The Portland daily press., 1863-09-17
ALTERS ABOUT TOWN.
The Uuited States Universalist Convention.

The Uuited States Universaiist Convention.
The Council assembled on Wednesday at 8
O'Clock, Rev. Mr.. Damarest in the chair. Pray
was appointed and resolutions relating to the
business of the Convention adopted
At 10 IL o'clock public services were held
at the New City Hall. An anthem was sung
by the choir of the LIST Universalist Church OF
this city, which at common gatherings would
have been universally applauded. very
earnest and appropriate prayer was offered
by Rev. William Spaulding of Salem, in which
the country, the soldier and bondmen were
remembered. A hymn commencing with
these words was sung:
Lord we are come to seek support"
Rev.J G. Adams of Providence, r. who had
been appointed to preach the occasional SER
mon, took for his text part of the 18th verse
of the Goth chapter of Acts
'swhereupon, o King Agrippa, was not disobe-
dent 10 the heavenly VISION
He spoke of the mission of Paul the apostle
his faitbfulness - his doctrine, embracing
that of repentance, resurrection, &c. He then
fully, clearly and boldly pointed out what he
considered the duty the Universaist church;
its ministry aud laity at the present time. The
duty and qualification of the ministry was fully
presented, the necessity for education, devo-
ton, fidelity and boldness, never failing to de-
clare the whole counsel of God. He also
pointed out the duty of the layman, in the fam
iy the church and the Sunday School.
He said while they had no revival machinery,
they believed in progression and reformation,
and thought Universalists should have a sys-
TEN Of Home Mission by which their princi-
Piles or faith could be introduced into sparsely
populated portions of the country. His re-
marks in regard to the condition of the coun-
try were of the most interesting character, and
he urged in the most patriotic manner the duty
OF every one who believed in the paternity of
God and the fraternity of man to lend his in
fuence in favor of the Government.
This being an occasional sermon, the time
occupied in its delivery did not detract from
its excellency. The same may be said of the
prayer, which by one watch was thirty-one
minutes long and by another forty-two. We
have an aversion to long prayers generally,
but we, listened not only patiently but with in
creasing interest to that occasional" prayer
to the close.
The sermon was bold and able declaration
of the duties and obligations of the church,
and was listened to with the most profound
attention, although about an hour and half in
length, by the large and intelligent audience
present.
The Council met at 2 o'clock in the after
noon, and reconsidered the vote whereby
the report Of the committee on organization
was referred to the next Convention and or
dered printed, and took up separately the va
rious parts Of organization.
At 3 o'clock p. NJ, those of the delegation
who were at liberty, and friends, had social
gathering at the City Hall. Rev. Z. C. Bodies
made brief welcoming speech, and prayer
was offered by Rev. Mr.. Moor OF Mass, after
which the time was spent in friendly greetings
and forming each others acquaintance. 1t
was very pleasant gathering and seemed to
be very much enjoyed by the visitors.
At 1-2 o'clock public services were held at
the City Hall and at the First Universalist
Church, both places being well filed. The
sermon in the hall was by Rev. Mr.. Damarest
of Ohio, the successor of Rev. Mr.. Gurley in
the editorship of the "Star in the Westn Mr..
Damarest took for his text the Sd verse of the
Sd chapter OF Hebrews,-"The brightness of
his glory and the express image of his per-
son." His theme was the character, offices
and mission Of Christ and his mediatorial re-
lat tn I'D ms Mr. ic
lent writer, presenting his subject in clear
and explicit manner, but may lack little of
the energy of a man who devotes his entire
time to the ministerial profession.
The sermon in the church we did not hear,
but learn it was by Rev. Henry Blanchard of
Brooklyn, N. Y. His theme was the silent
language Of Deity, and we learn it was an elo-
quent and interesting sermon.
The exercises tomorrow will consist of a
conference meeting at the church at O'Clock,
and a meeting of the Council in the large hall
at O'Clock, at which the reports of the Com
mittees on Education and the State of the
Churches will be under consideration; after
which the subject of organization of the de-
nomination and the report of the Committee
on the State of the Country will be takeu up.
At 10 IL O'Clock there will be public ser
vices in the City Hall-sermon by Rev. A.
Skinner Of Cambridgeport, and in the church
at the same hour, by Rev. r. Richard Eddy of
Philadelphia Communion service in the hall
at 3o'clock. Preaching in the church at 1-2
O'Clock in the evening, of which particular no.
tice will be given in the evening paper.