The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-07-20

v
This was the greatest Universalist Con-
vention ever held excepting perhaps one,
that held at the Centenary at Glouces-
ter. He had not the authority to well
come the delegates to the city as might
be done later, but he had the right and
he did welcome them to the Shawmut
avenue and Columbus avenue churches,
and to all the Universalist chu rches in
the city. (Applause.) He hoped this
would be most interesting and fruit
full Convention. as he was sure it would
be, and result in great good.
The Shawmut avenue choir sang with
much expression and sweetness. Rock
of Ages, Cleft for Me-"
DR.. Perrin announced that he regretted
that Gov. Greenhalge had been unable
to fulfill his engagement to speak his
word to the Convention. He also an
nounced that Mayor Curtis was not to
be present. but his representative would
address the Convention.
Delegates Welcomed.
Private Secretary Courtenay Guild
was then presented, and welcomed the
Convention and the delegates to the city
of Boston.
Mr.. Frank B. Endicott, Chelsea, Chair
man of the Boston 1895 committee, said
he believed this Convention was going
to do as much good as any that could be
held. There was another Convention n
being held in the city, but the Young
Peoples Christian Union was second to
none. He read letter from Mrs. Re-
becca Lash of his own Union in Chelsea,
who was 90 years of age, expressing her
regret that she could not attend the
Convention owing to bodily infrmities,
but saying she would be present in
spirit. He cited this case to show that
the Union was not exclusively young
peoples society. AS Chairman of the
Boston '95 Committee, he welcomed
every delegate to Boston. There was
much the Boston delegates wished to
show their visitors,-Plymouth Rock,
Bunker Hill, and where the tea was
thrown into Boston Harbor.
"We do not forget this evening"" said
DIR. Perrin. "that we are holding our
meeting in Unitarian church. We are
exceedingly fortunate in our neighbors."
DR.. Perrin then explained how they hap
pened to secure Unity church for this
Convention, and how freely it was gra Mt
ed them by Mr.. Savage and his parish
toner's. II never quite SO clearly real
ized," he said, "the meaning of the
words, How good and how pleasant it is
for brethren to dwell together in unity
Great applause.) Then he introduced
Mr.. Savage as the next speaker.
Mr.. Savage Speaks for Union.
There was tremendous applause when
Mr.. Savage was introduced. He said it
gave him great deal Of pleasure to act as
host this evening and welcome the Con-
vention Of the Young Peoples Christian
Union. He said he had been accustomed
to think that &c. u" stood for Church
of Unity. He had stood in the pulpit
here for twenty-one years and never felt
more at home than now. (Applause.)
He did not think there was great diff
ference between the Universalists and
Unitarians. "You are almost as good as
Unitarians," he said, amid applause and
laughter.
"The dividing line is so low that we
can step right over either way" said Mr..
Savage, with the slightest effort. Why
not wipe it out? Great applause) There
are divisions enough already in the
armies of Christendom. Let us not fos-
ter or perpetuate lines that do not rep
resent eternal principles. know these
denominations had different origins, but
they had their rise in the same moral
and spiritual upland, and now are flow
ing very near together, on the plains of
the world. l hope some day they will
come together, and form a M ighty
stream, which shall grow into the great
future. These churches arose because
the world dared seek for truth. Out of the
growth of human intellect, conscience
and soul grew Unitarianism and Uni
versalism. The church will make great
mistake il it forgets that its one and
eternal mission is the creation of indi-
vidual character. Discussing social
agitation Mr.. Savage said that the
kingdom of God was merely perfect
condition of man. Perfect social condi-
tions would never come until men and
women grew into the likeness of Jesus.
The President OF the General Conven-
ton, Mr.. H. B. Metcalf. of Providence.
commenting upon the letter of Mrs.
Lash of Chelsea, told about several of
the veterans of the Universalist Church.
He told great many things about the
pioneers of the Universalist Church, and
predicted mighty things for it in the
future.
Rev. Elmer j. Felt, of Tacoma, WASH,
President of the National Union, told of
the splendid success of the convention.
At the last annual convention the dele
gates were incredulous when it was sug
gested that thousand delegates would
meet in Boston this year. but it had al.
ready become 1000, and it was hoped