The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-10-30

/ u6uldHu Vi Tile SUdGe.
RESOLVED, That we request the Board
of Trustees to consider the advisabilitv
of a temperance association to be known
as the Universalist Church Temperance
Society. and to report at the next an
nual session of this Convention
The discussion on these resolutions
was participated in by Rev. Messrs. Cor
ton, Garfield and Sample and Messrs.
e. G. Lee, Metcalf, Styer and Taylor.
AT times the debate was quite animated.
As originally reported the fifth resolu-
ton ran as follows:
ResoIUed, That constitutional prohi-
bition is the boon we should de-
mand of the State.
| The words constitutional prohibition"
were stricken out, and entire suppress
sion" substituted. 1t was explained that
prohibition was a method; the other sig
nified result
The next resolutions, recommending
to the Church a constant and increas
ing attention to the cultivation of the
religious and spiritual life of the people
as the paramount object of all church
work, were unanimously adopted.
Resolutions entreating the members
of the Church to discourage the use of
tobacco were also unanimously adopted.
Resolutions on the subject of mar
riage and divorce called out lively de-
bate and they were adopted after being
amended. They strongly deprecated
the increase of divorce and recommend
ed that clergymen exercise greater care
in the solemnization of marriage. Rev.
DR.. Capen suggested the amendment
which appears in the last sentence and
supported it by strong speech. Mar
riage was more than a civil contract: il
was one of the sacraments of the Church.
Mr. Taylor and DR.. SAKE also spoke on
this question.
To the Board of Trustees.
Rev. l.. J. Dinsmore. of Wisconsin
introduced resolution instructing the
Board of Trustees to give careful con-
sideration to the following propositions
and to report their conclusions at the
next session of the Convention.
Il. That the constitution, bylaws
and rules of order of this Convention be
so altered that its session may be made
BIZ ennial instead of annual, and that the
administration of its affairs be so changed
that it will harmonic with the different
order.
%. That once in two years there shall
be held church congress under the
auspices of the Board of Trustees"
Adopted and referred to the Board.
DR.. Rexford's Resolutions.
Rev. E. L. Rexford, D. D., then offer
ed the following preamble and resolu-
tons, which were adopted without dis
cussion, no time remaining:
WHEREAS, This body has approved
of the memorial from the Rhode Island
| Convention of Universalists, recon-
mended that steps be taken leading to
| the future establishment of Christian
missions in foreign lands, to be under
| its direction and control, and has ap-
! pointed committee to that end with
instructions to report at future session
of this body, and
WHEREAS, We believe that our pecu-
liar views of religion and Providence
accord to us certain advantages in our
approach to the so-called heather mind"
which the traditional interpretations of
Christianity do not afford, be it
ReSotUed, That while we wait the re-
port OF said committee and the perfect
ing of plans for the execution of this
contemplated mission, we cannot so we'll
serve the interests of our Christian
faith, in the minds of certain foreign
peoples, than by recording our protest
against, and our adherence of, the bar
barities practiced by certain of our
Christian citizens against the citizens
of some of those "heathen" countries
abiding within our borders, and notably
against the Chinese at Rock Springs
and Seattle, in our Western Territories
and the Pacific Coast States, involving
the serious loss of life, and by the de-
structlon of property, rendering large
numbers homeless and unprotected.
ReSolUed, That our Christianity cam
not be advantageously presented to peo-
pie, in the light of their consuming
homes, when the fires have been lighted
by the parties to whose religion we seek
to convert them.
ReSOlUed. That while the fury of
mobs is likely to be irrational and de-
structive, yet the deliberations of courts
and jurors ought to be wise and pru-
dent, and that in the failure of juries to
convict the assassins of Christian Amer
lea of these we'll known crimes, we find
serious barriers in the way of commend
ing our religion to people so injured.
RESOLVED, That the tardy action of the
United States government in the inter-
ests of justice in indemnifying Chinese
citizens for losses inflicted upon them
by American citizens, and not only to
the hardness, but up to this time the
repeated refusal of this Christian gov
eminent to pay such losses, contrast to
our great disadvantage with the prompt
ness of the Chinese government in pay
ing all losses to American and European
citizens resident in China inflicted by
Chinese citizens.
ReSOLUed, That the interests of our
common Christianity suffer incalculable
harm in the minds of pagan" countries
from the wrongs committed thus by