erected during the last year by this infant society, was completed in December, and the pews in it were rented for g250. On the same day with the dedication of the house, Mr. Howard was ordained, as pastor of that Church, with very fair prospects of useflilnpss. But since then his health has failed, and "the probability is that he will be compelled to leave." 66. "A growing attachment to the ordinances of the Gospel." Three hopeful conversions and "others kno^vn to be inquiring." New movements of late in the cause of temperance. 67. For several months after the departure of Mr. Bailey there was no congrega- tional preaching in this place. In May and June the* were supplied for several Sabbaths by Rev. Edmund Burt. 68. Within the bounds of what is considered the east parish in Searsport are forty families, twenty-five of which may be regarded as congregational. A Church has not yet been organized, but will be probably soon. There is a good attendance on the Sabbath, and at weekly lectures ; the Sabbath School is well attended by more than half the con- gregation. The people are enterprising — "more than seventy of them between the ages of four and twenty-one" — and the expectation is, that they will not long need missionary aid ; perhaps only for the present year. 69. " The congregational interest is gaining. The attendance on Sabbath services has been good, and for the last six months more than usual religious interest. The Church has been truly revived, and many of the impenitent seemed deeply affected. We hope some have been truly born again, but dare not speak with confidence. Four persons have been added to the Church, and many others are expecting to join us." 70. There is joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth. Mr. White reports the hopeful conversion of one individual — the mother of five children — who before the first Sabbath of January last had not attended meeting for a year and a half. In this town of 1800 inhabitants, Mr. W. is the only resident minister of any denomination, who has any regular appointment on the Sabbath. " With the exception of a small, unpainted meeting house, belonging to the Society of Friends, there is no house in town built for religious worship." No Sabbath School, when Mr. White commenced his labors; now there are tiiree. 3 34 MAINE MISSIONARY SOCIETY. TABULAR VIEW. Churches and Missionaries. 71. South Berwick, (Old Fields.) Rev. Abijah Cross. 72. South Solon. Madison Mills. Rey. Erastus Curtiss, s. s. 73. Springfield. ") Lee. 5- Carroll. ) Rev. Lot B. Sullivan. Rev. Alvan J. Bates. 74. Standish. Rev. James B. Hadley, P. 75. Strong. ' Rev. Wm. Davenport. 76. Sumner. } South Hartford, y Rev. Benj. G. Willey, P. 77. Sweden. Rev. Charles B. Smith, 5. 78. Turner. Rev. C. N. Ransom, s. s. 79. Templb. Rev. Simeon Hackett, s, a. Date of Commission. Dec. 1, 1855. June 1, 1834. Aug. 31, 1854. June 27, 1854. June 27, 1854. June 27, 1854. June 27, 1854. Aug. 31, 1854. March 20, '55. June 27, 1854. 12 12 12 12 10 12 21 126 126 150 84 125 48 100 150 150 75 41 no eh. IS 62 63 res. 76 38 78 40 res. 2 50 26 62 18 50 21 25 56 11 15 15 67 ANNUAL REPORT. TABULAR VIEW. 35 REMARKS. 71. In these "old fields," as they are called, lying on t\e borders of South Berwick and Elliot, Mr. Plummer (now a missionary in Turkey) had labored gratuitously for several months, and the way was prepared, in his judgment, and that of the pastor of the South Berwick Church, for a hborer to follow him in commission from the M. M. S., with the hope of finding a neio field for permanent cultivation. A mission vas given to Mr. Cross for three months, but he has found himself unable, by reason of sickness in his family, to fulfill it, save for three weeks only. 72. After completing his first year's engagement, Mr. Curtiss was expecting to stay another year at iSouth Solon, when he was suddenly