The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-06-24
STATE Convention Of the Unsvcss
saliSt aOcsstS.

very largely attended. The President an
nounced that owing to unforeseen circumstan-
ces DIR. Miner would not be present He
therefore called upon Hon. I. Washburn, Dr., to
address the meeting. The speaker traced
briefly the progress of religious ideas, showing
that Universalism came as Legitimate stage
of religious growth. Murray was ProVden'
tial messenger, sent by God to do specific |
work. His time was significant; the ma was |
no less So Toe Universalst church is a |
Catholic, not Protestant church; it is not a |
protest; 1t is not an in .ruder interloper; it
is positive, affirmative; it is not simply destruc
tive, but constructive; its principles, either |
embodied in its distinctive organization, or |
uurecognized in other communions, have leav- |
ened the theologies and literature of the times.
The poets write it in their lyrics; Whittier,
Holmes, Dickens, Thackeray, Chauncey Hare,
Townsend, glow in all their writings with the
truths of our glorious faith. Our mission is to
go forward as religious leaders. Our respon-
sibilities are great. Our strength must be
equal to our needs. Our privileges are great;
great must be our devotion to our work. The
speaker closed with specifying the peculiar de-
nominational work of the hour.
Rev. Mr.. Battles, of Bangor, was the next
speaker. He reviewed the sacrifices and
achievements of the past, and urged that we OBJ
tain from them an inspiration for future work.
The past is present with us-with its remem
brances. Our fathers are the witnesses of our
fidelity. Let us not be faithless to their MEM
cries.
Hon. S. Perham addressed the meeting The
speaker spoke of the opportunities of the
Universalist faith, and the specific work of the
Maine Convention, and urged that the hours
work is not alone to give money but earnest
hearts and consecrated hands.
Mrs. Mary A. Lvermore was called forward.
"The books of the Apostles was supplemented
by the acts of the Apostles. As denomina
ton we have been too much talking people.
Our faith is only valuable as it inspires to ac-
ton. We are to sing as we go forward in life.
| We are to crystalZe our songs into deeds"
Several interesting anecdotes were narrated
melting the women to greater religious activi-
| ty. The Catholic church is strong in its strong
women. The Protestant women are faithless
to their opportunities. The strength of the
Universalist church is its women. They can
| inspire and encourage the me and give them
selves to the work of our great church. The
eloquent speaker appealed with imprisoned
power to the women to help forward our great
| work.
The President then called for pledges; be
himself pledgipg $1,000 provided the debt of
$4,000 due on Hersey Hall could be raised.
Ten clergymen gave $50 each. Many sub
scriptions were made. The whole amount of
| the evenings work was 1891.
THiRDDAy
| The weather was glorious for the closing day
of the Convention and for the dedication of
the new dormitory (Hersey HAIL. most val
liable and needed addition to that thriving in
stitution of learning-Westbrook Seminary.
The church was crowded with people all deep
ly interested in the proceedings.
The Council met at s IL o'clock A. NJ in
the church, r. Dresser Esq, President pro
| tena.-
Business assigned for the year laid on the
| table.
Rev. N. Gunnison presented charges signed
| by himself and Rev. Messrs. Thompson and
Snow, against Rev. N. o. Chaffee. Referred
to Committee on Fellowship and Discipline.
| Report of Missionary Committee was pre-
scented by Rev. A. Gunnison and accepted.
Voted, That the Committee having in charge
| missionary work be directed to press the rals-
| ing of the balance of the ST. 900, and to secure
| missionary as soon as the sum was completed.
Rev. Mr.. Snow presented the report of the
| Centenary Agent. Accepted.
Voted, That that the Centenary Committee
be continued under authority of Convention,
| with power to fill vacancies,-vZ.: Hon. l.
| Wasbburn, Jr., N. G.. Hichborn, A. c. Deni-
ton, A. Gunnison, G. S. FObes, G. p Kimball
s. f. Hersey, S. Perham and r. Dresser.
| Voted, That the Missionary Committee of
| last year be continued.
Rev. Mr.. Skinner offered the following reso-
| lutions:
Voted, That the thanks of this Convention
| are due and are hereby rendered to Rev. c.
R. Moor for his emlnently appropriate, able,
| and instructive occasional discourse delivered
| yesterday before this body, and that copy be
earnestly desired for publication in pamphlet
| form.
ton is entitled to our grateful acknowledge
ment for his distinguished ability, courtesy
and efficiency as presiding officer, aud his pre-
l eminent liberality in the faftherance Of our
| UNCONVENTIONAL enterprises and interests by
his donations and iabors which unceasiDg
| and upstinted.
Voted, That we desire to express our thanks
| to the various railroad and steamboat lines for
their generous reduction of fares to and from
| our Convention.
Voted, That our friends in Westbrook have
| not only entertained us with generous hearts,
| but with amplitude of preparation and pro-
| vision which has won our admiration as well
| our gratitude.
| A resolution was passed voting thanks to
Rev. Mr.. Bailey, former Secretary of this
Convention, for his labors.
| The Committee on Permanent Organization
reported the following delegates to the United
States Convention to be held in New Glouces-
ter. Mass, in September, and they were
| elected:
| Revs G. r. Moor, J. c. Snow, A. Battles,
| w. E. Gibbs, Hon. 8. Perham, L. L. Wads-
| worth, Jr, r. Dresser, Hon. S. f. Jersey, A.
| G. Denison and N. G. hichborn.
| The Committee on Discipline reported and
| the report was accepted.
| The Committee on Permanent Organization
reported recommending Bath a p ace of ad-
jOurnment.
A collection in aid of INDECENT ministers
was taken up to the amount of $69 &c, and
placed in the hands of President, Vice Presi-
dent, Secretary and Treasurer for distribution
A recess was then taken to listen to the ad
dress dedicatory of Hersey Hall, delivered by
Rev. A. Battles of Bangor:
We publish an abstract of the address, which
abounded in gems of thought, and was a most
finished production:
We assemble to-day with glad hearts and our
| first duty is to give expression to our feelings
of Joy and of thanksgiving that the grand
| work which the interests OF this institute have
so long demanded, and which its friends have
SO long been laboriDg to accomplish, is done
| 1t is proper that we should look with grateful
| hearts on its completion. The contrast between
| what we see today and what was seen here in
times past, furnishes grounds for cheerful con-
| gratulatio1. We look back through the long
| vista of years to the time when the school was
poor in purse, meagre in its accommodations,
and its friends Respondent. We feel thrill OF
joy as we gaze around this morning and COM
pare the change. Buildings spacious and even
elegant, beautiful grounds carefully laid out,
and the latest addition to its usefulness, both
capaclous and graced by the adornment of art
1 said our first duty was the expression OF
thanks. Thanks first of all to God for crown
ing our work with SO much success; thanks to
those who have aided in this enterprise, and
thanks especially to within whose noble contri-
buttons have built these walls. 1t is right that
| they should bear his name. When Sir Chris
| topher Wren, who built that splendid Cathe-
| oral, the MODEST Protestant Church in the
| world, lay upon his death bed he asked that his
| only monument should be simple marble
| slab in the church which his genus had erect
| ed, on which should be inscribed the line, Isl
regiuris naonunentun,, circanaspice, IF you are
| seeking for monument, look around YOU II
| any one asks for the monument to this bene-
factor of his race, let them look about them at
these buildings from which shall emanate the