Morning journal and courier., 1892-09-22
UNIVERSALIST CONVENTION.

The Regular Convention Opened
Yesterday Mornins-The Rev. An
nette Crossman of Brooklyn In
Attendance-VeryI Interesting Meet
ings.
The regular convention of the Univer-
salist societies of the state opened yes
terday morning at 10 o'clock in the
Church of the Messiah, the church being
well filed with ladies. Vice President @.
g. Lincoln of Hartford called the con-
vention to order. Each of the eighteen
societies of the state was represented by
four delegates, who responded to their
names at the reading of the roll call by
Secretary G. M. Grant of Stamford. AZ
ter the formal organization ex-Judge
Sheldon, who is one of the best known
members of the Church of the Messiah,
remarks the speaker said that he and the
members of the church were much pleased
to greet their brothers and sisters at their
own church and that he hoped the bust
ness transacted by the convention would
be for the building up of the church
throughout the state.
Communion service followed Judge
Sheldon's remarks, the table being pre-
sided over by Rev. L. 81. Squires and Rev
E. g. Towne. All of the delegates and q
| large number of visitors took part in this
| service. A sermon by Rev. T. G. Druley
| of Stafford closed the morning session
which was followed by q dinner in the
church parlors rendered the delegates by
| the ladies of the church. A committee
consisting of R. NJ. Sherman and DR.
Lucy Creemer Peckham had charge of the
arrangements for entertaining the visitors
who were delighted with the provision
which was made for their comfort.
The afternoon session opened at 2 O'Clock
with the reading of the official reports by
Secretary Grant outlining the work of the
year, which has been an exceedingly fa.
vorable one OF the most serious blows
that has been dealt the society, as whole
| is the death of the president, Rev. J. a.
Chaplin. Attention was called by the
board in it's reply to the loss and me.
mortal service was held.
There has been considerable increase also
| in church membership, in the number OF
families and in the Sunday school member.
ship, the rate of increase being about 1C
per cent.
Financially the year was good one, &C.
| cording to the report. The permanent
fund of the society had been increased
$1,000 during the year and over $4,000
spent in aiding weak parishes. One Of
| faith in this state is the building of g
| $40, 900 church in Danbury, they havins
already commenced, and at Meriden 8
| $100, 900 church is just being completed.
| The report shows that the societies have
nearly $4,000 of invested funds
| So, 900 Of which have been added in THU
last year. The income of the churches Of
Connecticut for the past ten months (that
is the income from contributions and in
vested funds) was $26, 900, and the treas
urer reports at the end of the year a sur
plus or current fund of $500.
After the business meeting had ended
Mrs. II. A. Manning of Stamford followed
| with an address to the Woman's Centenary
Brooklyn, who is one of the most gifted
female preachers in the country, then fol
lowed with an earnest and enthusiastic
address on the same subject. Mrs. A. A.
Ellis, ex-vice president Of the Woman'l
Centenary association, then addressed thu
meeting and was followed by Mrs. Thomas
Bissel of Hartford. All the ladies spoke
along much the same lines, the Woman'l
Centenary association being the chief mat
ter in which they were interested.
Out of the two hundred delegates from
out of town who are said to be here abou
sixty went on the ride to East Rock park
which had been arranged for.
Last evening, at 1880 o'clock, tho Rev
g. W. Hunt (Unitarian) of Worcester
Mass, addressed the meeting on "Moder1
Theological Tendencies" in which the spe
oial point brought out was the good tina
the more freedom given to intellectual
thought would eventually accomplish.
Smith Dodge, Jr., of Stamford followed IL
an address on 1.-THE Work Before U.s." II
which he showed the great opportunity fol
honest endesvor and the wide field for Ia
Dor which lies ''white for the harvest.
The following is the program for to-day
which closes the conventions:
900 a. m.-Conference meeting.
9:45 a. m.-Business session.
| HOO a. m.-Addresses and discussion
Evidences of the Liberal Faith.
Rev. G. w. Jenkins, Norwich
| 'sWhat Remains to be Done?"
| Rev.W. 8. Perkins, D. d. Meriden
200p. nj minute speeches: "How Can W.
| Improve?"
/. Our Sunday Services.
| Rev. J. ". Emery BRIDGEPORT
| q The Sunday School,
| Rev. A. Chase, New Britain
| g. The Young Peoples Work.
| Rev. James Vincent Danbury
4. Our Churches Influence in tn
| Community.
Rev. 81. Closson, Middletown
Benediction.