National Republican., 1883-10-25
UNIVERSALISTS IN COUNCIL.
Proceedings CT the First Days Session Of the
Convention.
New Officers for the Ensuing Year
Elected and Reports Presented,
Interesting Facts as 10 the Good Work Accomplished
During the Past Twelve Months,
A Healthy Financial showing-Papcrs
Read at the Night Session.

The eighteenth general convention of the
Universalist church, representing the several
states and territories and Canada convened
yesterday morning at tho church corner of
Thirteenth and l. streets northwest. A con-
ference meeting was held at $3.50 o'clock, fol-
lowed by the regular session at 10 o'clock.
The attendance of delegates and visitors was
quite large. The meeting was called to order
by President Joy. Tho roll of delegates was
read and the following, representing eighteen
states, responded to their names:
Reys, G; A. Hayden, Maine; DR.. Mscqllester % oil 1
anu L. 9, Demeresy Ney Hampshre 2. w. Biddle,
w. A: Start, Dr. Miner DR.. Eddy, DR.. Capen, M. IL.
Harrlss W. 8. Woodbridge, A, E, White, r. A.
Greene, and George L. Peim, Of Massachusetts,
NJ. Il. Houghton, of Connecticut L. +. PemberDr.
Atwood, Thomas Borden, W r. Gibbs, y II. squires;
and Dr. Taylor, Of New York; J. ?. Coddlngton and
Ohio; I. &. Deniey and II. ". Curry, Of indiana;
r r. ias nO sutton Il GGasS%S Sea M
I. j. Dinsmore, of Minnesota; Amos Crum,
Mr n Of % Nsw Sr mrs
NJ. A. Adams, Massachusetts; Miss s. @. Hull, Mrs.
+. D. Btswne, and Mrs. NJ. II. Decker, New York;
Wisconsin; Hon. A. Cushman and Alfred Wood.
% man; Of Maine; !; I, D; "; JOY W; H. Hollis Chas
Charles +. Potter, Of MASSACHUSETTS; Hon. l.. W.
Ballou, Il. u; Metcalf, and G; Z. Carpenter, OF
mann, of Connecticut; l.. S. Freeman, Lyman
Beckford, s. o. Hull, Edwin r.. Holden and II. D.
Myers S Sc Of New York; J, r. Norton, Of New Jersey;
son. of Ohio; ezra Browne, of Indiana N. Peck
ham, of Iowa; and L. M. Kennedy, of Missouri.
The convention then reelected John d. w.
Joy, of Boston, president, and elected Rev.
]. M. Atwood, Of New York, vice president
The president appointed as assistant secreta-
ries Rev. L. +. Pember, of New York, and
Rev. $. p. Smith, of Massachusetts,; and the
following committees: On elections-Ara
Cushman, Of Maine; Charles Caverly, of Mas
sachusetts; Rev, L. G. Druly, of Indiana. On
religious services-Rev l.. G. Demerest, of
Washington; Lyman Bickford, of New York.
The morning service was closed with COM
munion service, Rev. Alexander Kent of this
city, officiating, and the delivery of the "oc-
casional Sermon" by Rev. Henry w. Rugg, of
Rhode Island.
The afternoon session convened at 1:30
o'clock, President Joy in the chair. The
following committees were announced: On
nominations-Hon. l.. w. Ballou, of Rhode
Island; Rev. T. l.. Conger, Of Illinois, and
Mr. N. /. Cort, of New York. On official re-
ports-Rev. Richard Eddy, ID. D., Massachu-
setts; Rev. William Taylor, New York; Rev.
s. H. MoCollister, ID. D., New Hampshire;
Rev. s. W. Sutton, Wisconsin; Mr.. L. s.
Freeman, New York; Hon. Joseph Davis,
Massachusetts, William b. Bement, Pennsyl-
vania Mrs. NJ. H. Decker, New York, and
Hon. I. j. Bordman, Connecticut. The
eighteenth annual report of the board OF
trustees was then read by the secretary. 1t
showed that the committees have been
as follows On scholarships, Messrs. Rugg,
Demerest, Capen; of fellowship, Messrs.
