New-York tribune., 1870-09-26
UNIVERSALISM.
,up CENTENARY CELEBRATION

FRS-WHAT THE WOMEN HAVE DONE.
GLOUCESTER, Mass, Sept. 22.-Here, at the
rough old Cape which named Ann is the beauty spot
Of Eastern Massachusetts, dimpe OF oveliness in her
ragged and wrathful front Here quaint quiet Glouces
ter town lies, pretty shell of neutral color on sap
phre curve of sea- Nowhere does the surf come bat
ting up the beach with more JOve-ke thunders No'
where do the great gray rocks crowd along the shore'
and guard the inland stretches OF green, WIN lio
tumultuous state. The little fishing town sits IKE
prlm. Puritanical granddame under their shado"' o. o.
blnks solemnly out to sea throus" No. of
lighthouses. Queer, crooked streets are ~ 'uo
Goucester-streets that seem TO have no pes s, iod
end, and which, after half hours ""A' o0 ,lod
nne roupd to ones starting point Here are .he r'Ds
houses dear to the past generation OF NJ" ,, bo
who apparently knew not the use oi C"P -. ~,
small gray houses that dot the coast an Wv w -. -,
Rrunsvick and suggest more ViNldIy '"'n s -
,,o -, ricid nowerless lives Of the Ne"-Lhsianu
saints and witch-burners-synonylnouS 'eii"S On0,
ora arc the tiny front yards with thef prh s'ilpS Vi
s and their prim asters and fouro cocks-ail 80 eur
oentlv uroper and utterly without the pouh'eous
,io,s NJ the big ghearted mother who has been roll
licking over the hills Of late leaving bits OF scarlet robe
and golden among the naples and btterWeetN vines
JOHN MURRAY.
A hundred years ago, when Gloucester was mere
baby Of town. gasping for dear life among the rocks
ana the fishes and when her only street lamps were the
gracious stars there came man with powerful prOW'
an honest blue eye and tender and liberal heart 10
preach here a religion, startling as II was WeI
A
character had taken richer loveness by the grave
Of his gentle English wife, man had felt the spirit
of freedom stirring among the dry bones OF MS
early political and eltous discpines an Engshmah
who had prescence enough 10 forget alacy ana loo"
an untried faith, when he marched into our desperate
Revolution with the Continental army-John Murray
came wonderous reveator to the Massachusetts Cal
yinists Here the gentle SOUL filed by power at once
serene and passionate tOed under cloud OF ngatitude
and persecution, like any apostle OF Old and toed WIN
such royal earnesness that to-day he is recognized as
the father faith in America faith certainly not the
least venerable. progressive, and ntrnsealy powerful
OF ALL
And here amid the rocks where the stanch old lib
era preached his tenet Of Hope American Universasm
has ty honored its founder in its first Centenary Cee
bration Throughout the week, thousand after thou
sand OF genial believers have poured into the
little town. embroiderng the brown streets with gay re-
efs OF color, filing every available nook and corner,
and bringing many hospitabe housewife to the rescue
in the cordial spirit Of the Pennsylvania woman who
proessed readiness to seep three and eat as many
as you choose"
WHAT MANNER OF PEOPLE THEY ARE
On the most picturesque Of Camp Grounds 1870 people
gathered with kindly and simple fervor of religious
determination Little immaculate tents dotted the peace
green slopes around the great central one where an
immense listening crowd day after day filed every
crevice and overowed upon the turf outside The big
bold rocks that edge the shore bOssomed out in bands Of
pretty maiden Unversasts, sweet, and wholesome, and
pinkcheeked and in musical accompaniment TO prayer
and sermon came the charming echoes Of their laughter
and the growing Of the waves
right stately group the denominatiOna leaders
mostly men whose years less than whose thought
rendered them venerable. For the prominent Uni
versalists not young Their boards wag wisely
in they tnged with gray and for the hot discus
of their youth they have stomach Sturdy, OBJ
stlnate uncompromisng they class, but withal
no sect can boast a tenderer and more fOrhearing
brOtheriness Always kindly in his aggressiveness,
genial denunciaton, artistically simple in his elo
quence Dr. Chaplin of the striking figures Of the
Convention as he is the faith. The small man with
the expression Of culture, the gentle and quzAcal
glance round, benevolent head and mpetuous ges-
reused enthusiasm up there among the rocks
that found grateful expression in the wet eyes Of
gaunt, sallow fishermen and metaphysical Bostonian
maidens As positive in manner but thorough contrast
I'm personnel was DIR. Brooks OF comfortable figure,
with flashing dark eyes, and strange anomaly OF
gzzed beard and etty mustache the doctor gave ev-
dence OF his temperament in nervous objections and
pungent little arguments contrast again was Dr.
Bolles a little with rich voice, cordial blue eyes,
and whiskers brown and brushy. AS a very excellent
financial persusder. with armory of quip and crank
and pertnent quotation Dr. Bolles had peer in the
Convention.
SOME OTHER CELEBRnIEs-EDUCATIoN.
Sidney Perham. the earnest, honest helpful man OF
Maine made a right dgnifed and ready President, as
most thoughtful New -Enganders have the power OF
doing when necessary. Roundfaced, roundheaded,
round eyed Mr.. Perham most striking nappearance
when placed beside that vehement Chicago divine Ryder
who Is ~ square shoulder head and features as the
President is round Very squarely decisive in cOnclave
was Dr. Ryder-this Western man who thought 1t all
very we'll to shout hymns but very much better 10 pay
substantial the reasurya doctrine by the way,
which has done not little toward the enormous work OF
Universalism during the past year.
Richmond Fske, the young nervous teacher, with the
thin vivid face, and the soft black curling hair ofcose
expatated long and well upon his pet subject OF eduea
ton with word scientist who is evidently one Of
his heroes-Max Miller. This hero of his had placed the
doctrine of endless punishment among the eXcrescences
Of the Christian religion, and President Fiske calmly
pxued said We form the only church shorn from
that eXcresCence."
Universalists particularly proud OF their educa
ional forces and rejoice with comical heartness IN
svery member who outdoes lhimsef In endowment. II
was with a burst aud glow Of this feeling that they
greeted-the whole mighty crowd Of themthat geneT-
ous Ohoan John Buchtel, and forced him, wily-niy,
10 mako speech A little bashfu the plain Western
man, with practical beamng from every angle
and wrinkle his rough face and sturdy figure But he
spoke quaint pith and point that as Western
~ his personnel.
One of the most spirited and stirring speeches Of the
Convention that Of the Rev, E. +. Hale the orthodox
Unitarian and energetic editor. He came to the front
with never Of Col Ingham in matter manner
and asserted the doctrines spiritual brotherhood and
liberal Christiany in a way almost powerful enough TO
mako John Murray walk forth apprOyingy from his
grave. Mr Hale believes In the intimate and
vital connection Of practical life and religion AS
for the political and religious existence
America has chosen, for better worse, universal
suffrage And what does universal suffrage mean, but
that the doctrine total deprayty is folly and bias
phemy Mr.. Hale has the face Of a wise tired
face, with a wrnkled. dome-shaped brow, and deepset
ue eyes ever wearing absorbed halfpained express