Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1892-06-10
THE UNITARIAN coNFnRENcE.

THE UNITARIAN CONFERENCE.
June put on it, most winning smile and
Brattcboro was in its glory 10 welcome
the Unitarian conference. At the opening
meeting on Tuesday evening the Unitarian
church was filled and Rev Charles G..
Ames Of Boston preached an inspiring ser
mon of earnest and practical Christianity
on spiritual Growth In style that
was unique for its simplicity and intense
spiritual fervor he urged the beauty. the
naturalness and the helpfulness of the di-
vine life as it is revealed i'm the ChriStlv
spirit Christ, he said. is not the inheXible
title of single historic person. Jesus of
Nazareth, but the eternal and ever enlarg-
ing life of God in humanity. All life is a
growth and if men would live wisely they
too must grow in grace and in the love and
knowledge of God and His world. We
must out grow all that is withered and use
less and grow into all that is just and holy.
Christianity is not the mere holding on to
old forms and ideas but the growing life of
God in history striving to inspire men with
passion for human uplifting, so that the
kingdom of heaven may come on earth.
The God we worship is neither the God of
novelty nor the God of antiquity but the
higher and better things.
On Wednesday morning a devotional
service was conducted by Rev. Carl G.
Horst of Pittstield, Mass, and Rev. Il. A.
Griffin of Northampton. 1t was an hour
of spiritual refreshment and uplifting tend
ing to deepen the personal religious life of
all present Mr.. George A. Dennson of
Springfield Mass, presided over the bust
ness Meeting which WINS ga 1la1 -, prlor 9
the close Of the devotional meeting.
At 1880 Rev. $. II. Calthorp of SYRIA
cuse, \. Y. read an essay on "The Prim-
tive gospel and its life Of Christ to an
audience which filled every pew in the
church. The essay was written from the
point of view of the modern critics of the
Bible and was a scholarly analysis of the
life of Jesus as it appears in the gospel of
Mark. This is the oldest Of the four Cos
pcl> and its picture of the mission and
works Of the Master presents the Unitarian
Interpretation of Jesus in all its divine
simplicity and humanity. The essay was
not mere piece of intellectual criticism.
but an honest and manly setting forth of
the facts of history with a strong and
tender appeal for more LOYALTY to the life
and teaching of Jesus. Rev. Mr.. Calthorp
Is one of the most thorough Bible scholars
in the nited States and was a fellow stu
dent in Cambridge university. England.
with Canon Farrar and other distinguish
ed men.
The essay was followed by vigorous
address on the growing missionary work of
the American Unitarian association hv its
able secretary Rev. Grindall REYNOLDS of
Boston He stated that in these DAYS Of
religious unrest and intellectual activity
Unitarian ideas of God. religion and life
were making most rapid progress not only
i'll the building up Of the Unitarian denomi-
nation but in the pulpits and pews of all the
more conservative Protestant churches
More churches e our faith have come into
existence during the last five years than
were established during the previous forty
years So the prospect is bright and God
truth is bound to win.
At the luncheon, served by the ladies of
the Unitarian parish, the town hall was
filled to the doors by visiting ministers and
delegates. some 80 persons from out Of
town being in attendance.
In the afternoon the leading address was
delivered by Hon. Dorman b. Eaton. who
spoke in an eloquent and convincing man
ner on What laymen can do for the
church. Mr.. Eaton's address was CON
made "A vigorous and unanswerable plea for
loyalty to the church not as the advocate of
a Sectarian theology. but as the one insti-
tuition which stands for the defence and
promotion of the moral and religious life
of men. He said that the best influences
of modern society emanate from the church
and that the layman who does not help
support them is neither a patriotic citizen
nor a friend OF humanity If our churches
We're closed civilization would speedily
tend toward civil anarchy and moral rot
tenncsS. He said laymen were largely re-
Sponsiblc for the growth and usefulness of
the church and while passing some de-
served criticisms on the pulpit he still be-
lieved the time would never come when it
would be either wise or safe for the voice
of the pulpit, which calls Us to higher
things. To be slenced. In closing he spoke
emphatically and with great power on the
need of bringing the church into closer
touch with the civil and industrial life of
today He believed that the principles of
the decalogue and the sermon on the mount
were applicable not only to the solitary re-
ligious lives OF men, but TO all the affairs
of the nation and the community and he
urged the pulpit to speak out on the moral
issues of politics, not as partiSans or sensa-
tionalists, or blunderers in matters poorly
comprehended, but as the advocates of
Gods eternal laws of justice and truth
Mr. Eaton 5 address was ar inspiring reve-
lation of his own personal convictions, and
it made profound impression on the con-
ference. 1t was followed by five-minute
speeches by Rev. Messrs Griffin, Free.
Carney and Wildly, and by remarks from
Mr.. Dennison of Springfield and Mr. Fran
els of Hartford. After vote of thanks
had been passed TO the Brattleboro parish
for its hospitality, to the speakers for the
services, and TO the Connecticut River
railroad company for its courtesy, Rev. Mr.
Ames spoke a few pertinent final words
and pronounced the benedction, and the
conference adjourned Every church in
the conference sent delegates, and the gen
eral verdict was, 1t is the best conference
we have had in years