Daily Kennebec Journal

The report of the Presiding Elder, Rev. S. Allen. of the Augusta district was read on Thursday in the conference.

The report began by recording gratitude to kind Providence for continued health. Augusta district embraces 30 circuits and stations served by 24 members of conference and 6 local preachers: Sunday quarterly meetings have been held during the past year upon every charge. The preachers have generally enjoyed good health. Instead of "Four day meetings" of former days, four weeks of labor have been required to secure attention of the people. A smaller proportion of church members have been constant attendants upon church worship than formerly, also the absence of children from church worship was noted.

The churches and parsonages in the district are in good condition. The churches at Hallowell, Augusta, Skowhegan, Monmouth, Phillips and Winthrop, have been much improved during the last two years. Convenient chapels have been built at Eustis, North Anson and North Sidney, free from debt. At Oakland the church will soon be completed. At Madison a church is in process of erection. At Mt. Vernon, also, measures are being taken to build a church.

The Maine Conference Home Missionary Society came none to soon to the relief of struggling societies. The propriety of appropriating funds from the General Missionary Society to these churches was considered. The matter of church situation was spoken of.

The Maine Wesleyan Seminary has attained a condition of financial strength and stability. The legacies of the estate of S. R. Bearce, amounting to $13,000 have been recently paid, also that of Ammi Loring of $9000. The total property of the institution amounts to not less than $150,000 including over 20,000 held in trust by the Maine Board of Education.

The report closed with a stirring denunciation of the style of preaching from manuscript. The report of the Presiding Elder was enthusiastically received and heartily endorsed evidently by the assembly. The character of the effective elders of the Augusta District was passed, and the proceeds of the missionary collections announced.- Lewiston Journal.