Los Angeles herald., 1891-10-30
The Discussions at the Con-
ference Yesterday.
How to Start a New Church
the Morning Question.
The Relations of Unitarianism to
the Reforms of the Day.
Bright Discussions on Difficult Topics.
Mr.. Thacher's Argument-The Re-
forms of the Day-Othef
Matters.

The question which opened the Uni
tartan conference yesterday was, How
to Start a New Church. Mr.. Thacher
told how when he went into new town
he first went to see all the professional
people-lawyers, doctors, school teach
ers-and tried to interest as many of
these as possible, then he called on
every one who was present at the first
service and kept on calling, showing
people his direct interest in them.
Next he tried to organize. I start
Unity clubs, literary clubs, ten times
one clubs" etc. thus awaken in peo-
pie the desire of helpfulness. In this
way, by favoring the associated char
tiles, working for hospitals, identify
Unitarianism with righteousness con-
sequently, when go through the town
with subscription paper in my hand, I
need not fear to ask any and every man
to help me build my church, for every
citizen can see the value of my church to
the community.
The next speaker, Mr.. Gardner, be-
lieves in protracted meetings. Hold
services every night in succession when
you first come into a town. Explain
why you are there. In every place
there are already many churches, most
of them poor and weak. People will
therefore ask the Unitarian minister
what excuse he has for being there.
The Unitarian must therefore put forth
his doctrine in contrast with the old, so
as to show his excuse for trying to start
a new church. Tremendous earnest
ness against the false in theology is
necessity. This will give one such a
start as he needs. The more vital ques-
ton is How shall the new movement
be kept alive after it is started? We
need more men who can teach, inspire
and lead men. A liberal, christian,
scholarly society could be organized in
every city, village and hamlet in Amer
lea, but the men to take charge of such
organizations lis the great need. Men
are wanted who can take all the hard
ness out of their hearts and put it into
their heads, and all the softness out of
their heads and put it into their hearts.
Heaven send us such men, and in return
we will send men to Heaven.
Mr.. Van Ness said no Unitarian min
lister would succeed in building up
church in new town who trusted SIM
ply to the head. People were moved
from the heart. The most brilliant
sermon will not lead a man to give a
subscription as quickly as work done for
his family. Why are men who have
outgrown orthodoxy still supporting
orthodox churches? Because the wife
and children are attending such
churches. Why are they still there?
Held byasocial ties, by personal contact,
by interest shown. Until we are ready
to advance our social side and make that
more hearty and attractive, we cannot
hope for the missionary success of such
an organization as the Methodist.
THE AFTERNOON.
The meeting of the afternoon was
called to order by Hon. Horace Davis,
who called Judge Luce to the chair.
Miss Dunn, superintendent of Unity
Church Sunday school, spoke of her ex-
perienceiof some years in that position.
She urged upon the parents to take
more interest in the Sunday school, to
send their children more constantly and
punctually. The influence of familiar
hymns upon the young was emphasized
and of the pleasant associations con-
nected with them, that remain through
life. She spoke with appreciation of
the service book, The Carol, prepared
by Mr.. Wendt, and with few extracts
from pamphlet on Sunday schools, she
closed her very practical remarks.
Hon. Horace Davis read paper pre-
pared by Mr.. Charles Murdoch, of San
Francisco, the jealous superintendent
of the Sunday school of the church of
DIR. Stebbins. The paper was full of
hope for the further usefulness of the
Sunday school, and gave valuable hints
to this end.
At the close of the session resolu-
ton was passed endorsing the PROPOSE
ton to form Sunday school union.
IN THE EVENING.
The topic under discussion was the
Relation of Unitarianism to the Reforms
of the Day. Rev. 9. w. Wendte, of Oak
land, said: Unitarianism is the reform
of all reforms. 1t has emancipated the
mind from superstition, fear and horror,
and made it possible for economic
reforms. The history of the church
shows that it has been the consistent
friend of all true reforms. The names
III OIduulllR dLO aihCi anu Po chO
Samuel May are inseparable from the
history of the abolition of slavery in
America. Julia Ward Howe and Mrs.
Livermore are Unitarians, who voice the
kemands of women for the electoral
franchise. Edward Everett Hale and
other noted Unitarians are leaders in
the labor movement, in Nationalism,
known in Europe as Socialism. In
every reform which concerns humanity,
this church is found in the thickest of
the fight. 1t stands for the fatherhood
of God and the brotherhood of man.
Mr., David Heap, of San Francisco, fol-
lowed Mr.. Wendte. Mr.. Heap is the
manager of the Boys and Girls Aid So
siety, a private charity for orphans-a
home for the friendless. The late
Charles Crocker erected home for the
society at the entrance of Golden Gate
park. This is one of the reforms of the
day and is in the hands of the Unitari-
ans.
Mr.. Dillon, on the reforms of the day,
said that the pulpit should inquire into
all the modern reforms and find out
how much truth there is in them. If
the poor are indeed being wronged then
let the preachers denounce the wrong
Of the evil and let the people themselves
find the remedy. 1t is not the minister's
place to go into the political and eco