Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-10-15

lock, Mrs. Carrie Hatch, Henry scharffetter
On treasurers report-Henry SteinberS,
Mrs. NJ l.. Brown and George Shook.
A Change Proposed.
Mr.. L. v. Moulton offered resolution
p: oposing an amendment to the act of in
corporation Of the national society chang
ing the Incorporation into another class I'M
der the District law, which would give the
association wider scope Of action. Mr..
Morlton said the board of trustees recon-
n.ended the change The resolution was re-
ferred to the committee on resolutions.
Mrs. Cadwallader, in behalf of the spirit
mediums, who are being prosecuted, asked
the convention to consider means for their
aid. She said the spiritualists repudiate
fortune tellers, and genuine mediums have
been arrested as fortune tellers. She pre-
sented a petition from the mediums of
Philadelphia, accompanied by affidavits
setting forth cases in point. The petitions
The Annual Report.
At the afternoon session. which convened
at O'Clock, President Barrett read his an
nual repart. He said the national associa-
ton has added sixty-five per cent to its
membership during the past year. A con-
sentative estimate would give an increase
Of ten per cent to the ranks of spiritual
lists He claimed there are bona fide spirit
ualists to the number of lbs 900 in the
UniteI States, but ten times this number
are interested in spiritual phenomenon, and
attend the Sunday services. The spiritual
list camp meetings have increased in num-
Der from forty to fifty-two. and there are at
present over 600 societies actively at work.
Mr. Barrett deplored his apparent failure
to make extensive collections during the
year, and said 1t was due to his prolonged
illness and ito that spirit of parsimony
that is unfortunately extant amongst a
large percentage of our spiritualists."
Persecution of Mediums.
Mr. Barrett called attention to the perse-
cutions of spirit mediums throughout the
country. He said there have been fifty
two arrests of mediums in the United
States upon all kinds Of trumped-up
charges that would enable the law to get
hold Of them He said the Seventh Day
Adventlsts and Eugene V. Debs have also
felt the iron hand Of oppression. He men
toned this he said, because it bears di-
rectly on points that spiritualism repre-
sents-freedom of speech and equal rights
for all and special privileges to none. He
said the spiritualists have also been in
volved in alleged violations of the Sunday
laws. HI recommended that committees
on litigation and legislation be appointed
in each community, with adequate means
to conduct an aggressive and vigorous
fight against the persecution of spiritual
lists.
To Go Into Politics.
He recommended that spiritualists go
ir to politics, claiming that other churches
are now engaged in that business. II do
not advocate the organization of spiritual
lists into political clubs said Mr.. Barrett,
'but I do advocate the doctrine of each
citizen spiritualist doing his full duty at
every election. Our votes should be cast
from principle, not for partisan ends, and
I hold that every man asking our suffrage
should be placed on record upon all Of the
important questions that especially anect
us as a people. When man IN either
party is found ready to pledge himself to
dc the right, then we should support him
as unit.
"A striking example of what the spirit
ualists can do if they try Is found in the
defeat of Gen. Foraker in 1883 In Ohio. l
recommend that this convention consider
this matter at length and speak with no
uncertain sound thereupon."
Mr. Barrett made numerous recommends
lions for carrying on the routine work Of
the order, and plead earnestly for more
funds.
The day sessions of the convention are
free. but at the evening session fee of 25
cents will be charged for admission. The
program for this evening, commencing at
1880 is as follows: Presentation Of flag,
Mrs. 4. M. Jacques; response on behalf of
N. 8. A., Milan c. Edison; music; address,
twenty minutes. Mrs. Rachel Walcott;
music; tests, twenty minutes, DR.. G. c. B.
Ewell music; address. twenty minutes,
Mrs. ida p A. Whitlock; music; address,
twenty minutes, DR.. Geo. A. Fuller.
A Reception Last Evening.
The reception at spiritualist headquarters
on Capitol Hill last night to the visiting dele
gates to the national convention now In ses-
sion here drew a large number of local mem
bers of the association to welcome the .visi-
tors. The spacious home Of the national as
ISOLATION was thrown open from top to bot
tom and was taxed to its utmost to accom-
modate the guests Of the evening. Among
those present were: B. B. Hill and wife, Mrs.
Cadwallader H. w. Richardson, Mr.. Frank
Walker, Miss E; J. Walker, Dr.: H A: Pax
and Mrs. ]. C. Palmer, Mr.. L. v. Moulton,
Eben Colby and wife: d., u x r M ns,o Mr. Mr.
and Mrs James B. Hatch. ST., Mr.. and Mrs.
James B. Haeh; IT, Prof: L L g,:Su Rey.
Mrs. Chapman, Albert Blinn, Isaac P. Wal
ton, Mrs A. NJ. Glading, DR.. H. B. Storer.
rl. r,,o,fa- for tho f,,n tipoo tho