Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-06-30

Our Universalist brethren have been f.xo,-
ca With superb weather for their convention
ihursday was one of the rarest of June d.x.
With balmy atmosphere and serene skie.
Inc Prayer and conference meeting at Eve
o'clock, lea BY Rev. w. W. Loye;ov -
Oaials' was s>eason of great refresh;no
Three hours later Rev. q w p .
Auburn conducted a ss,ilar serv;ce
AT nine ceioc. tne 6us1ess session con-
vened, with President Cushr6s~ IN ,t,s ~:
Prayer was offered by Rev. d. Steven e sn.n Z.
Auburn. e'ens OF
Rev. DIR. Quinby of Augusta stated
chaplain of the State Prison at Thomastoh,
asking for contributions of reading matter
Tor the inmates of that institution. DR..
elninby offered the following resolution,
which was adopted:
hesotred, That it is the sense of this con-
vention that it would be wise for the State of
Maine to provide for the addition of at least
Slu0 worth of books, containing suitable
reading, to the library of the State Prison,
for the use of the inmates
Rev. c. r. Nash of Union offered the Gus
tomary resolutions thanking the people of
Augusta for their generous hospitality. and
also thanking the railroad companies and
other lines OF travel of the State tor their
reduction of fares.
Rev. G. L. Demarest, ID. D., of Man
chester, n. H., secretary of the General Con-
vention of the United States, who has been
visiting conventions for the past six weeks,
gave an interesting and hopeful account Of
the work of his Church in various States,
and stated that Cniversalism was not diving
out.
Mrs. G. w. Quinby pledged $50, in behalf
of the woman's Centenary Associations to the
missionary fund.
The committee on nominations not being
able to present the place of meeting for next
rear. the matter will be attended to in the
future BY the executive committee.
The business session terminated at ii
o'clock, with prayer by Rev. Mr.. Whitman
of Mechanic Falls.
After reading of Scriptures by s. Goode-
noagh Of Belfast, and prayer by Rev. w. Il.
| French Of Turner, the seventh hymn was
sung:
Esprit divine, attend our prayer,
| And make Our hearts thy hOme
| Descend with all thy glorious power;
Come, Holy Spirit, come"
A collection in aid of INDECENT ministers
and tleir families was taken up, and the
plates were heaped with silver and green
backs.
Rev. G. l.. Demarest then preached an ex
cellent sermon from Mark I:l5, Repent ye
and believe the gospel"
AFTERNOON.
The attendance at the two O'Clock service
was large, although many of the delegate,
and visitors to the convention returned home
on the afternoon trains. Rev. c. Z. Churchill
of New Hampshire read chapter from the
| NJ. d., C.,xs,k ~
Marblehead, Mass, made the invocation
The sermon was delivered by Rev. w. H
Jewell of Bangor from the words of Gala
tians " 6, because We are sons, God haiti
sent forth the spirit of his son into you
hearts, crying Abba Father" This verse
is concise setting forth the spirit Ofthe Gospe
the sonship of man and the fatherhood o
God. The grand doctrine of universal saliva
ton is not the central truth which gives tn,
grand significance to Christ's religion. TIT
fact of our divine sonship is the great, lumi
nous truth of the Bible. Especially do we nee,
to bring this doctrine into prominence now
to conquer the utilitarian spirit of the age
to turn mems eyes inward instead of out
ward. The time has come when we do no
need to make the hydra-headed doctrine o
eternal punishment our chief object of attack
if not dead it is at least moribund
the Gospel, which makes it impossible TO
the doctrine of universal salvation to be any
; thing but true. 1t is the only basis on whicl
we can stand to oppose the materialistic spiri
of the age. 1t is our weapon of offence AM
defence. II will inspire man as no othe
truth will or can; it will lift him up. w
shall not reach Christ's glory and perfection
but we can at least touch the hem of his gar
, mentf; we can be led by him to the grea
heart of our Father.
There was no sermon in the evening" but
most enjoyable praise and social meeting
was held in the vestry.
CONVENTION ECHOES.
Over 500 strangers have been hospitabl
entertained BY the warm hearted citizens o
Augusta, who, irrespective of denominations
bias, threw their homes open to the Univer
, salist visitors. OF course the Augusta Uni
versalists responded royalty, even subscrib
ing some $50 to pay the expenses of dele
gates at boarding houses and hotels.
The fine instrumental and vocal music a
ri the various sessions of the convention addet
much to be enjoyment and impressivenes
of the exercises. The choir consisted of Messrs
I C. b. Johnson, J. Howard Chandler, Mrs
/ Ida DAVIS and Miss Estele Park, with Mis-
, Flora G Cochrane at the organ. Durin.
the unw oidable absence of Mr. Chandle
from sone of the services, his place was sup
I. piled b Rev. A. c. White. The choir is
}. strong ,ne; their voices blend together with
a an eveness and harmony which shows care
ful trining, and the selections were rend
u cred 9TH much feeling and finish. They
were fortunate in having Miss Cochrane fol-
an Aeompanist, whose perfect mastery OF
the cyan and brilliant playing elected much
favotble comment.