called to Massachusetts by the sickness of an only son about the first of May. His services were in a very good de- gree acceptable and useful. The attendance was good on the regular services of the Sabbath, and at lectures and prayer meetings. An arrangement has been made with Rev. S. Turner of Bingham, to preach in this place one-half of the time. 73. The members of this little flock of christians love the ordinances of the Gospel, and are willing even beyond their power to sustain them. Could the right man be found to labor in this field, and be kept in it for several months, others might be in- duced to come to their help, and the institutions of religion, with a strong helping hand from the M. M. S.. be permanently maintained. [Mr. C. H. Emerson has begun a mission in this field for six months.] 74. " Harmony in the Church. The state of things quiet and pleasant during the year. Sabbath School more than usually interesting." 75. " Sabbath School and Bible Class never so promising as the present year. The pastor has a large class of adults, and the pastor's wife a larger one." When the pastor was confined last Fall by sickness, he invited some of the children to visit hira once a week for the purpose of religious conversation. These meetings, conducted partly as inquiring meetings, were continued five months. "Several who attended them are now indulging hope in Christ." 76. The new meetinghouse is not yet going up, but a Ladies' Sewing Circle are getting funds for it. Nearly all the congregation, parents and children, old and young, are constant attendants on the Sabbath School. " Temperance strength ig much greater now, than it was two years ago. The Maine law finds general favor. Some of the most hardened cases of opposition have come over." 77. " Our congregation has considerably increased since the opening of the Spring. A new Sabbath School his recently been established in a remote part of the town, with flattering prospects of good to a large number of parents and children, who have no other means of grace." 78. During most of the year this place has been supplied with preaching on the Sabbath by Mr. Elliot of Auburn. Since the close of Mr. Ransom's mission, a call has been given to Rev. Sidney Holman from Massachusetts. It is expected that the new house of worship at the village will be finished in the course of the coming season. 79. This is a feeble Church and Society, unable to give one-half of what is needed to furnish an adequate support for a minister. There is some prospect of enlarge- ment by the return of several young men to settle in the place, who have been for some years absent. 36 MAINE MISSIONARY SOCIETY. TABULAR VIEW. Churches and Missionaries. SO. Union. Eev. Daniel F. Potter, P. 81. Unity. Thorndike. Freedom. Eev. Nath'l Chapman, ». s. 82. Vassalborough. Sidney. Bev. David Thurston, s. 5. 83. Washington. Rev. N. W. Sheldon, (one-half the time.) M. WATERVIT.LB. Rev. R. B. Thurston, P. 86. Weld. Rev. J. B. WheehvTight, P. Rev. Stephen Titcomb, P. 88. Westbrook, 1st parish. Rev. C. N. Ransom, s. s. 87. Wilton. Rev. Alpha Morton, s. s. Date of Commission. June 27, 1854. June 27, 1854 June 27, 1854 Feb. 7, 1855. Jan. 11, 1855, June 27. 1854. March 1, '55. June 27, 1854, May 15, 1854. s s o o o G .5 P. 2 o. p. CS 01 Q a .2 0) C o o 4) ;- a> < .n S o a ..a o O G _o o »-l p. X) 13 0) T3 < a e o o o W «2 m 0.2 .2 S 72 1 1 17 20 12m 100 35 25 *15 66 *33 75 9 187 29 14 18 91 3 6 50 41 4 28 175 72 2 *6 50 12 75 7& 60 8 9 21 6 37 50 4 42 33 10 62 4 50 120 48 11 20 *20 19 12 200 45 6 3 OT ANNUAL REPORT. 37 TABULAR VIEW. REMARKS. 80. Several families and two young men, embracing seven Church members, have left the place, "reducing our pecuniary and spiritual strength." "A good degree of zeal is manifested to sustain the ordinances of religion. Some spiritual progress we trust has been realized, and some approximation made towards the conviction, that a more earnest piety is demanded, if we would as christians do the work of the Master." 