Los Angeles herald., 1891-10-27
UNITARIAN CONFERENCE
THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE SEES
SION LAST EVENING.
Rev. B. F. Mcdaniel breaches the Con-
ference Sermon-The Notables Present
The Programme for Today.

The Pullman cars on the train fromSan
Francisco yesterday afternoon were filled
with the first contingent of delegates to
the Pacific Unitarian conference, and all
through the day many others arrived
from San Diego, and the east on the
local trains. As they gathered in the
committee rooms of the Turnverein hall
there was constant hum of talk and
greeting of friend with friend.
In the evening the conference
opened its session by the preaching O.
the conference sermon. A large sized
audience assembled in the hall and gave
earnest attention tot the words oftbe Rev.
B. F. Mcdaniel, of San Diego. On
the platform was seated the choir
of the Church of the Unity, and the fol-
lowing clergymen: Rev. j. S. Thomson,
Rev. 2. S. Thacher, of Santa Barbara,
and Superintendent Van Ness, of San
Francisco.
The Rev Mr.. Mcdaniel took for his
text the words; Old Things are Passed
Away, All Things are Become New.
He said in substance: Time never was
when these words OF our text were not
somewhat true. Man has ever been
stirred with spirit of discomfort.
Starting with the early cave dwellers, we
see how out of the desire for
better things he has grown and
developed. 1t has been the domi-
nation of his intellect which has led
him on. Not simply for bodily content
has he striven, but also for mental and
spiritual content. No one idea has fully
satisfied all mankind. Sooner or later
some defect has been noted. Society
has been agitated with fever for re-
form, the ideal always beckoning from
the present real to something better,
the vision being grander than any
actual. s Man by faith lives and acts.
Not all the old things pass away forever.
The antiquated science of our forefathers
survives in the traditional theology of
our day. 1t dwindles to monkish
tale when compared with the grand
facts of modern science. 1t fades into
obscurity before the larger fact of
human brotherhood. All creeds. sooner
or later, must be submitted to the test
of reason and experience. Let no one
fear to take this step. Religion
loses nothing and gains infinitely by
this emancipation from tradition, GUS
tom and form.
We are here to proclaim the truer
principle of intellectual hospitality and
fearless search for truth. We are here
to see in this intellectual emancipation
a rising of religion from its old bondage
and arrested development into that free,
progressive life which is our own fullest
vitality and our ideal of free living
church.
The exercises today will commence
this morning with devotional exercises
at 8 O'Clock, led by Rev. S. A.
Gardner, of Fresno, which will
be followed at 9:30 by a business
session. A. II. Judson will deliver an
address of welcome, followed by an ad-
dress from the president of the confer
ence, Hon. II. j. Thompson, of Tacoma,
the appointment OF committees and the
reports of the treasurer and secretary,
and the reports from churches.
At in the afternoon unfinished busi-
ness will be completed, and at
8 Rev. Thomas Van Ness, of San
Francisco, the superintendent, will
read his report. This will be
divided into three heads. What has
been done; how it has been accom-
plished; our greatest need for the fu-
ture. Rev. p. S. Thacher, of Santa Bar
bara, will lead in the discussion of the
report, which will be followed by new
business.
In the evening, at 7:45, there will be
platform meeting with impromptu
speeches on the Unitarian club, woman's
societies, ETC., followed by sociable.