Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-10-09
4 National Convention Opened To-
day.
Mr. MOULTON MAKES An ADDRESS
The Responsibility Resting on the
Believers.
OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES

three days convention in this city at 10
o'clock this morning. The sessions Of the
convention are being held in the large hall
Of Masonic Temple and today attracted a
crowd of moro than q hundred men and
women, in about equal numbers. OF the
men, only one or two seemed to be under
thirty years Of age, while the balance were.
for the most pert, white-haired veterans
who take a great deal Of comfort out of
their particular form Of faith. There were
a number Of young women in the gathering.
however, which is collected from all parts
of the country.
This convention is the second Of the Ma
tiOnal SpiritualiStS' Association of America,
which Is a representative body made up Of
delegates from the various smaller bodies Of
spiritualists in the various sections of the
United States. According to the address of
the president in opening the meeting this
morning, the principal purpose of the con-
vention is to secure heartier cooperation
among the component bodies working to-
gether for the good Of humanity, as the
mouthpieces Of those who have gone to the
spirit world, but who still love the United
States. and would aid the nation by their
counsel and encouragement For this rea-
son, the various speakers this morning
found special cause for congratulation in
the fact that their convention was being
held in the capital Of the nation, where they
might be in close touch with the temporal
eminent, and where their influence would
be most strongly felt.
Terrible Responsibility.
This phase Of the situation was best
voiced today by L. ". Moulton, who de-
livered the principal address of the morn
ing. He spoke feelingly Of the position of
trust and responsibility which is necessarily
occupied by the members Of the association,
who, Of all the people in the world know
ha hot ind x1o -
the spirit to those who have not yet quit
this mundane sphere. According to Mr..
Moulton. not only are the dead not forgot
ten. but they are not forgetful. either, and
they take great deal Of interest in our
welfare as they look upon US from the other
side Of the gulf Of death which separates
this world from the abode Of spirits who
have abandoned the shell Of mortality The
responsibility which rests upon spiritualists
Is Of most overwhelming nature, for, as
they alone can illumine this world with
information from the other. they must see
to 1t that they bear their messages Alright
and be true interpreters, else they but
make confusion worse COMPOUNDED. Upon
them, and especially upon those superior
beings VINO are known as mediums, the
duty Is imposed of transmitting from the
spirit world to the physical world facts and
ngures OF the greatest interest to the lat
yer. Ihey must acQuit themselves of the
they themselves go to the other side to ac-
count to their superiors for the disposition
they have made of their talents they be
informed that they have not been good and
faithful servants
Opening Scenes.
Apart from a few eccentricities of ideas
expressed In the course of the speeches,
there was little to distinguish the gathering
from an ordinary convention of ordinary
people. The hall was handsomely draped
with flags and decorated with great sprays
OF autumn flowers and presented a very at
tractlve appearance. The convention was
called to order promptly at ~ o'clock by
the president of the association, Prof III. ID.
Barrett OF New York. a fine-looking young
man, with powerful voice and clad In an
immaculate dress suit, with a butterfly
lawn tie. The exercises began with the
singing Of America" after which the pres
tdent delivered brief address, in the
course of which he paid considerable at
tention to the wonderful history of the as
ISOLATION and a hearty tribute to the part
that women had taken in the great work
OF advancing the cause of spiritualism and
thus ennobling ard raising the standards
Of civilization and true religion.
Word was received this morning Of the
death. in Boston, Of Luther Colby. the ed
itor of the Banner Of Light, and himself
one of the strongest members of the asso-
citation. and this news was received with
the greatest regret by all the delegates
present committee was appointed to
draft suitable resolutions, and this was
done at once. the resolutions expressing
the confidence that their loss was Mr.. Col
by's gain and the gain of those with whom
he would hereafter be associated.
Committees Appointed.
After some more music, a vocal solo this
time. the president announced the appoint
ment Of working committees for the con-
vention as follows: Rules-F. p. Baker.
Kansas: Thomas M. Locke, Pennsylvania,
and VIM. Brodie, Louisiana. Credentials
F. B. Woodbury., Pennsylvania; Frank
Walker, New York, and II. Scharfetter,
Maryland. Auditing accounts-Dr. /. T..
Aiken, Pennsylvania; w. H. Bach. Minne-
lumbia Finance-Dr. o. G. w. Adams.
Iowa; George w. Burnham, Connecticut,
and Mrs. NJ. Z. Cadwallader. Pennsylvania.
Resolutions-L. V. Moulton. Michigan; d.
L. DeGouney, Maryland; Mrs. +. Gordon
White. Illinois. and VIM. Richmond. ILL.,
nois.
The address of welcome to the delegates
was delivered by Mrs. Cora L. v. Rich
mond, and the response was made by Mr..
Moulton. The balance of the morning ses-
sion was taken up with the reading Of the
reports OF the committees appointed to get
the convention into good working order.
This afternoon reports were received from
the general officers of the association and
from the delegates. This evening there will
be a public session, at which the following
program will be put into effect: Address.
Mrs. Katy Rowland: tests Miss Maggie
Gaule; address, l.. v. Moulton; address,
Mrs. A. NJ. Gladding; poem, Mrs. Cora l..
V. HlcnmOn0 ana w. =. COlvllle. There will
be music after each regular feature of the
program. and efforts are being made to
make the evening one Of unusual interest.
The Omcers.
The officers of the association are as fol-
lows: President. H. d. Barrett, Lily Dale
N. Y: vice president, Mrs. Cora L. V.
Richmond. Chicago. ILL.,: secretary. Robert
A. Dimmick. Washington. d. c.; treasurer
Theo. J: Mayer: Washington. d. c.: trus-
tees-Milan c. Edison. Washington. d. c.:
J: B. Townsend. Lima. Ohio; Mrs. Olive A.
Skidmore: Cassadaga, N. Y: Mr.. B. B. Hill,
Philadelphia, Pa.
Committee Of arrangements-Recepti
NJ. E. Cadwallader: music, J. H. Altemus:
printing T. ]. Mayer. H. d. Barrett; en-
tertainment, T. ]. Mayer; program, H. ID.
Barrett Cora L. v. Richmond, NJ. e. Cad
wallader.
THAWING OUT DYNAMITE.
A Miners Family Nearly All Perished
I'm the Explosion.
John Rayell of Ironwood Mich a n,,n>r