81. '' The people in Unity grow fewer in number, because so many move away, and consequently our meetings are thin. The people in Freedom have strongly desired to have preaching one-half the time instead of one-fourth, and will pay in proportion." They have no meetinghouse in town, but "have raised money to finish the second story in the Academy for a place of worship." For the coming year Mr. Chapman is expecting to divide his Sabbaths equally between Unity and P'reedom. 82. The very valuable services of Mr. Thurston in this portion of the vineyard ceased with the Inst Sabbath of December. Since then the two places have been sup- plied with preaching the most of the time by the Secretary of the M. M. S. Nothing has occurred of special interest. 83. This people have been for several years without a pastor, and much of the time without preaching. It is not surprising that " vital religion " should be found " at a low ebb." Mr. S. seems to have labored diligently, and meetings increased in interest and solemnity, until in JVlay he found it necessary to leave for a few Sabbaths. At Bremen, where he has labored alternately with Washington, there has been a very general awakening. Many profess to have turned to the Lord, some of whom it is hoped will unite themselves to the Congregational Church. 84. The members of this Church and Society have not found themselves able to accomplish all which a year since they expected to do. For another year, therefore, they have received some assistance. They are now without a pastor, (the Rev. Richard B. Thurston, after a seven years laborious and faithful service, having been recently dismissed, and gone to Chicopee in Massachusetts,) but are hoping soon to be supplied. 85. During the last Fall there was a precious revival in the Sabbath School in this place. Nine were hopefully converted, and some wanderers returned. Among those who hoped in Christ was a blind girl, who had lost also the use of her limbs. In De- cember ths Rev. Mr. Wheelwright, after a ministry of five years, much to the regret of his people, was dismissed, and is now at Westbrook. The Rev. Stephen Titcomb, now pastor of the Church, was ordained June 6th, and reports June 22d some encour- aging indications. 86. Mr. Ransom's faithful services in Westbrook ceased the last October. Since then, the Rev. J. B. Wheelwright has been engaged to supply them at their own ex- pense, without missionary aid ; and present appearances, so far as things external are concerned, are highly favorable. 87. This town has been largely blessed by the influences of the Spirit, in which the Congregational Society has shared. They are hoping to build a new house of wor- ship, to be under their ei.tire control, in the village ; and have subscribed ,^50 more towards the support of their minister for the coming year. 38 MAINE MISSIONARY SOCIETY. TABULAR YIEW. Churches and Missionaries. Date of Commission. _o g o u o ■s bo a •E a. o u 1 P G .2 be a u> bc a o V < a X> 5 s o u c _o <2i o P. ■T3 o 1 1 c _c u o £ o WIGRT, ex oMcio.i Rev. EDWARD F. CUtTER. Rev. DAVID THURSTON. Rev. DAVID SHEPLEY. Rev. JOHN W. ELLINGWOOD. Rev. STEPHEN THURSTON. Rev. ENOCH POND. D. D. Rev. ISAAC ROGERS. Rev. JOHN W. CHICKERING, D. D. 1 JOHN HOW, Esa. AUDITORS : WOODBURY STORER, Esq. | WILLIAM D. LITTLE, Esa. Calais was appointed as the place for the next annual meeting — on the 4th Wednesday of June, 1856. PREACHERS : Rev. D. TALCOTT SMITH, First, | Rev. GEO. B. LITTLE, Second TREASURER'S REPORT. Receipts and Disbursements hy John How, Treasuri^r of Maine Missionary Society^ BECEIPTS. Balance in the Treasury on settlement, June 24, 1854, . . Income from the Permanent Fund : — Dividends on Bank Stoclt , . . i . i . " 