The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-05-15
THE UNITARIAN CONVENTION.

Churches i'm Conference Yesterday
Reports from the New York and Har-
lem River Unitarian Congregations
Addresses by the Rev. DIR. Bellows and
Others-DiscussiOn ON the ProPriety OF
Establishing . Uniformly Acknowi.
edged Liturgy i'm the Unitarian
Churches-Dissenting Opinions.
The New York. Harlem and Hudson River Con
ventton OF Unitarian Ministers resumed Its session
yesterday morning in the Church OF the Messiah,
Fourth avenue and Thirty-fourth street, Rev. DR..
H. W. Bellows In the chair and Rev. Mr.. Burr, OF
Yonkers acting as Secretary. number OF other
Unitarian clergymen were in attendance, viz -
Rev. Henry Powers, Church Of the MessiaR Rev.
W. 7. Clarke, Brooklyn; Rev. }. W. Chadwick,
Brooklyn; Rev. ). II. Camp, Brooklyn: Rev. r. w.
Holland, Ncwburg; Rev. Mr.. Young, Troy, N. Y. /;
Rev. J. b. Harrison, Montclair, NJ j.; Rev. Mr..
Foote, Boston, and Rev. Oscar Clute, OF Newark
Unitarian church.
DURING THE MORNING SESSION,
and after the reading OF the minutes OF the last
Conference, the above named ministers reported
the favorable progress OF Unitarianism in their
respective churches
The Rev. Mr. Powers gave his views on the
Brooklyn and the new field IN which he was
now laborng. The worship there was for uniting
the world with the church; here i was the
reverse. He declared everything To be working
so harmoniousy among his people that he got no
chance OF taking advantage Of or becoming con-
spicuous In, disturbance which did not at all
please him.
The Rev. DR.. Bellows expressed his regret at
the lack Of Unitarian influence. whca he contin-
ually attributed to the holiness and one-sidedness
OF their form Of worship, and said that II was a
very unpleasant sight to him that Untarianism
! could not be propagated according TO his wishes
/ At the afternoon session, which lasted from two
| O'Clock until halt-pas four, there was larger at
tendance OF the members OF the Unitarian and
other Christian congregations OF this city, and the
1 spirit Of interest evnced by those who took part
IN the Conference added much TO It's Importance.
The Rev. Oscar Clute, OF Newark, opened the
proceedings with an essay on
| FORMS OF WORSHIP.
IL embraced review OF the forms OF worship
appreciated IN the lnnumerable dissen ing denOm-
nations and pointed out the distinctions between
| the prayers ana litnrges Of them The principal
tendency OF his discourse was TO suggest 4 liturgy
for Untarans, and have it adopted in the churches
OF that denominations. AS worship was the elevat-
ing OF the mind to God he believed that all forms
OF prayer calculated to elevate the mind were in
some way acceptable. He then showed the ad-
concluding the Rev. Dr.. Bellows declared the sub
/ Ject open to discussion, giving its object at the
same time his direct approval.
The Rev. Mr.. F0Ote, OF Boston, lively, fasci-
nating but very wOrdy speaker was the nrst to
ment on and oppose the movement. He reviewed
| the history Of Unitarianlsm from It's origin
down to DR.. Channing's Unitarian controversy.
lie was not in favor OF liturgy; he thought 1t
real historical growth out OF the needs or the con-
Rregation. II he were to form q book OF prayer he
| would cut several things out or the one COM
in It. ' 80 $3.50 ''' 'e' '''' WV A''
The Rev. Mr.. Chadwick. Of Brooklyn, next took
worship in the Unitarian Church. He rather OPP
posed the Introduction of liturgy When he
went into an Episcopal church II seemed so odd to
see the minister getting over his SERVICE as they
called 1t, like an auctioneer. He thought while
persons worshpped God by liturgy they worshippcd
the liturgy too. He perpetrated
| JOKE ON DR. BEECHER
! by aluding TO a saying OF that orthodox minister
| love Lori
! OF his grandfathcr's secreted In his own writing
desk. and argued to his congregation that he
| the affections OF a handsome young lady he knew
by sending her his grandlather's old love letters
as TO address God in the old prayers Of hundred
| years ago"
Rev. Mr. Harrison, OF Montclair, n. j., in solid,
earnest manner, Was the next to advocate the in
| PRODUCTION OF liturgy as matter OF necessity for
| the prayers OF the Church.
DR.. Bellows closed the discussion by scathing
review OF all tina. had been said and BY an earn
est denunciation Of the present form OF Unita
rian worship. He said :-"When we come to SPEAK
9! Religion at large Of its deyotees, OF what is de
sirable in its real machinery by men and women
you must acknowledge we want public form o
worship which snail prepare, break IN and reiter
! ate There Is dark and a bright side to every
picture. IL CONFESS, he continued ~ am tired O
the holiness and ones dedness OF this method Of
| ours. The minister has TO do cverythng-the con-
gregations do nothing We run after liberty oil
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES to
| MIRO AN OPEN SACK,
| and away down to the bottom, winch is closed and
| we have To scramble back again. Does any body
| believe that liturgy shuts up the mind OF the
| minister? Is any mind shut up 10y the frequent
repetition OF the LORDS Prayer Is coffee to bc re
| jccted, no matter how good, because it Genes
| out OF
| AN OLD COFFEE POT?
Forms are things TO be used, not things to con-
strain. imprison or ensave. .. wish To mercy
| he said again. 1--WE had SEINE symbolica form Of
worship. The greatest enjoyment | ever had
| in my life was on a visit once to Catholic
church. l sat for hours in perfect rapture OF sou
and spirit. and elt really more happiness and
! pleasure than ever did before In one lmmOvable
position, transnxed, as it were, by the beauty and
harmony OF all things around me. Aud yet you
seem TO repudiate the introduction Of liturgy
which can give such real pleasure. ALI, You mus,
| remember that we are but a branch among the
branches or one great trunk, and there Is nothing
| even IN our present form but we have either Dor
| rowed or copied from CathOcity."
i The dissenting tone OF DIR. Bellows address natu
rally surprised his audience, and although he con
| fessed his adherence to Unitarianism, left many
\ under the impression that he would very sooI
\ rehnquish his connection with that denomination
II also called forth the comments OF several OF thu
| ministers in the subsequent portion OF rae discus
sion, IN which they denounced the habit OF refer
| ring TO the modes OF worship in other churches
| DIR. Bellows hnallv pronounced the Conference ad
! journed until early in October when some form 0
1.An ..tw...I nsy