The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-08-29
TALKED ON REFORMS
FIRST DAY OF THE UNIVERSALISTS'
STATE CONVENTION.
Is ~SmalI-LiquOr Question
and Other Timely Topics of the
Period Discussed.

The forty-seventh annual State conven-
ton of Universalists and the Ministerial
Circle of the Universalist Church opened
yesterday in the new church at the corner
of New Jersey and Sixth streets. There
was a small attendance. The ministers
present were Rev. j. b. Forsher, of PEN
dleton, who presided at the convention;
Rev. c. +. Bushnell, of Roam, who acted
as secretary; Rev. II. NJ. Brown, of Dub
lin; Rev. j. F. Carney, of Muncie; Rev. ).
3. Grandy, of this city; Rev. Henry Groves,
of Rome; Rev. II. Lewellen, of Lafayette;
Rev. NJ. l.. Pope. of Fincastle; Rev. II. o.
Sommers, of this city; Rev. j. o. w. Nc
Cord, of Mount Carmel; Rev. ]. H. Hewitt,
of New Castle, and Rev. CT. b. Ross, of
Manchester. The session at 2 o'clock opened
with prayer, followed by the reading of
reports from all parts of the State. Most
OF these were of an encouraging nature,
with accessions of membership and grow
ing interest reported. After a short recess
the paper of the afternoon. on the subject,
What Should Be the Attitude Of the Church
Towards the Reforms of the Day?" was
read. Rev. Mr.. Haughton was to have
considered this subject, but he was not
present. Rev. Lewellen, of Lafayette, an
able speaker, addressed the convention on
the same subject. He said at the begin
ming that there is too much talk in the
pulpits of to-day on theology, and too little
on anthropology and sociology. There
are no teachings of the Savior on the
forms of to-day, such as are used in the
Roman Catholic and Episcopal churches"
he said. when the young man mentioned
in the Bible asked what he should do
to be saved, he was not told to go through
certain forms, but the laws laid down were
for a purer social life." In reviewing the re-
forms of the day he mentioned the liquor
question, saying that 1.-The minister who
has not announced his stand on this sub
ject of the liquor traffic has not done his
duty, and has not been doing the work OF
Christ" Another evil was the use Of to-
bacco. and in speaking of this Mr.. Lewellen
said he thought some Of the ministers OF
the church were not any too particular
about the use of it themselves. He thought
that the smoking of cigarettes by young
boys was running them in more ways than
one. He would not say that the use OF
tobacco in ripper years would bring on the
bad results that earlier use would, but he
thought that no one should use it in any
of labor ana capitan. No man, wRether
employer or empioye, should make the other
feel hat he is his enemy. Mr.. Lewellen
OF single tax and land holdings. His argu-
ment was that man was brought TO this
hOIlQ nllIOul ally COlSCIll " Ills ONlly dliQ
that he should De entitled to enough OF
the land TO stand on.
Gated children unless we. make the ex-
we cannot preach faithfully till we pay
think they will leave these externals 10
party, but the parties have too little
Churches should stand for all reform and
not be silent"
At the close Of the remarks by Mr..
cussion. He said he was not prepared. but
orthwith he gave an excellent talk on
temperance, agreeing with Mr.. Lewellen
IN all that had been said. he related the
instance of two small boys who We're found
drunk one night in the city of Brooklyn.
they were taken to the station house, and
prosecute the man who sold them the drink
if it took his last cent. When the time
came the man failed to put in an APPEAR
ance, and the case was dismissed. When
Ar. Carney asked the man why he had
allowed the case TO go, the answer was that
the saloon keepers of the land. from the At
lantic to the Pacific, were banded together,
and what affected one affected all. When
he went. into the case. expecting, the. help
he found himself alone. The point was
that the churches did not take enough in
terest in the reforms of the day.
Mr.. Houghton being absent, a vote was
taken for a speaker for the afternoon and
for the evening. The choice was for Mr.:
Lewe1len to take MT, Houghtons place; ana
the programme. This he did. and for the
evening meeting spoke extemporaneously
to an Increased audience. The meetings will
continue through Friday afternoon. Thurs
day evening the. church in which the con-
vention is being held will be dedicated. The
programme for to-day is as follows:
Mornings o'clock, platform meeting;
''Wha Constitutes Religious Devotion?'
Rev. NJ. l.. Pope, of Fincastle, leader;
business meeting of the Ministerial circle;
oaper. 1.-The Higher Criticism" by Rev. c..
F.. Bushnell, of Roam, Ind.
AfternoOn-1:30 O'clock. organization of
Sunday school conventions; reports from
Sunday schools; reports of officers; paper,
The Successful Sunday School, by II. r.
Nillhouse, of indianapolis; paper, How to
Teach the Temperance Lesson" by Rev. j.
W. McCor of Mount Carmel; election of
officers; meeting of Young Peoples Chris
tan Union convention; reports from unions
and from State officers.
Evening57:3O sermon by Rev. ]. F. Car
ney, of Muncie.