Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1885-10-08
Specially Reported for the Ellsworth American. J
The Unitarian State Conference at Bel
fast.

The Maine State Unitarian Conference
opened on Tuesday evening, Sept. %, when
DR.. Bixby. who has been residing in Ger
many for the last two or three years.
preached from the 10Th verse Of the XII. Of
ST. John. The subject of the sermon was
"Positiyism and experimentation. or The
Natural and the Supernatural DIR. Bixby
mentioned Mr.. Darwin and Mr.. Emerson as
examples Of the two tendencies of thought.
Mr.. Darwin was leader among the realists
while Mr.. Emerson was leader among the
deais's. Mr.. Darwin gave his life TO
science. His extreme caution and modesty
characterized his work He conceived Of
the doctrine Of evolution twenty years be-
fore he made i; public. These twenty wears
he spent in careful study Of it. lie was not
an irrevereni iconoclast He was in reality
religious. Yet in resdrg Mr. Darvin's
books one feels that il would be better if he
had been more Of an ideali>i. lie lacked
Imagination. He Iet unno,ced the cause
which is hack Of s.. the wonders he revealed
lie needed the eye. Of the idea.is,.
Mr. Emerson. on the other hand, was
pure ideaist He thought l.lIir about
science. and never became interested in it.
He hardly concealed hi> contempt for H.
Nature was to him poem. He was our
greatest seer But Mr. Emerson was TOO
vague. HI. wagon va, hIched to the STARS
lie was toe haz, 10 be taken a, a gurd-. lie
could tell What he thought, but was helpless
when asked Why he thought az he did.
The speaker though, that neither Of thee
were safe gudr>. Bot both the rtait.t
nd ideali.t are needed to solve tie ms
'eries Of life, both are partially rish, Both
parties have some truth which must be
united The Truth held by tie iles..,l and
the reals, must he put together and ric>en,.
ed to the world. The outward ami lar ~
"ard truth are both needed to make human
iie strong and hopeful aud dd,iu,
On "Wednesday morning a devotional
meetin. was held in the Unitarian church.
The meeting Wa well attended az! va. con
ter the close Of this meeting an aiire.s
was gwen hy Rev. Gr.nIal REYNOLDS. Of
Boston. lie spoke of the m,s>.onar, work
being done by the Uunarinn tod, at iar.r
H. adircs. was followed b, several short
addresses by Various persons. Iae meeting
was full uf encouragement 10 al Interested
IN tni;arianism. A'tcr the close Of the
missionary meeting the delegate. and others
were invited TO a collation. served IN the Bel
fas; Opera House. TIE dinner and the
manner IN which II was served could hard
y be surpassed. A. $50 i. NJ, large
audience assembled in the church 10 hear
Rev. T.. {. Guild read an essay on LOYAL
y in Religion. The es>a, had good effect
upon the minds Of the hearers as was shown
by several addresses which followed the
reading Of II. Al 3;ij 7. NJ, the Women'>
Auxiliary Conference held business meet
ing but as no gentlemen were allowed 20 be
present (the ladies' fear cri'!cIsml | do not
know what business Wa, transacted.
On Wedae,day evening, Rev. 5. c,
B-ane. Unitarian missionary from Northern
Ncs England, preached before large audi
ence. The sermon was lengthy hu, inter
e,tlng throughout. The Conference is well
assured that their missionary is man well
qualified TO Gil the position he holds.
The Conference opened on Thursday
morning with devotional meeting led by
Rev. Mr.. White Of Wateryllle. This was
followed by business meeting in which the
las, wears officers Of the Conference were
read on Rational Spirituality by Rev &. {.
Cre.sey Of Bangor. The essay was char
acterized by ciearness. forcbleness and
thoughlfuine.s II vas unusually well re-
ceiyed and the discussion which followed the
reading Of the ESSAY was interesting, profit
able and harmonious. Al the close Of the
discussion, in which many had taken part,
the Conference adjourned to meet again at
Brunswick mex, year. After the close Of
the Conference the delegates and others re-
tired to the Belfast Opera House where all
partook Of rare and hountiful dinner and
listened to some interesting and refreshing
after-dinner speeches.
On Thursday evening a reception was
given to Dr. Thomas Hill Of Portland, al
present was large and delightful time was
enjoyed by all present.
So ended the Conference, generally regard
Ell as the best ever held in this State.