The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-10-30
REV. DR.. EMERSON'S ADDRESS.
"The Convention of 1S43. :"

Rev. DR.. G. II. Emerson, editor of
the Christian Leader, gave an address
on The Convention of 1S43, . held that
year in Akron. OF those then in the
UpiyeTsalist ministry, he was probably
the youngest in attendance On that Oc-
casion. He hed, he said, weird feel
ing in the reminder that an interest at
tacbed to him as relic of the past. He
was, he said, not the orator Of the hour,
but an historic curiosity. He was at
the great Convention full of youthful
curiosity to see and hear more of whom
he had heard SO much-Greeley ,Gurley,
Sawyer and Balch. BallOu, Skinner
and Whittemore be had heard at the
East. In the presence of these men he
deeply felt his insignifcance. But now
he was himself an object of curiosity;
for the reason that fOrty-thTee years ago
ne gazed upon and heard those great
preachers.
While they live those who were pres
ent will never weary III telling the
story. The great Centennial at Glou-
cester always excepted, the Universal
ist denomination has no historic event
so sensational and grand as that assem-
bly, in 1913 in Akron. Nominally it
was delegate body to deliberate and
legislate; actually il was mass meet
ing of the Universalist people, who, to
the number of three or four thousand,
came from all points Of the compass.
Rev. Nelson Doolittle, the resident pas
tor, managed the hOspitalities. Often
did he repeat his notice TO .'all those who
have not yet been assigned to places
of entertainment" At last he said:
"There is not another unoccupied bed
in Akron. Wewill give you enough to
eat; for beds you may have the eush-
ions ard pews of the church."
In many respects the Convention of
'43 and this of '86 are in contrast.
Nearly half century separates the two
and in most particulars the change is
progress. The business of the former
Convention was of little importance. 1t
did indeed commit the denomination to
the great temperance reform. 1t
passed a carefully phrased and quite
ambiguous resolution, not exactly
against slavery, but upon slavery. 1t
enlarged the limits Of fellowship so as
to include Canada 1t did-what was in
those days matter of cOuTse-What its
predecessors usually did, it presented
long report on organization-a new con-
stitution and bylaws! But it had big
octave of the great thing of that day
the sermon. Ii had sermons from Rog
ers, Gurley, Balch, Skinner, Ballou,
Sawyer, Whittemore, Hewes, Brown,
Hathaway, Todd, Ashton, Pingree,
Cook, Skinner again, and Clifford; and
none of your half hour sermons"
Special descriptions were given of the
sty of the preachers, particularly Of
Gurley, Whitten0re, Sawyer and Bal
lou. Mention was made of the then
rather youthful Thomas j. Sawyer
the scholar among the preachers, s,-who,
standing in the window, spoke to at
least three thousand men and women,
aud to at least two hundred babies, all
of whom lin full chorus joined" and
also though pathetically requested todO
so, stubbOrnly refused to go out, or be
put out.
Tie contrast was drawn between the
two Conventions. Then we had no
college or theological school; possibly
we had three unendowed academies.
Now We shall have reports and speeches
on education, and particularly on the
theological schools, and a systematic
eudeayOr to keep up the supply of min
listers. Then the word, missionary"
would have stirred prejudice. Now
tie report of the Board of Trustees and
Of he Treasurer will Tevolve around sy s.
trmaIc Church extension. Then we
h.d few thousand dollars in schools:
Row rot far from three millions
10 was conceded that in 1913. there
Vas an enthusiasm bonn of bitter per