The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-05-05
THE UNITARIAN CONFERENCE.



ors Formally Welcomed.
All day yesterday the conference OF the
Unitarian and other liberal Christian
churches was in session at the Unitarian
church on Seventh street Prominent
Unisarians from all over the Northwest
are in attendance. as well ~ eminent de
vines from other parts of the country.
Rev. John White Chadwick, Of Brook
lyn, whose sermon on Wednesday even
ing excited so much admiration, was pres
ent yesterday and delivered IN eloquent
address. Rev. W. e. Copeland. one Of the
best known members Of the faith on the
Coast, who formerly held . charge in Ia
coma, but who now 10 located Ut Salem. Is
in attendance and will deliver An address
today. Rev. George II. Greer, of Califor-
mia, who is well known on the Sound from
his long residence here, took part in the
proceedings last evening. Walter }.
Thompson. the prominent Tacoma banker.
and Ezra Meeker. of Puyallup. are among
the delegates. The full attendance Of del
egates is as follows:
Seattle-Rsv. W. G. Eliot, r.: Joseph Shippens
Mrs. J. H. Allen: Tacoma Waiter }. Thompson,
Mrs- A W. Martin. Mrs. J. Q, Mason; Puysliup
Rev. W. Mitchell, Ezra N. Meeker, n. siewert;
Portland-Dr. DARCY Powers. MIRA Rosa +. Bur
rell, Rev. Earl NJ. Wilbur: oIympia-M'a p. d.
Moore, MIRA Frost, Rev. N. Hoagland; Salem
}. b. stump. Mrs. Helen Jordon. MIRA England.
The proceedings yesterday morning were
opened by devotional meeting led by
Rev. William Mitchell. Joseph Shipper,
president of the conference, then delivered
an address Of welcome, as follows:
Our First Unitarian Society OF Seattle en-
de 81
conference now meeting Tor its second session
Those OF you who come from other places We
welcome to our homes with cordial hospitality:
we welcome you to our city set upon the hills
with its diadem OF snow and ice-c!ad noun
tains, though the prospect 10 you will have to
take in our scenery by faith and not BY sight;
We welcome you to our church built In COM
modious proportions soon after the disastrous
fire OF 1885, aud dedicated in an earnest spirit OF
faith and prayer to the promotion OF religion
and the best interests of humanity. Some
of our society love to linger on its pioneer days
and recall the early ministrations OF David Ut
ter. John c. Kimball. George H Greer and Ed
ward L Calvin, who were followed BY visits
from DR.. Horatio Stebbins. Dr.. Thomas l. Eliot
Grindall Reynolds and Charles w. Wendte Sam
uel Eliot was the frst pastor, and he was sue
ceeded by Ernest c. smith, who was succeeded
by our present pastor, Mr.. Eliot Within the
last two years these walls have resounded to
the voices of Miuot J. Savage. Christopher JAM
sen and John Fiske So young as this society 10
1t il building up its lasting monument of cher
ished friendships and memories with abiding
faith in the influence and fruitage OF all earn
estiy consecrated words and deeds.
Through the kindness of granddaughter OF
DR.. William Ellery Channing-Mra Saunders, Of
this city-we have the pleasure OF having before
Us a portrait of DR.. Claiming and the use OF his
favorite study table on which his great works
were written and one OF his study chairs. May
not the presence OF these cherished relics serve
as symbols to inspire our minds and hearts on
this occasion with the devout and earnestly
elevated thoughts of that great leader and
inspirer of thought and action during the
first half OF our century. Our conference
meets for Its second session. which il to be
regarded as Its regular annual meeting for the
election of officers for the coming year. It
sprang suddenly into existence at the earnest
gathering OF our clergy at the dedication Of our
Puyailup church last August. But while say
suddenly the need had existed and been felt
among the societies and earnest workers OF this
northern part OF the Pacific coast for better OPP
portunities for acquaintance. for religious fell
lowship, for comparison of aims and methods,
for union and CO operation in missionary enter
prises. These are the purposes and motives
which inspired the organization of this confer
ence and these are the purposes and motives
which justify its existence now, and will con.
tinue to justify Its future maintenance II II
needless to say that this conference disclaims
the remotest supervision over matters OF faith
or practice either OF individuals or societies.
Through tive simply seek strength from
union and cooperation and sympathy to bring
the kingdom Of God, the reign OF peace and love
into our own hearts and souls and to establish
that kingdom and reign as far as In US lies in
the minds and hearts OF otherA We would cul.
tivate a divine enthusiasm that would overflow
and give to others OF such faith, hops, charity.
peace, Joy. strength and love with which We
may DO blessed. Thus shall We tend to unity
of thought aud purpose and cherish the familiar
aphorism, "In essentials unity, in non essen.
tials liberty. in all things charity" In this
spirit may our present session prove q source
OF common strength from which inspiration is
gathered to render higher. hoiisr and more fruit
full service to the world.
The programme of our exercises II outlined
for you In print by your executive committee,
which hopes for the fullest and ireest preston
upon all subjects. whether practical or theoret-
ical, that may arise. We deem il subject of con.
graduation that this meeting could SO conven.
iently be timed as to have the presence and
cooperation OF Rev. John w. Chadwick. OF
Brooklyn, n. Y, with Us. On your behalf
greet him az q friend and co-worker, and also a.
one of the directors of the American Unitarian
about concluding his visit to this Coast We
invite You, Mr.. Chadwick, most cordially to the
fullest participation in all our exercises and
as If you, too, were an old settler.
May we have unity of spirit in the bonds OF
peace; may the words OF our mouths and the
meditations of our hearts DO acceptable to the
source of all life and light, and may the results
of our meeting be such as to hasten the days
foretold of old, when peace shall fow through
our streets like river and righteousness like an
OVERLOOKING food.
Committees on credentials, resolutions
and business and nominations were then
appointed. A report from the committee
on constitutional amendments was re-
ceived and laid over until the afternoon
session. After discussion on missionary
and work Rev. Mr.. Chadwick
made an entertaining statement Of the
work of the American Unitarian Associa-
ton.
The afternoon proceedings opened with
a lengthy discussion on constitutional
DIR. Darcy Powers, of Port
land, then delivered an address on "What
Should Be the Basis of the Religious Edu-
cation of the Young" Addresses by Rev.
n. Hoagland and Rev. w. Z. Copeland.
which were to have been delivered at the
afternoon session, were laid over until
this morning.
In the evening platform meeting was
held at which Rev. A. ID. Martin, DR..
Darcy Powers, Rev. J. w. Chadwick,
Rev. George III. Greer and others talked on
the subjects of religion and humanity.
Joseph Shipper opened the exercises with
a short speech in which he deplored the
absence of the vice president, Samuel