Morning journal and courier., 1884-09-19
THE UNIVERsALIsT CONVENTION

 The Election Of Omcers-Increased
 Prosperity All over the State-Inter-
 eSt1ng Figures.
 The Universalist State convention at the morning session yesterday at the Church of the Messiah listened to an address by Rev. c. w. Riddle, of North Cambridge, Mass, on "The Sunday School. What Is It Fora" The address occupied about an hour, and present ed interesting and suggestive thoughts on the proper and most efficient work in the Sunday school The topic was discussed by various of the clergymen with considerable spirit and earnestness.
 Then followed a meeting of the Woman's Centenary association, over which Mrs. A. A. Ellis, of Hartford, presided Mrs. c. w. Thomas, of Philadelphia, made an address to the ladies on missionary work.
 In the afternoon Dr. Chapin, of Meriden, presided at the convention, and the reports of the condition of the various churches were read In the State so far as reported to the secretary, there are 977 families of this faith, showing gain of 145 over last year. The receipts from church slips in 1884 amounted to $11 ,662. 50, an increase of $591.9S over the preceding year. The total gain in the receipts over 1883 was $7, ,1O6.61. The total expenses for last year amount edj to s21, 4.39, an increase of SIS. 56 on those of 1885, The funded debt fig ured up s3,2OO and the floating debt &, ,322 S5, which is $1, ,630. 34 less than in 1883. The admissions to the church were 61, gain on 1883. T-ere were 53 baptisms and il deaths reported The total increase from various sources amounted to $84, ,857.21 and the total disbursements to $84, Al. There had been an accession of 40 mem bers to the Sunday school, making the total membership at present 1 749, an increase of 176. The Sunday school collections amount ed to $1, ,594 and the expenses $1 ,212. The number of volumes in the State libraries In the State now are 5,770.
 MT. Lamb, of the Church of the Messiah in this city, had correction to make regarding the local congregation. He referred to an addition made to the church library the past year and said that the church had $1 ,000 in bank.
 The following were elected officers of the State association for the ensuing year: Pres ident, Rev. Dr. Chapin, of Meriden; vice president, F. NJ. Brown, of Hartford; secre tary, Rev. John Lyon, of Bridgeport; treas urer, Hon. Seth s. Cook, of Long Ridge; trustee for three years, M. M. Wh1ttemore, of Norwich; delegate to general convention, E. M. Grant, of Stamford; lay delegates, M. M Whittemore, of Norwich; T. F. Lamb, of New Haven; committee on fellowship, Rev. G. V. Maxham of Stafford, Rev. H. Dearborn of Hartford and J. L. Lockwood of Stam- ford. Occasional preachers, Rev. B. M. Grant, of Stamford; alternate, Rev. D. l.. R. Libby, of New Britain. Committee on pro gramme of arrangements for next year-Rev. Dr. Chapin, of Meriden; s. G. Davis, of Nor wich, and G. F. Jenks, of Thompsonvile.
 It was decided to hold tho next convention at Meriden the third Wednesday in Septem- Der, 1885.
 The national convention will be held this year at Peoria, III. The reports made to the convention here show increased prosperity in every branch of the church in this State and q higher state of prosperity than ever before. The donations, contributions and expendi- lures were larger. The convention closed at ? D. m.