New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-02-17
RELIGIOUS.
nupsoN RIVER UNITARIAN CoNfEF eNcE.
SECOND DAYS SESSION.


Of the Messiah wes occupied yesterday morning, when
DR. Believe cook the chair. great1r perttofi the con
breion we're ladies' The hour p2evOus 20 the regular
session was passed conversation, prayer, and singing
tho Rev. Mr.. Hepworth presdmg Delegates were pres
ent from Hariem, Newburg Brooklyn, staten Island
hontcair, YOnkers Troy, Albany, and All SOUS anu
Messiah churches, New-York After the minutes OF INC
reyous Conference were read the condition Of the va
Jus churches presented. DR.. Bellows sara 'na'
his son was engaged Ia missionary work al bree'o'
Hail. and considering the thnness OF the populaoSS" "
that neighborhOOd much good IS being accO'npsuSu,
A. M,niclnr n T. there are l6 families in the church
The average attendance Is ABOUT 80 a,nonnts 10
sunday-schcol it is rs The annual income amoun'S "
AT Harlem the prospect for the future is fayoraPe
About a. OGo has been pledged for paying on DEUS
total sum on hand Is about $1,000 More muncY 81 ''
needed 20 relieve the church OF and
At Newburgh church edihee is beng con '
A. is eSnected that it may be dedicated ny the latter par'
Of Ap, dhg imam grows slowly aticry rapid
,reSs il expected when the building is completed
xitb % faMiles now there 40 The congregation mas
two or atheists, three or four splInas' anu dc
,nanv more who profess 10 believe IN nothing.
TBe Third Society of Brooklyn reported 200 memoers,
porres has hecS made during the past two years and
The prospect for the future Is auspclOus INC oecVu
soiety Of Brooklyn reported fayorably The contrlOu
tobs received AZ Troy during the past year so per
cent greater than before for the same period Inc
average attendance about 800 Tho delegate from Ihe
Church Of the savior in Brooklyn said that their moran
M secresTy Of the Messiah OR Hepworth) said that
financially their condition Is improving sun tneie ~
Urge debt Teaa% ann yo dne Without interest The pew.
pay the current expenses the ntenuanee III p
by cutYatiuC the waste places The snndaysenoo ,s
doubled the number of its pupils The secretary oi w., o
Conference said that since the previous meellhg wv
elnrcb services and missonary-school had been
,n.6 Fl, RTevoort Han Al Montclar services TO be
TlgntT o yrv sunday have been begun The Of
The Unitarian Headquarters IN CintOn-paoe have Deen
Sdvcrtiscd i'm public localities in aud around the city
Unitarian books are offered for sale in ten book stores
There great need Of practical MISSIONARY LABOR
should be circulated 10 conneIact the enecs Vi EIoi
ddrmas. and especially Ritualisin, ..,,.
Considerable discussion followed touching a s9ioa l
place for receiving strangers and selling DOCKS
Dr Bellows said that the rooms IN Cuonpace were ot
near enough Broadway and after the lt OF May Ihe
rent for the entire building would Ds falStn ~ s'
proposed that arrangements be mace WIN inc ~
Of An souls Church rent large school room attached
20 the Church Fourth-ave. resolution was hhaly
Mr. Lave Secretary OF the Associaonin Boston. could
not give advice regarding locations IN M
Here things very different nom what they are III
a known book establishment 10 ind 1t IN pace
where would expect 10 see only cheap SHOPS ana ola
Dr. BellowsThis is the way Boston speaks of BroOme-
Mr. Lowe-I know that the people should know that
our publications can be.purchaSed In Ne%-NoLk. am
send them books and don't suppose they ever thought
Dr. Belows-Yes; and have letters from all parts Of
England iuquTng for books which can be purchased
After some further discussion, DR.. Bellows spoke on
missionary work as follows il has always been dhcut
euate Unitarian tracts among the people Whe inc pun
oHires n smsTf man to distribute publications often
Smr pubsers are requested TO mail their documents
that no one will Know what the wrappers contain Mr.
