New-York tribune., 1870-09-21
THE UNIVERSALIST CENTENARK

THE GATHERING AT GLOUCESTER, MASS. - I'M
MENSE AITENDANCE-TlIE ANNUAL REPORTs.
GLOUCESTER, Mass, Sept. 90 "A hundred
years ago present month"; September 7O the doctrine
of the final reconciliation all souls to God first
preached in this ancient Eew-Engand town by John
Murray, the founder Of the American Universalist
Church The first Universalist Society organized In
the United States formed here, where to-day
Uniyersaiss the whole country assembled, In
almost Dumbers TO celebrate their centenary
year The hotels and private dwellings are fu and 80
the streets and the beautiful tents on the sea shore
Two large conference meetings held last night and
this morning at O'Clock the handsome Uniyersalist
Church crowded at meeting for prayer and praise
The first general Convention OF UniveTsalists com
prising only the Northeast States, was held in Win
chester n H. in ls when the so-called Winchester pro
OF faith adopted The old organization deve
oped gradually into what ia now known as the General
Convention of Universaists the United States. The
present Constitution and BY Laws were adopted m 1866
The Council is composed OF one clerical ana TWO lay dele
Churches exist. It's officers President two Vice
Presidents, Secretary, permanent Treasurer anu iour
Trustees the whole constituting the Board OF Trustees
annual meeting commences on the third Tuesday OF
September continuing three days
MORNING SESSION.
The Convention proper was called TO order at 1890
a m by the President, the Rev. j. G.. Bartholomew OF
Auburn n Y. Prayer offered by the Rev. Dir. Hart
well Of Albany. After the roll OF delegates read, the
Convention proceeded to the choice OF permanent oi
GERS. The Hon. Sidney Perham OF Maine was elected
President; the Rev Dr. Weston OF Illinois and Mr.. NJ
H. Hennup OF Minnesota. Vice Presidents; ID. L. Holden
New-York Secretary. The Rev. Dr. Ryder of Chicago
conducted the President the chair He acknowledged
the honor which had been conferred upon him and CON
graduated the denomination upon the successes OF the
past especially on the noble work Of their centenary
Of Ohio, and K. NJ. M.Wallace OF Illinois were chosen
ommee on the ke ASa Sa SaSe S 81 Rev
Eddy of Gloucester, Committee on Public Services.
The Council then adjourned until 2:S0 p In.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
Expecting that the attendance would be larger than
any church could accommodate the Society In Gouees-
ter has provided large tent upon peaut pun tniee-
fourhs OF mile from the town overlooking the sea- BY
the side this smaller tents for committees and va
rous societies in the vicinity where members are intend
ing 10 camp" during the meeting The site IL charm
s esp One me s spa Were with the view At o
III. there were 5000 people IN the tent Inc rO h oi 9ele
noon was mainly given to the reading and consideration
Of reports. .,,-a a,,. , .
Seven meetings have been bold in the year. The Rev.
Dr. sake OF Rochester had been secured as General
Of the Murray Fund; The Hon J. WashDgrne Of
Mape A. MnsF % 9 Charles q IA RSss1
esq Of Pennsy ylyania and Charles H. Sawyer, esQ, OF
Illinois, had been chosen TO control the money The
ganzed and twentyone States are now organized In the
body The Board has supplied the washington pulpit for
the last months and would like 10 build the Society
church. but does not deem it expedent at present The
ships one of the number has died, has abandoned
ministry, fourteen are now in the schools and TWEEN
York has bequeathed 5000 to the Convention trust
for the relief Of disabled clergymen.
The report on missionary boxes closes september g.
From January l. 1870, date, lOOg7 boxes have been
heard FROM giving an aggregate OF $50 81 The Board
heartily this method Of work. The neasurers
report gives the yearly receipts as s83 49, and the
ly expenditures s46s TO- Balance, t26 TO- The Murray
Centenary Fund has received from Mass collections
s03sO 81; from other sources, SIS sH i6 total sA 9s 2
$4,000 has been invested There is in the treasury s2
III the present Indebtedness Of the General Conyen
The report OF the Missionary Army shows that they
distributed this year 900 boxes prior TO October
1859, The receipts have been sO74s w. The
whole cost Of providing the boxes and forwarding them
has been k,SO $. The General Secretary gave very
able and interesting report He reviewed the attempts
Of various to raise money for the body and the
many failures At the Winchester Convention in 1893,
49, raised but the body has grown from 40 Socie
ties and ~ ministers TO 1000 Societies and 900 minis
tiers, and its wealth has increased In like pro-
portion. This year VI 100000 WAS the sum proposed
TO be raised. The womans Centenary Association has
made acknowledgement ana raised Tios "a sg%1 ,, has
months 10 work The present church property OF the
denomination is valued at 100000; current expenses,
property and investments in colleges and schools
o. 3U0; investments In charities and missions $4,000
The following is statement OF the centenary OF
1870 In addition TO church sSpenses Raised the Muir
ray fund s6222s; other osngs In payment Of church
debts, building churches, endowment OF colleges and
schools tsi69oo making total OF sS4s,537 This amount
viii he handsomely increased The four States which
Connecticut, Minnesota and New York Massachusetts
has raised tie largest for the Murray fund Ohio
most for edasa,on,L purposes Minnesota the gallant
young state OF the North West the most quota
One noble hearthed citizen OF Ohio has given S 900 10
Butchel College denomination that add ses 5S7 10
ne WORKING capital IN single year shows II Is alive, ana
will live till its work is ended.
At the conclusion OF Dr. Lanes strong report, Horace
Greeley offered resolution that the Murray fund be de-
Noleu to the use or "A publication fund" ..,..
Evening services were held In the untartan ohrssi
slst aud Baptist Churches, and sermons preached "
the Rev. j. III. Nttle of Minnesota, the Rev NC OF
lester Of New Hampshire, and the Rev. N :, saso
VI Indiana The occasional sermon Will he precnco w
ths nov Dr. Minor tomorrow morninE