5 shares Lewiston Falls Manufacturing Company, " 1 share Atlantic & St. Lawrence Railroad Co., . " 3 shares Portland, Saco &, Portsmouth Railroad Co.. Interest on notes receivable, " City of Portland bond. Interest on money loaned, .... Of Dr. Tappan for supplying the pulpit in sundry places. Legacies. — Of Miss Lucy Dinsmore, late of Norridgevvock, Seth Morse, late of South Paris, (in part) Mrs. Lois Silsby, late of Amherst, ^ Hon. Wm. Riciiardson, late of Bath, (8th installment) Miss Eveline Sewall, late of Kennebunk, Annuities, contributions, life memberships, &c., . . . $1,589 21 $343 50 20 00 C 00 9 00 82 50 30 00 491 00 C7 42 _ _ 80 00 10 00 100 00 10 00 1,000 00 2,6G3 00 3,783 00 11,426 G7 . $17,437 30 DONATIONS. 49 DISBUBSEMENTS. Paid W. T. Johnson for printing Annual Report, ..... $140 00 Paid Dr. Tappan for distributing the same, ...... 3 50 Paid for 300 blank certifjcates of Life Memberships, ..... 7 75 Amount of legacy of Miss Eveline Sewall, transferred to Permanent Fund, agreeably to the provisions of the will, ........ 2,06300 Paid Trustees' orders, ......... Il,a70 76 Paid postage and incidental expenses, ....... 14 50 Commissions on receipts, . . . . . . . . . 316 96 Balance in the Treasury, ......... 2,420 83 $17,437 30 The PERMAE"ENT FUND of the Society consists of Land in the county of Aroostook, valued at Land in Bangor, valued at . . . 5 shares in Levviston Falls Manufacturing Company. 24 shares in Canal Bank, .... 20 shares in Casco Bank, .... 14 shares in Manufacturers' and Traders' Bank, 9 shares in State Bank, Boston, 3 shares in Portland, Saco & Portsmouth Railroad, 1 share in Atlantic & St. Lawrence Railroad, Scrip of the City of Portland, Notes receivable, secured by endorsement and mortgage. $300 00 300 00 500 00 2,400 00 2,000 00 700 00 540 00 300 00 100 00 1,000 00 1,100 00 Errors excepted. $9,240 00 Portland, June 25, 1855. JOHN HOW, Treasurer. Portland, June 25, 1855. The undersigned, Auditors, chosen by the Society, have examined the accounts of John How, Esq., Treasurer, (of which the foregoing is an abstract) and find the same properly vouched and correctly cast, with a balance in the Treasu/y of twenty-four hundred and twenty 83-100 dollars. W. D. LITTLE, ) . ,., WM. C. MITCHELL, j •^v.Mors. DONATIONS FROM JUNE 24, 1854, TO JUNE 25, 1855. Aroostook Conference. Burlington — Con. and don., Houlton — 1 L. M. by a coll.. Letter D — From several individs., Lincoln — 1 L. M. by a coll., Monticello — Don., JViimber 11 — 1 L. M. by a coll., Passadumkeag — Coll., Patten — For a L. M. in part, Salmon Brook — From several individs., Springfield — Coll., Aroostook Conference, 17.82, 7, Cumberland. Auburn — 4 L. M. by coll., Baldwin— CoU. 4.70, don. 3, $8 00 20 87 14 00 23 75 37 20 25 15 00 5 00 6 00 2 50 24 82 $140 57 80 00 7 70 Brunswick — Ann. 26, con. and don. C6, Cumberland— CoU. 47.50, Sab. Sch. 4.57, Durham— lu. M. 20, don, 22, Falmouth, ^d parish— h. M. by F. M. S., Oorham — Ladies' Mis. Soc. 70.59, coll. 35.G0, doii. 4, 1 L. M. 20, Gray — Cong. Soc. to complete L. M., Lewiston Palls — Mon. con. 23.50, Ladies' Cir. 10, S. S. Cent Soc. 43.43, 4 L. M. 80, other individs. 90,50, Mechanic Falls— Don. 3, L. M. by S. S. 2], by Ch. and Soc. 37, Minot—h. M. 26, ann. 16, don. 10.20, jVapte— Don. 10, 1, JVcw Gloucester— Im M. by F. M. S. 50.72, coll. 42.97,. JVortA Yarmouth— QoW., 92 00 52 07 42 00 15 67 130 19 5 09 247 43 61 00 52 20 II 00 93 69 23 oa 50 MAINE MISSIONARY SOCIETY. Poland — Coll., Portland, 2d Ch.—L,. M. 20, F. M. S. 225, coll. 175, 420 GO " 3d Ch.—U M. 110, F. M. S. 109, coll. and don., 129.12, 348 12 " msrh St.—L.. M, 40, don. 5, coll. 493, 538 00 " State St.—L. M. 20, coll. 90, 126 46, 236 46 " Mis. Sew. Cir. 64.55, 48, 119 55 " Abyssinian Ch. — Men. con. 2 00 LitckfieJd—Coll. 5, 6.55, ann. 2, Monmouth— h. M. bv coll., Richmond— h. M. 20', don. 6, Sidney — Don., yassalborough—CoW. 8.06, 3.85, don. 7, mnslvw—C'oU. 7.14, ann. 2, JVinthrop— Coll. 16.87, L. M. by F. M. S. 20, don. 50, Kennebec Conference, 10.59. 