Hcpworth has circulated more tracts since he com
menced preaching here than all other persons before
HIM desire for Unitarian literature Is just Deglhhns
10 be felt. We need more trumpeis One reason why
progress slow is because the orthodox people
have managed 10 move rapidly Ihey are successful 10
reaching tine popular heart. They take, however. all
in many instances occupying our ground They preach
IN to capvate and only rarely do they touch on
The obnoxious crceds Beecher may say what he will
The general tone Of his preaching does not differ mater
ally from what wish 10 prOmulgate. want no better
than he The orthodox of to-day
is great Improvement what used. 10 be that
much labor is taken out Of our hands The division walls
between the seets much thinner than suppose
me KY ~ - 10 bd g W "s asker ~ no wG1a
he left his church for hall the attendance has greatly
increased ana the younger members OF his congregation
taking steps TO further extend the work begun by
tBe Church.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The Conference Teassembled after partaking
OF a choice lunch served in the Chapel.
The Rev. Badger OF Staten Island read an interest
tug paper which he adyerted to the ignorance which
prevailed regarding the literature of the Unitarian
church and tie history Of It's development and progress
The causes of that ignorance said obvious 1t is
part the result Of absorption III business which makes
mans duty to return 10 recreation rather than to study
the days work is done They turn for recreation
20 the arts those which demand little effort the works
Of painting and sculpture which they may but 1t
qures sustained effort to make the creations of tera
the of science. Hence, in inteli
gent aud more busy community we snail mo men unac-
quaintod with the literature OF our tongue,
countries and with a thousand brilliant fascinating and
rapidly growing branches OF science. Aud hence too
pits treat. lie then referred to letter which appeared
IN IHE TRIBUNE in January. signed "B," concerning
.Nnitanauism, which he denounced perfectly untrue
aud exhibiting plainly the Incompetence OF the writer 10
declare opinion such subject the speaker passed
FROM this the subject Of newspapers. lie SAID
newspaper must be adapted to the popular demand 1t
cannot live without H. But the newspaper tone Is
steadily rising IA oar country and as steadily the maya
zine literature touing itself down 10 the popular pitch
Year after year the articles OF magazines be
made shOrterve Elk pages already large average
and while they shorter they must be made shaower
Livery year We see new Candidates Tor the popular favor
with sVrter, thinner articles, with hashY Illustrations
appealing TO the average American taste Now, the in
HuenOe OF newspapers depends upon the persons who
feel them The newspaper covers vide range Of char
among It's readers 10 tue lowest OF them 1t
great blessing to the highest III may DC great curse lt
uscful farmer His seniweekly and weekly is
nnsPeakable blessing. Our land should be swarming
witt susa but here In city and its suburbs our
VOuuuOs papers, with matter enought deyour almost
gathered from immoral cesspoo Those In the cities
lover walks, who have been all their lives
81, but tie child might as well have the com
partnership of the echer But what measures should We
either OF these evils trst. think the pulpit should
point oct briefly the good aud the eyil powers OF our
daily press. rapidly becoming great power in
land. think should be warned TO take heed what
they aud read aud not 10 have their mental
FILTERED away their cOnseiences oppressed by the
papers snap Judgment, oueslded argument, and con,
Lnued inevitable interpretation. think the Gospel
Should bs laid aside a month and we take up the
weapons 0i te lecturer use VIII ndlcue, and even sar
casui. n need be.
Tue reverend speaker then adverted to the need Of
pastor class n tie Church. not merely Bible class hut
the pastors class for which service day should be
given up There should be formed large class Of stu
dsnts who should be led into any class OF studies which
they may please 10 follow, bearing upon human lie The
minister should Dc the true shepherd Of his flock bring
young people under his direct influence.
Again. Ia aid in ts work every church should have
~ parish library Lot Tor the sunday school, bat for the
literary works 6ut the best books published by every de-
nomination. TO these t should be the pastors privilege
Finally. TO aid In THIS work should have denomi-
mai oal headquarters whose officers should he elected
National Conference directly by the voice Of the
AZ lhe conclusion of the Rev. Mr.. Badgers paper Dr.
uflf fkgF nj III