Capen, Rugg, Perham on Investments,
Mossrs. Joy, Wilson, Thomas; of finance,
Messrs Thomas, Perham, Holden; ON missions,
Mr. Chaplin Mrs. Marsh, Mr.. Raymond; on
missionary boxes, Mrs. Marsh, Messrs. Demer-
est, Raymond; on relief, Messrs. Demerest,
Holden, Chaplin. Mr.. Joy has continued
chairman of the board.
Direct fellowship has been granted upon
letter of transfer from the New York conven-
tion to Rev. NJ. J. DeLong, of Tecumseh, Mob;
upon letter Of transfer from the New Jersey
convention to Rev. James Billings, of Texas;
upon letter of transfer from. the Massachu-
setts convention to Rev. q. l.. Ashenfelter of
Baltimore, Md. License to j. NJ. McWhorter,
of Berlin, w. Va, has been renewed for one
year from Jan. 90, 1883. The first Universalist
parish of Riverside, CAL, has been admitted
TO the fellowship of the convention, and John
Hughea. of the Illinois convention, was fully
restored to fellowship.
The following clergymen have died during
the year Simon r. Aldrich, William c. An
derson, John B. Baldwin, Eli Ballou, ID. d.,
Joseph Barber Alexander Bosserman Jacob
Chase, William II. Copeland, Timothy G.
Eaton, Thomas G.. Farnsworth, Jerome Harris,
Fordyce Hitchcock Timothy h. Jones, Joseph
w. Keyes, Clement Il. LeFevre, ID. D., Moses
Marston, Phi. d., Il. Il. Ottoway, Jackson
Stebbins, Zenas Thompson, Charles Z, West,
Edgar M. Whitney, Enos Il. Wood, William
B. Woodbury..
In view of the desth of so large number
of clergymen, the report recommends the need
of new accessions to the ministry and urges
Earnest and systematic effort all along the
line. Worthy youth of religious character
and mental promise should be directed
into the channel of preparation for
the ministry. There is no promise of ease
In the life of the clergyman indeed he who
attempts to make his position place of ease
is doomed to failure. But there is abundant
room for those who qualified by intelligence,
earnestness, industry, and conservation, would
faithfully perform the work of Christian
pastor. He who is fitted to the ministerial
office may expect suitable livelihood, while
its spiritual satisfaction are beyond express
sion" The secretary visited tho following
state conventions during the year and found
them harmonious and Jealous: Pennsylvania,
Wisconsin, Nebraska, Minnesota, Ontario, and
Maine, Vermont, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri,
Iowa, Illinois, and New Hampshire.
The financial statement shows the cost of
the recently erected Mission at Richmond
Va, which is presided over by Rev. Benton
Smith, of that city, An appeal is made for
funds to be applied to the mission of heather
lands.
The educational institutions continue pros
porous, and are increasing in usefulness.
The report of gifts indicates growing in
terest on the part Of prosperous men and
women. The work puts this church in line
with all Others in the exercise of tho benefit
cent forces Of Christian civilization. The
financial exhibit shows that loans have been
made on scholarship account during the year
TO the amount of S5,slb Tho return pay
ments have amounted 10 $2,9I2.50. Referring
to the Washington church. the report says
The Washington church has been completed.
1t has cost, Us is usual in such case, more than
the original plans contemplated, The figures
plete, al S46 60j309 The receipts irom the canvass,
win satisfactory pledges YET 20 be paid, and $1,000
which the convention et Philadelphia Indicated
It's wish TO be so applied, aggregate within 81 800
of the full cost. We may well congratulate our
constituency upon the achievement of the work
80 long contemplated aud so ardenlly desired.
The title TO the property continues in tho Uni
Versulist general convention,
In seeking contributions 20 the Washington
church building fund Rev. W, A, start, secretary
OF the Massachusetts convention, suggested that
an appeal to Sunday schools be made Such an
appeal was accordingly issued, which resulted in
total gift OF 5l,755. Its success iulimates the
practieaOlity of interesting our youth in the mis-
eionary WORK of our church. local and general and
thus training them up In the love OF our church
and Of the faith for whose furtherance Il stands.
Numerous boquests We're made TO the con-
vention during the past year. The establish,