16.79, Scarborough — 1 L. M., Standish—h. M. by coll., Westbrook, 1st pariah— Coll., 10 62 " (Saccornppa) Ch. and Soc. 18 60 Windham — L. M. by coll., YarmoutJi — 1st cent. L. M. 115, Fem Cent. Soc. 43.96, New- ell Soc. 40, coll. 7C.25, 275 21 2d. cent. L. M. 95, Fein. Cent. Soc. 45.63, coll. 117.37, 258 00 1657 13 20 GO 26 62 29 22 20 00 Cumberland Covference, 18.75, 55, 28, 30, 31, 533 21 104 34 $3318 9 Franklin. Q'usterville — L. M. m part by Ch. and Soc. 11, don. 5, Farmington — L. Al. 25, coll. 21.02 mon. con. 10.25, F. M. S. 14.50, don. 2, «' Falls— L,. M. in part by Ch. and Soc, JVew Portland— I L. M., JVew Vineyard — Don., Phillips— Coll., Strong— Coll. 13.50, 5, Temple— Coll. 3.20, 5.33, F. M, S. 2.62, Weld — Con. 14, inon. con. 2, L. M. in part by F. M. S. 5, Farmington Conference, 15 GO 73 77 9 00 20 00 1 00 4 25 18 50 11 15 13 .55 20 GO' 26 00 3 00 18 91 9 14 86 87 27 38 Lincoln. Mlna— Coll. 15.50, ann. 4, Bath, Winter St.— Legacy 100, Cent Soc. 31, F. M. S. 150, L. M. 85, ann. IG, con. 96 84, don. 286, 758 84 Central Ch.—L. M. 160, F. M. S. 16, don. 224, coll. 42.25, ann. 11, 453 25 Boothbay, 2rf Ch.— Con. 11.48, don. 7, Bristol, 1st Ch.— Coll., 7 00 " 2d Ch.— Coll. 24, don. 3, 27 GO Lhibon — 1 L. M. in part, JVewca^tlc, {Shecpscvt)— Coll., 10 41 " {Diimariscotta) — L. M. by coll. and individ., 180, ann. 6, coll. and don. 14, 200 GO $1012 06 19 50 1212 09 18 48 34 00 15 00 Phipsburg — L. M. by coll. and ladies' subscription, Rockland— Coll. 33, Sew. Cir. 5, Thomaston—L. M. 20, ann. 2, F. M. S. 22, gent. 39^75, Union — Coll., Waldoborougli^L. M. 6G, ann. 28, F. M. S. 13.10, coll. and don. 20.60, Warren — Coll. 15, Ben. Soc. 35, ann, 10, L. M. 5, Wiscasset — L. M. in part 10, coll. and don. 43, iLincoln Conference, 30 GO 38 GO 83 75 17 20 53 GO 14 GO Hancock. Amherst and Aurora — To complete L. M. 3, 13 from Rev. 11. S. L., BluehUl—l L. M. by coll. 20, bal. 6.50, Bucksport^h. M. 20, ann. 2, coll. 57.50, mon. con. 40.50, Castine — L. M. 50, gent, assoc. 46, mon. con. 14.74, don. 13, Deer Isle—h. M. by Fem. Cent Soc. 20, coll. 12.82, Eastbrook — Don., EUsworth—L. M. 60, by F. M. S. 20, coll. 75, Isle de Haiit— Con. 1.16, don. 2, Mount Desert and Tremont — 2 L. M. by coll., OHand— Coll. 25, 25, Trenton — Don., $181 67 21 00! 7 go! 1 $1932 13 Oxford. Bethel, 1st Ch.— Fem. Cent Soc. 8, ann. 2, don. 1, Gilead — Coll. to complete a L. M., Oifordr-Coll., Paris, Soutk—L. M. 20, by Ch. and Soc. 24.18, Rumford — Don., 123 74 Sinn HCr and Hartford— Coll. 13, 8, \Turner—Ch. and Soc. 10, F. M. S. 12, 3.5 32 82 Oxford Confermce, 3 GO 16 00 26 50 128 00 11 GO 9 GO 5 GO 44 18 2 GO 21 GO 56, 25 56 9 GO 1,55 GOl Penobscot. 3 ie\Bangor, 1st par.—h. M. 94.50, by S. I S. 6G, coll. and don. 286, 440 50 47 GO " Ham. St.—h. M. 147.44, 50 GO coll. 147.75, 33.79, 328 98 1 OO! " Central Ch.—L. JVI. 40, by S. S.50, coll. and don. 192, 282 GO $126 74 $578 22 Kennebec. jJtto-jtsta, S.— Mon. con. 79.41, coll. 240.80, L. M. 60, don. 56, 436 21 B(.,i(o«— Female Sewing Circle, 10 GO Qardinor-L. M. 25, coll. and con. 34, 59 GO HaUowell—L. M. 150, ann. 2, F, M. S. 40, con. 43.60, mon. con . 66.40, 302 00 Brewer, Wcst—L. M. by "a friend to the cause of Christ," 20 00 " villaa-c—L. M. by coll. 20, don. 5, 25 00 Dedham — Coll. for L. M. in part, Dizmont — Ann. 2, don. 3, coll. 5.55, 45 00 14 00 10 55 DONATIONS. 51 ffampdfn—lj. M.95, Fem.Cent Soc. 10.95 coll. 38.05, Hnlilni—Co\]., OI(ltuirii~Co\]., Oroiw—Bab. Sell. 7.50, coll. 11.98, from a child, 52, Orrin^tjin—h. M. 25, Sab. Sch. 1.74, coll. and don. 2.55, PiSCATAllUIS. -.itkinson — Con., Blanchard — L. M. by coll., Bradford — L. M. complete bv coll., Sroumvillc—Con. 15, F. M. S. 7.76, Dtitcr — Cong. Soc, Dorcr and Fuzcntft—CoW. 40, 30, Lrc — Don. of two persons, .Moiisoii—li. U. by coll. 20, F. M. coll. 6.