The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-08-31
SATURDAY. AUG. 81.
EDITORIAL.

The Indiana Conven-
Ihe INDIANA oon' ton is in session at
Vention' Muncie this week. 1t
has been we'll advertised, both in this
paper and elsewhere, and large attend
ance is expected. No State Convention
of our church has made more substan-
tial progress in the last decade than the
Convention of Indiana. 1t has been
splendidly managed, both for work and
the accumulation of funds. The lay ele.
ment has been largely at the front in
these years and has done yeoman ser
vice. A clerically constituted conven-
ton, where the ministers are the sole and
all important managers. making all the
plans, filling all the offices and doing all
the work. is not an ideal body in our
church. The better plan is to divide the
responsibility and summon the workers
found in the pews. The Indiana Conven-
ton has prospered by cultivating the lay
element. We have several State Con-
ventions that might profit by this ex-
ample of our Indiana brethren.
500
ELSEWHERE this week
Inc JOINING otaoe we notice the coming
conventions meetings of the State
Conventions of Illinois and Iowa. Both
these important bodies hold their annual
sessions next month. It is none too
early to begin preparations for securing
good representation from the parishes
tributary to these Conventions. 1t is a
mistake to postpone the selection Of del
egates until the eve Of the Convention.
They should be appointed and pledge
of attendance secured at the earliest
possible day. The pastors could serve
their respective Conventions materially
by preaching sermon on the Conven-
ton, informing their people as to the
relation the parishes sustain to the State
organization and their duty respecting
it.
There is lamentable want of inform
alton existing in our churches as to the
several State Conventions and their
work. The pastors owe it to themselves
and their parishes to inform the people
touching these matters, How many pas
tors in Illinois and Iowa will act on this
suggestion and preach sermon on the
Convention duty?
500
On this particular
The General oOn-line of editorial exhor.
VentiOn and its tation, applied, how
Work. evor mainly 70 tho
General Convention-the supreme body
in our ecclesiasticism- find para
graph in the Christian Leader of Au-
gust %, which we transfer to this COL
umn. 1t is "self-explanatory;" would
that the exhortation could reach and
stimulate all our preachers and parishes
to the end that the work Of our General
Convention would be quickened for the
blessing of our whole church! The sug.
gestion as to attendance at Meriden
next October is the needed word. The
State Conventions soon to assemble will
require to give this matter attention. II
the West is to be represented at Meri-
den in the general body arrangements
for that representation should be made
this month. The State Conventions de
pend on the parishes for their represen-
tation; the General Convention on the
State Conventions. This is the theory Of
our organization, and it behooves the
State Conventions to do their duty by
the upper body while they depend on
the individual churches and parishes to
make up their constituency. Let all be
faithful in this very particular duty.
500
"WE have in recent
The Leaders Word. weeks beep moved 10
iterate and reiterate our strong convic
ton that the dominant denominational
need of the hour is revival of interest
in the work and claims Of our Conven
tions-the General Convention and that
of Massachusetts The industrious DIR
Rugg, in a very important particular. il
keeping the General Convention "before
the people" 1t is, however, not less need
ful that we keep alive and make glowing
the work Of that Convention. 1t has IN
hand vital missionary interests-in the
distant West, in the South, on the Pa
cifc Slope-now more directly the care
of the Woman's Centenary, and-very
imperative-in Japan. 1t should haunt
us even in our dreams that not one o.
these enterprises is selfexecuting. A
single enthusiasm may start an enter