Morning journal and courier., 1889-10-24
UNIVERSALISrs

| Yesterdays Session OF the Gsenar., cor
vention at Lynn, Mass.-The Roara
of Trustees Present an Interestiuu
Report.
LYNN, Oct. 23.-The sessions of the GEN.
eral convention of the Universalist church
began at O'Clock with q meeting for prayer
and praise under charge of Rev. Vincent
Tomlinson. of Rhode Island. It was largely
attended, the speaking was general and ami
mated and most satisfactory to the people.
At 10 O'Clock the business meeting of the
convention for organization began with Hosea,
w. Parker. of New Hampshire, in.ths chair.
Prayer was offered by Rev. Dr.. sThomas j.
Sawyer, of Massachusetts,. The occasional
sermon was preached by Rev. DR.. Orello Gone
of Ohio, the text being Matthew IA, 20: "And
they took up the fragments which remained
twelve baskets full" At the conclusion of
the discourse the congregation, which at this
time numbered nearly 1900 was dismissed
until 2 o,elock this afternoon.
At the afternoon session the entire time
was devoted to the presentation of reports
and other communications. The annual re-
port of the board of trustees was presented
first. Fifteen ministers have died during the
year. After all changes have been counted
the secretary's roll holds the names of TT
ministers, net gain of seven. During the
year there has been marked interest in young
peoples societies. Interesting comparative
statistics are given as follows: Number of
parishes, 934; church membership, Sc, 1877;
Sunday school membership. So, 067; property,
less debt, 1854, church edifces, $272, 377;
payment of debt $ss, 1874; general purposes
s54 $40: The receipts Of the year were $780,
hor
tributions were larger than in 1883, but less
than those of 1888. Greater benevolence is
urged. A new church with eighty-one mem:
bers has been established in Omaha. The
pledges for Japan mission amount to &c.
1914, and it is hoped the mission may be es-
tablished this fall. The total Of all the funds
is $212, III against $193, 500 a year ago. Gifts
for the missions and benevolence to all of
the universalist conventions were 1914 ,298,
tional institutions were $61 sos, against
1929, 1925 in 1888 Qast Year,, including one
item of 1896, 1856 to Buchtel college. A word
of commentator is given to the Universalist
Publishing House. Payments for mis-
sionary and other church work, not includ-
ing ministerial relief, were $43, 100, against
$45, $3.50 in 1888. The total expenditures,
current, for church edifces, payment of
debt and general purposes were 81, 127, 603
In 1889, against $972,l99 In 1885,
The total amount paid on scholarship account
since the Inauguration of the enterprise in
1866 appears to be $132, 1893. The colleges
and academies report an encouraging pros
perity and prospect for the coming scholastic
year. The call on scholarship account for
1889, is the largest for any one year during
the history Of the convention. Greeting
was received from the Unitarian convention
in session at Chicago and the matter of
reply was referred to special committee.
William n. Hart, jr., of Pennsylvania pre-
scented the report on the superintendents'
exchange.
The organization is four years old, three
times as much money has been spent as has
been received from annual dues and 1t was
voted to discontinue the committee.
Adjourned