*}, 7.50, SanrrerviUe — Coll. I Washington. 144 OO'.^/fra/K/cr— Don., 3 00 7 01 |Ca/fl(>— Three L. M. by F. M. S., 60, 2 by 10 00| Cn. and Soc, 50, don. 15, con. 27, 152 00 IC/ierrii/itld—Mvidy, 153 20 OOJCoy/jp/-— Coll., 1 00 \DeiiiiiixriUe—h. M. 20, raon. con. 55, 75 00 29.29 Ea^^itport— Two h. U. by coll. 40, nion. con. 10, 50 00 Mechm.^—h. M. by F. M. S. 34.88, coll. 21.8(1, 56 74 Mackio.^, East—CoU. 30, don. 4, 34 00 J^ortlificld—CoW., 8 50 Pembroke— CoW. 12, from two indiv. 10, 22 00 H-hltlinr—CoU., 5 00 miitiiiiirtlle—X lady, 1 00 H'aslun\rtuii Conference— 6.W, 32.50, 38.51, 77 27 $1331 93 11 00 32 00 7 00 92 76 15 00 70 00 3 00 S. 5, Somerset. ^Inaon, South — Female Cent Soc. 11. coll. 4.02, don. 1, Bloomfield — Coll. 7, don. 5, 39 34 York. 6 OOL^cton— Ch. and Soc, {Alfred—VoW., 306 lO.Bidtleford, Eastr-CoU , \Biddeford, West-One L. JI., 7 78 20 00 $487 01 3 00 25 19 16 Q^\Burtnn, J^Torth-One L. M. by a coll., 20 00 Fairfield — Four members of Cong. Church, 12 00 12 m Buxton, Southr— Col]., !00 F/an- Staff— Bon RtwTi, .Vudison—CoU. 9.48, don. 5, .Mercer-Coll, .Vorrida-eirock— Coll. 30, 35.27, one L. I\l. 20, don. 5, Solon, South— Coll., 5 00 Solon Village — L. M. in part, 5 00 Sl Albans— 'L. M. 20, con. 3, Somerset Conference — 16.30, 1.15, 14, 3 OOjSHiot— Con., 14 AS\Kennebnnk— Con. 50, 53, don. 10, 6 50 KenncbunJcport, Ist Par.— Coll., " 2rf Par.— L. M. SO, 90 27 33, ^2 00 coir. 56 00 28 00 7 00 113 00 9 80 Unio^j. .llbany—CoM. 7.80, don. 2, Bridgton— Coll. 14, L. M., 20, 34 00 Bridgton, J^ortk— Coll. 14, L. M. in part 5, don. 16, 35 BrozcnfieU — L. M. in part, Fryeburg — L. M. 70, don. 5, Harrison — Cong. Soc, Lorell^Coll., Otisjiel/} — Ladies Assoc, 8, don. 4, Sweden — Coll., . Watcrford— Coll. 13.40, L. M. 20, don. 17, $253 20 Waldo. Belfast — li. M. 20, donation 5, collection 49.54, 74 51 Belfast, J^orth— Coll. 42.49, donation 3, ann. 2, 47 49 122 03 Camden — Two L. M. by Gent, and Ladies Association, 53 50 Camden, Rockport — Don., 2 00 78 00 Lebanon — Bal. of coll. last year, 1 00 10 00 Limerick-Bon. 24.33, coll. 13.70, 38 03 23 00 LiminiTton—Coll. 12.76, 15.29, 28 05 31 45 Lyman— One L. M. by P. Ben. Soc. 20, tw^o L. M. by coll. and an indiv. 40, 60 00 $218 7i:jVe7Bfeld—L. M. by coll.. 20 00 Saco— L. M. 90, F. M. S. 60, coll. 39, 189 00 San/ufv/— Coll. 15.8'J, 1, 16 83 Slmpleigh— One L. M. from " a friend," 20 00 South Bencick— Coll. 20.26, 17.23, 37 49 TVells, 1st Par.— 3 L. M. 60, pa« of 1 L. M. bv Ch. and Soc. 12.62, 72 62 ff''clls, '2d Par.— Coll. 9, 8, 17 — 69 00 7 00 75 00 18 OC 6 00 12 00 6 OC r, 50 40 Frankfort Mills— l.a.d\es Sew. Cir^ Jackson and Brooks — Coll. 14, 6.11, Prospect — Col 1 . , Searsport — Six L. M. by Ch. and Societv, 121, don. 10, 131 00 Searsport, £a.s£— Coll. 12, ann. 2, 14 00 Unity— Coll., 55 50 30 00 20 II 18 00 145 00 6 00 $396 64 York, 2d Par.— Cong. Soc. 20, don. York Conference, 89 62 22 26 81 OTHER STATES. Bridrrewater, Mass. — \ friend of missions, 2 00 Charlcstuwn, j»/tf.«.— VViiithrop Ch. and Soc. 67 22 Chelsea, Mass. — Winnisimmet Ch. and Society, Chelsea, Mass. — Rev. Xathan Dole and wife, J'i''ctcburiiport, Mass. — William Thurston and wife, Roibury, Mass.— Rev. B. M. Mitchell, Worcester, Mass. — Rev. Dr, Sweetser, Borer, JV. H. — Mrs. Marv R. Pray, Chicago, /«.