The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-11-09
CONVENTION ADDRESS
FROM GLOUCESTER TO MERIDEN.*
BY HON. HENRY B. METCALF,
Rhode Island.

"From Gloucester to Meriden," in
the parlance of the commercial trav-
eler, is trip of only five or Six hours,
but to those of us who enjoyed that
delightful encampment by the sea in
1870, journey OF twenty-five event
full years.
In my retrospect it is inevitable
that nv mind should revert to those
of nv travelling companions who in
Gods providence were not permitted
to complete the journey with me.
Miner,-honored, admired and loved
by men of all sects and social con-
ditions, whose right to leadership OF
the Universalist Church has never
been questioned, and whose opportu-
nifty to bear the burdens thereof was
always SO bravely and cheerfully ac-
cepted; the author of that wonderful
centenary sermon without which the
record of Universalism would be sad
ly incomplete; soldier OF the cross
always on duty, resting not until the
very day of his death lis sadly missed
from our councils today.
Washburn, of Maine,-Chrlstlan
statesman, our most accomplished
layman, who, in that mastery adj
dress as President of that mighty
mass meeting at Gloucester, gave
such scholarly definitions of our de-
nominational significance as have
seldom or never been presented,
whose counsel was as wise as it was
loyal,-leaves vacancy through his
death that cannot be filled.
Caapin, the most gifted orator OF
his time, never more eloquent than
in his sermon before the thousands
gathered in that memorable service
of Holy Communion, is no more with
us in visible presence.
RYDER, of national fame, prominent
for many years as the great leader OF
Uniyersalism in the Northwest, sup
porting our Church ard her instltu-
lions in death as in life, is also alb
sent.
Brooks, not only most eloquent
preacher, but one of the most etfec-
tive organizers that our church has
ever known, with the motto "go for
ward" always on his banner, and new
err rendering more effective service to
the Uniyersalist Church than at
Gloucester as Chairman of the Com
mittee on Revision of the Constitu-
ton, many years since completed his
life work.
Horace Greeley, who, at Glouces-
ter, pleaded so eloquently, for a
grand and worthy UNCONVENTIONAL lit
erature and its broad distribution,
whose eyes and heart would have been
pladdened could he have witnessed
what has now been actually attained
on the line of his enthusiasm, has
long since passed to his heavenly
home.
Many others who were members OF
the Convention of 1870 having done
woman work for Christ and his
Church, have passed to the higher
life: but it is cause for profound
gratitude that of the 1l6 members oil
that Convention nearly three-fourths
are still serving our Church on earth
Two, only, becoming convinced that
they had been mistaken in supposing
themselves to be Universalists, have
very properly formed more congenial
associations.
A glance over the development
along the line of our quarter-century
Journey, no matter what department
of life's activities we may investigate,
reveals degree of progress never
eaualled in corresponding period.
An almost completed revolution in
methods of transportation, in produc-
ton of artificial light, in application
of power to machinery, is but small
part OF the experience revealed IN
our Journey. The man who in 1870
had dared to prophesy the inventions
and devices which have SO entered
into our everyday life that their re-
moval would virtually paralyze all
business ana social relations, would
then have been regarded as an i'm
poster or a lunatic. The man who
should today venture manufacturing,
using the tools and machinery
deemed excellent in 1870, would soon
find himself in a bankrupt court.
Every department of commerce. from
the Sugar Trust down to the retail
dry goods store, has been reconstruct
ed, although in what measure for the
public veal, l will not attempt to de-
clare. The nation that, for its de-
fence upon the high seas, should de-