Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-05-20
NEW CHURCH CONVENTION.
Swedenborgians to Hold Their Annual
Gathering Here To- Morrow.

S"cocuDOFgIdnS 10 hOlO Ine1r annual
Gathering Here To- Morrow.
Z BODY THAT REPRESENTS rwo-rHrRps OF THE
MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH IN AMERIcA-PRo-
POSED ERECTION OF NATIONAL CHURCH IN
THIS cITY-CoMPosITIoN OF THE CONVENTION
The general convention Of the New Jerusa-
lem, which meets here tomorrow, represents
the majority of what are called New Church
men, or popularity known as Swedenborgians in
this country. The session which will begin
tomorrow is the sixty-ninth annual session.
The body will meet in the Church of Our
Father, Universalist, corner of 18th and L
streets, as the Church Of the New Jerusalem,
on North Capitol street, has not been recon-
structed since the fire that burned out the in
terror. The congregation Of the Church of Our
Father courteously rendered the use of their
building to the body. The arrangements for
the meeting of the general convention are in
the hands Of local committee composed Of
Messrs: Henry c. Spencer, Henry N. Schooley,
aud Job Barnard.
DELEGATES EXPECTED.
About $50 delegates are expected, including
ministers and laymen. Most OF the laymen
come representatives of associations or
societies, but some come as 'isolated receivers"
persons who live in communities where no
churches or societies have been organized
The officers of the convention are as follows:
President, Rev. Chauncey Giles, of Philadel-
phia; vice-president, Rev. John Worcester, of
Newtonville, Mass; secretaries, Revs. Willard
Hinkley, of Brookline, Mass, and Samuel L.
Seward, of New York; treasurer, Mr.. F. A.
Dewson, of Boston. Among those expected to
attend is Rev. Mr.. Gunton. of England. who
comes a fraternal delegate from the Eng
lish conference. The sessions begin tomorrow
and will continue until Tuesday, the 2Sth.
THE PROGRAM.
The program for the week is as follows:
Tuesday, May 21-3 and 8 p. M, council of
ministers
Wednesday, May 22-10 a. m, 2:3O and p.
M. council Of ministers; from to p. m. re-
ception by Gen. and Mrs r. d. Mussey. at their
residence, No. 2139 street northwest
Thursday, May $50 g. m. and $50 D. M,
council OF ministers; 8 p. m, alumni associa-
ton of the theological school.
Friday, May 24-10 a. m. and 8 p. m, the
American New Church Sabbath School associa-
ton; IL m, address by the president, Rev.
Theodore F. Wright, subject THE Pastor in
the Sunday School" 2 p. m, lesson in teach
ing the correspondence of the Bible, by Rev.
VIM. l.. Worcester.
Saturday, May 25-s a. m, young peoples
conference; 10 a. M, general council; IL a.
m. managers Of theological school and board
OF missions; 2 p. m, general convention, or
ganlzatlon and reports; p. m, annual address
OF the president, Rev. Chauncey Giles, subject,
The Condition and Wants of the Conven-
tion'
Sunday, May 26-11 a. m, sermon by Rev.
Julian X. Smyth, subject: Fishers of Men,"
p.m m, brief address by Rev. John Worcester,
and administration of the Holy Supper by the
president; Rev. Chauncey Giles; 8 p. m, SER
mon by Rev. S. c. Ely, subject: THE New
Evangel, Its Aim and Method"
Monday, Nav 27-10 a. m general conyen-
ton; IL m, sermon by Rev. John E. Smith;
2:3O P. m. missionary conference and consid-
Grafton OF the question, what shall be done for
the new church at the national capital: pm,
social meeting at the Hamilton house.
Tuesday, May $50 am, 2:30 aud Spm,
general conventions at 4:30 pm. it is expected
that the convention will go in body to the
White House, and be received by the President
Wednesday, May GAN excursion to Mount
Vernon.
NATIONAL CHURCH.
matter that may be considered at this ses-
sion is that of erecting national church in this
city. The Washington society owns its church
building on North Capitol street. damaged by
hre. There Is talk of erecting finer building
on some other site. In that event the Washing
ton society will sell its present property and
put the proceeds in the new enterprise. in
which they will be aided BY members of the
Sewall, well-known author and clergyman
OF the Swedenborgian faith, has accepted a
call from the Washington society. and will as
sumo the duties of pastor In the fall. Rev. Mr..
Sewall was for number OF years president of
the Urbana convention. but went to Glasgow,
Scotland, in 1886. as pastor of church there.
He is now travelling in Europe.
THE NEW CHURCH IN THIS COUNTRY
The New Church publications say that under
the name OF the New Church are included all
those who receive and acknowledge the doc
trines of the New Jerusalem revealed to man
kind by the Lord. through His servant, Eman-
uel Swedenborg. The doctrines were first in
troduced in America in 1704, by James Glen a
member of the society in London. The first
church was organized in Halifax. n s., in 1891
and i'll 1892 another church was organized in
Baltimore.
The general convention first met in Phia-
delphia in 1877, and this body has held sessions
every year except four up to the present time.
The total number of New churchmen in Amer
lea when the first convention was held was 400.
The body now comprises about two-thirds of
the New churchmen in America, and its total
membership is about 5000. There are 109 cler-
Symen recognized by the general convention
The convention is composed of the following
bodies: The Canada, Illinois, Maine, Maryland.
Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New York,
Ohio and Connecticut associations. the societies
at Denver, Edenfield (Pa.), Wisconsin, San
Francisco (two), Savannah and Topeka and the
general church of Pennsylvania.