- Abiel W. tinkhara, Apalachicola, Fla. — A. P. Nourse, Esq., 17 00 20 00 4 00 5 00 15 00 20 00 20 00 20 00 From donors unknown, Annual meeting at Bangor, Amount of donations as above, Legacies, $205 22 2100 127 57 11,368 58 3,783 00 $15,151 58 52 MAINE MISSIONARY SOCIETY. RECOGNIZED SINCE THE LAST ANNUAL PUBLICATION. MAINE. Loring, Henry Jlelville, Cobb, John F., Mills Mrs. Rhoda, Bradbury, James W., Junior, Howard, Miss Jane, Page, Mrs. Mary C, Tappan, Rev. Benjamin, Webb, Anna Winthrop, ) Webb, Elizabeth Temple, \ Billings, Mrs. Elizabeth, Butler, Henry A., Coombs, Mrs. Eliza B., Jewett, Carlaston, Jewett, Mrs. Carlaston, Maltby, Wm. Jackson, Marsh, Levi G., Mills, Miss Marianne H., Pond, Jeremiah Evarts, Roberts, Mrs. Ruth, Sanford, Miss Charlotte W., Sargent, Mrs. Ann, Savary, Mrs. Betsey H., Titcomb, Miss Emily, Veazie, Mrs. Maria B., Bovey, Miss Ann K., Donnell, George, Druramond, INliss Susan F., Gay, Mrs. Mehitabel, Harward, I\liss Lizzie P., Harward, Thomas P., Lambert, Miss Sarah E., Moody, Miss Mercy, (iuinnam, Mrs. Benjamin, Riggs, Mrs. James, Rogers, Miss Hannah C, Tolman, Rev. S. H., Trufant, Mr. William B., Waterman, Joseph W., Twitchell, Mrs. Sarah J., Merrill, Mrs. Hannah P., Brastovv, Mrs. Priscilla, Craig, Rev. Henry K., Pond, Mrs. Mary T., Adams, Stephen, Brown, Mrs. Rachel C, Downes, Mrs. Betsey, Robbins, Mrs. Mary, Swan Mrs. Hannah, Adams, Mrs. Adeline, Bowers, Rodolphus, Holmes, Mrs. Phebe W., Williams, Miss Lucia, Huston, Albert G., Huston, Henrietta A., Lane, Samuel, iPerkins, Daniel, Robinson, Eben D., Damariscotta. Amherst. Foster, Dea. Benjamin, Dennysville. Jluburn. Foster, Mrs. Joanna, Stearns, Mrs. Eliza K., a Augusta. Bates, Dr. Niran, East Machias. " Al'len, Mrs. Clara, Ellsworth. " Black, Mrs. Frances K., " " Nourse, Benjamin, Esq., « <« Knight, Mrs. Daraxa, Merrill, Miss Mary, Falmouth. ^ Bangor. Tyler, Rev. Amoiy H., " " Titcomb, John, Farmington. " Chandler, Mrs. Almira, Freeport, a Curtis, Thomas, « " Lapham, Mrs. Mary, « a Staples, Mrs. Elizabeth, " " Bradley, Mrs. Israel B., Fryeburg. " Warren, Mrs. Ann, " " Johnson, Henry E., Oardincr. <' Libbey, Win., Esq., " " Rowe, Dea. Ephraira, Oilead. " Green, Daniel W., Gray. " Philbrick, Miss Nancy E., Hallowell. " Skeele, Arthur F., " " Fifield, Edward P., Hampden. Bath. Felch, Charles P., Houlton. " Bixby, Mrs. Mary H. P., Kenduskeag. a Lord, D. Walter, Kennebunkpori- " Titcomb, Mrs. Eliza W., « " Chapman, Elias, Lebanon. " Ballard, Miss Hannah, Lewiston Falls. " Bradford, Mrs. A. C, « '« Pickard, George, " " Pickard, John P., " " Mitchell, Isaac, Esq., Limington. " Berry, Dea. Edward, Lisbon. " Murphy, Mrs. Sarah C, Lyman. " Roberts, Dimon, " {M'orth) Bclfw York, JV. Y. 7V«noHf. Hon. W. Storer, Cincinnati, Ohio. rurner. Mack, Rev. Wil'iam, Columbia, Tenn. Waldoboroua-h. Magoun, Frederic H., Burlington, III. Tinkham, Mrs. Charlotte S., Chicago, III. Warren Valentine, Lowell, Keosauqua, III. Valentino, Mrs. Judith W., " " Higgins, Mrs. Henrietta, Kane Co., III. Gurley, John McD., Washington, D. C. Mayo, John PL, WeymouVi, JV. S. Mayo, Mrs. JIaria G., " '' Bond, Caroline S., Koknla, Sand. Isl. .ERRORS CORRECTED IN LIST OF LIFE MEMBERS LAST YEAR. For Brown, Mrs. Stephen H., Bangor, read Brown, Mrs. Sophia H. True, Mrs. Sarah Jane, Bangor, read True, Mrs. Mary Jane. Abbott, Miss Maria, Mechanic Falls, read Merrill, Mis? Maria H. Hodge, Mrs. Caroline S., Washington, read Hodge, Mrs. Caroline P. Keaton, Isaac, Washington, read Heaton, Isaac. Rawson, Rev. C. N., Westbrook, read Ransom, Rev. C. X. Neven, Rev. Robt., Missionary in So;ith Africa, read Xiven, Rev. "obt. 54: MAINE MISSIONARY SOCIETY. CONSTITUTION OF THE M. M. SOCIETY, III its revised form, as adopted June 23, 1852. Article i. This Society shall be called the Maine Missionary t^ociety. Art II. The object of this Society is to extend the knowledge of God our Savior, and to send Cue glorious gospel to those that are destitute of the public and stated means of religious instruction. Art. III. This Society believe, and will endeavor to propagate those doctrines, which are called the doctrines of grace, and use the peculiar doctrin's of the reformation, and which are comprehended in the Westminster Assembly's shorter Catechism. Art. IV. This Society shall be auxiliary to the American Home Jlissionary Society, on the conditions of the seventh and eighth articles of its Constitution, with the name