The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-06-07
UN|VERSAuSTS' SESSION.
Fifty.Si1th Annual Meeting Of the
Rhode Island Convention.
REV. Mr. VANNEVAN'S SERMON.
His Text Was, 'And the Spirit Of God
Moved Upon the Face OF the waters"-
Men Have Begun to Recognize the
Universal God He Says

The fifty-sixth annual session of the
Rhode Island Universalist convention be-
gan this morning at 10 o'clock at the
Church OF the Mediator, Crauston street.
Rev. II. w. Rugg. ID. ID. pastor Of the
church, called the convention to order
aud stated that the president, Hon. Lati-
mer w. Ballou was absent, being de-
tanned by attendance at the funeral OF
his sister. He introduced Rev. Henry I.
Cushman, ID. d., the vice president of
the convention, who would preside.
Rev. Mr.. Cushman called upon Rev.
Charles j. White to invoke divine bless
ing, after which he declared the conven-
tion opened. The address Of welcome,
to have been delivered by the president,
rart q, follows: The troubles in the
church today are inspired more by de-
sire to see and know new things
than by an interest in the church.
A here,y trial would have drawn
greater crowds than are present at this
convention. In the other churches the
one side Is taking for authority, tn 9 other
for liberty as iR the case in the Presby-
terlan church now in point. Harmony
is the highest qualification to promote
faith in the churches.
Committees Ann ounced.
DIR. Cushman then introduced Rev.
John Vannevsn OF Canton, Mass The
committees for the convention were an
nounced as follows: ARRANGEMENTS.
Rev. III. w. Rugg. Rev. II. l. Cushman
and A. y. Presbrey; elections, Ainert T..
Sweet, Mrs. Henry A. Smith and Mrs. S.
Westcott. Arthur X. Bartlett. Mrs. w.
III. Cook, j. o. Scott and Henry b. Dex-
ter.
After prayer and the rendering Of a
seteetion by the church choir Rev. John
Vannevau Of Canton preached from Gen-
esis i.:2: Aud the spirit of God moved
upon the face Of the waters" 1t is "A
noticeable fact that the religious world
aud the evolutionists' begin and end with
God. Until the fresh revelations Of
science there was no doubt that the God Of
all was the creator aud that the Bible was
literally true. The evolutionisss say
that the world is ever growing in the
natural way, and the religious ones who
believe in the discoveries OF science are
satisfied that GUd is ever working and
never sleeps.
One result Of the researches Of science
Is that the whole human brotherhood Is
placed OH more equal footing, ana tina.
the doctrine that tue word was created
for all IL the highest social truth aud
knowledge was formerly reserved for
the possession Of the favored class
and th. subjects were kept In ignorance.
The Roman Catholic church II an ex-
ample of this condition and must be
maintained in order that the power Of
the prizes hood may be secured.
How Conditions We're Changed.
When the common people began to
use the powers they found they pos.
sessed the conditions changed socially.
The waters were moved at the surface.
With iQnorancs disappeared SLAYER y. aud
with knowledge came liberty This
knowledge is disburs a from the pulpit
and fireside. and the workman Is no
longer a machine. Science is no longer a
theory. but IL is through 10 that we ex-
ercise command over the forces Of nature,
aud obey the first co nmand Of God.
What Is 3 lid OF science Is also true OF
literature. Public libraries place
snowledge within the grasp OF everyone,
ana the printiny houses cheer the hearts
OF the toilers. BY this influence the
hunt lest homes have been frightened
and the noblest impulses aroused. We
often forget that ofttimes the Holy
Spirit finds its way iuto our lives
thorough tres aud Is none the less power
full. Man has come to feel that God has
been revealed to him aud not to any
privileged class, through the peoples
prophets aud not through those who
speak To- kings alone.
The religion OF Jesus Christ will sta nd
In spite OF the guns of opposition and
sarcasm. It has stood for nineteen &C -
turisa The salvation Of the human fam