Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-11-24

PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 1.-THE eighth an
nual meeting of the Unitarian Conference
of the Middle States aud Canada recon-
vened at the First Unitarian Church.
Chestnut street. below Twenty-second
yesterday morning. Edward W. Clark
presided The exercises were begun with
The communion services, conducted by Kew
$. II. Camp of Brooklyn, and Rev. Robert
Collyer of New York After this the read
ing Of papers followed. The first was by
Rev. Theodore G. Williams Of New York,
on Evolution in Ethics"
"The Relation OF Morality and Re-
ligion." by Rev. James q. Hodgkins of
Germantown, was the second paper Of the
day. Morality he said. lis constantly
changing as the experience of the race
widens, and so with religion. 1t is a
change out of difference into identity.
The day for debate as to the supremacy
of either religion or morality has happily
passed. Neither is supreme it is largely
question of mental emphasis. Reason,
Intelligence, soul self consciousness, care
not what you may choose to call it, is
greater than either morality or religion.
These are but expressions in time Of its
undivided and ndivisible life. The world
has not yet awakened to the supreme
majesty of man as a spiritual force.
Rev. Grindall Reynolds followed with a
paper on "Ihe Present Crisis in Our
Affairs
Rev. c. L. st. John gave talk on THE
Needs of Some of Our New Societies"
RELIGION OF AMERICA,
"The Religion of America" was the sub.
ject Of a paper by Rev. Edward Everett
Hale, chairman of the National Confer
eEce. Mr.. Hale said in part:
THE Presbyterians hold the Middle
states they had them IN one grasp, and rs
body are stronger and more potent than
Hal iattt, I I,,tI,,.
Mr.. 81. John was saying of his labors in
Pitsburg; it is there that the Presbyterians
are strongest. lie deserves all the credit
for his effort that he will ever get; it is
gallant one. | look upon him as a cru
sader who comrageously plants his ladder
upon the walls of Jerusalem and springs
inside though Saadin and all his Turks
await him with spear thrusts,
THE vatican never held Rome more alb
solutely than the Presbyterians hold Pitts
burg. And must say that as a body for
tue conservation OF particular form of
religions they do it well. Their organiza
ton is an intensely strong one. Presby-
terlanism is an irOnclad, armored at every
point; it is panoplied with deacon and
synod. The truth is" lie concluded the
people of this country like TO have what
they take simple and without adulteratlon.
Without so much as hearing the word
Unitarian they have come around to the
creed of Faith, Hope and Love-
The report of the secretary, w. d. More
house, was then read, and committees ap-
pointed.
Tie first half of the afternoon session
was occupied by the Womans Alliance.
Mrs. Thumas X, Slicerof Buffalo, presided.
The first paper read was by Mrs. Mary T..
Lewis Gannet of Rochester, on Lucy
Smith; Woman's Love Facing Death .
AWAY WITH EMPTY DOGMA.
'rhe Outlook and Opportunity" was the
subject of forCible paper by Mrs. Anna
W. Longstreth. She said "Ihe church
cannot escape the law of evolution. Look
not at the results, but TO the character OF
our work We are at war with all kinds
of crime. As women we can take up any
kind uf work. What use is religion if it
be not for every day? 1t must have the
Christ spirit.
"Our orthodox brothers are afraid to
place their heretics on trial less the seeds
of truth may take root, but the thought
of the age is widening, and soon we shall
do away with empty dogma. We shall go
to the nnchurched and Gnlightcu them.
The world wants Il church that does not
parlcy with,dogtnas. We long for church
of reason and light that shall throw of
an outSrown theology and teach tho
Christian religion in its purity" Mrs.
Skinner then gave short talk on The
Outlook Through Our POst-otliCe Mission"
'rhe Work of the National Alliance
was the subject Of very interesting talk
by Mrs. b. Ward Dix, president Of the
National Alliance. Professor II. II. Bar.
Der followed with report on the Mead
vile endowment, and DIR. William ship
pen, one of the first graduates from Mead
willie seminary, also made few remarks
OH the school.
RELIGIOUS NOTIONS CoNTRAsTEp.
A paper was then read by Rev. Thoma,
X. Slicer OF Buffalo. on New and Old
Notions in Religion Contrasted." He said
IT may be doubted if the religion of to
day is awakening greater activity than
that of the past. The appeal must bt
made to life.
The old motives taught that man was
l1st creature and wholly helpless. lie then
thought that what God Could not do at the
creation he improved upon later, and by d
system of furleits has found way fol
man to gain redemption. Fear was thi
germ of the old motives. Love is til,
motive of the new. The old view put rei
gion ahead OF morality. The new motive
are finer. Religion is now an adjustment
tohuman relations. 1t is first ethical unt
then spiritual. We have put the duty o
religion in the present tense. Theology ha,
lost her throne and reason has begun u
reign."
The evening session was devoted to thu
reading Of two papers. The first was OF
1.-The Essence of Christianity US EmbodieJ
in the Life and Teachings of Jesus" by
Rev. Dr. William H. Furness of Philadel
pha, and the other was by Rev. ). X
Culthropof Syracuse, on Transformation
Of Christianity"