and under the charter of the Maine Missionary Society. Art. v. The payment of two dollars annually into the Treasury of the Society, shall constitute a member of the Society, and the payment of not less than twenty dollars shall constitute a member for life. Art. VI. The Officers of this Society shall be a President, Vice President, Corresponding and Recording Secretary, Treasurer, and eleven Trustees, including tiie President, who shall be cliosen at the annual meeting by ballot. The President shall be ex officio a member of the board of Trustees, five of whom shall constitute a quorum. The othcers shall all continue in office until others are elected. Art. VII. The President shall preside in the meetings of the Society and of the Trustees, and call special meetings of tlic board whenever requested by three of its members. The Secretary shall take charge of the books and correspondence of the Society, and exhibit the records of its proceedings at each annual meeting. The Treasurer shall have charge of the funds and property belonging to the Society, and siiall present annually a full and accurate account of all receipts and disbursements. He shall also give sufficient security to the Secretary of the Society for The faithful discharge of hi'i trust, before he enters upon the duties of his office. The Trustees shall meet semi-annually, at the time and place of the annual meeting of the Society, and at such other time and place as they may direct. They may adjourn or hold special meetings as they think proper. They shall examine, employ and direct all missionaries, and determine the place of their location. They shall also manage and dispose of the property of the Society, and have a general f-uperintendence over all its business. At the annual meeting they shall exhibit to the Society a particular statement of all their proceedings and of the labors and success of their missionaries. Art. VIII. The Society shall meet annually on the fourth Wednesday of June, at such place as they may appoint. At each annual meeting a sermon shall be preached, and a collection taken up. Every meeting shall be opened and closed with prayer. Art. IX. The constitution may be altered or amended by a vote of two-thirds of the members present at any annual meeting; but no such alteration or amendment shall be made unless a motion expressing the same in writing shall have been made at a previous meeting of the Society ■one year before it is acted upon. CONSTITUTION. 55 Art. X. The missionaries employed by tliis Society shall endeavor faithfully to promote the great interests of religion, by all the means in their power, and shall make returns of their trans- actions to the Trustees. Art. XI. The funds of the Society shall be raised from the annuities and life memberships of members and from the voluntary donations and bequests of the charitably disposed. This Suciety will cordially unite with any other Societies established for the promotion of christian knowledge, who ii:ay be disposed to co-operate with them in their designs. SEVENTH AND EIGHTH ARTICLES OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE AMERICAN HOWE MISSIONARY SOCIETY. Article tii. Any Missionarj' Society may become auxiliary by agreeing to pay into the Treasury of this Society the whole of its surplus funds, and sending to the Secretaries for Cor- respondence a copy of its Constitution and Annual Reports, mentioning the names of its Mission- aries and the fields of their operations. Art. VIII. Every Auxiliary Society which shall agree to pay the whole of its funds to this Society, shall be entitled to a missionary or missionaries to labor in such tield as it may desig- nate ; at least to the amount of its contributions ; provided such designation be made at the time 9f payment. Th7r^ -^2^7 1855 '"e Christian mim<:trt "'Stry ; a work for the ]J012 00036 2386'