The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-08-01
Iowa UniversaIists.
AT CEDAR PARK, WATERLOO.

The summer assembly of the Uni
versalists of Iowa was held, according
to previous announcement, at Cedar
River Park, in the vicinity of the city
of Waterloo, last week, beginning
Sunday, July 10, and continuing
until the following Sunday evening,
July 26.
The place selected for the meet
ings is admirably adapted to the
purposes of summer assembly. tits
within fifteen minutes from Waterloo,
by the recently completed electric
road, on the banks of the beautiful
Cedar river, amid native forest sur
roundings. The spot selected for the
assembly was we'll chosen; there is
abundance of shade and pleasant
walks along the river bank, in view of
deeply wooded island, and the op-
posite shore.
The Iowa Chautauqua Assembly
holds its annual meetings at this
park, and large pavilion has been
erected, with an auditorium which
will hold 1900. A number of cot
tages have been erected on the
grounds, and there are fine spots for
campers all along the river bank.
The Park is a resort mainly for
Waterloo people, but visitors come
from various parts of the State in the
season to enjoy the quiet and beauty
of the place and to get "near to Ma
lures heart" while the assembly is
in progress.
The Universalist meetings began in
the Park auditorium Sunday moru-
ing, July 10, with sermon from Rev.
T. B. Gregory, of Chicago. Evening
services were also held in the same
place, Mr.. Gregory preaching Sec
ond time. The afternoon was devoted
to an interesting and profitable con-
ference meeting, conducted by Rev.
]. H. Palmer, of Cedar Rapids. The
choir of the Waterloo church con-
Quoted the singing. Claude Saner,
of Cedar Rapids, phenomenal boy
singer, and Miss Jessie Scott, of Wa
terloo, being the soloists.
Monday the Pastors Conference
was held with addresses and discus
sions. In the evening the sermon
was given by Rev. Sophie Glib, now
residing in Boone.
Tuesday, the Pastors Conference
was continued, and in the evening the
sermon was delivered by Rev. George
W. Shilling Unitarian of Iowa Falls.
Wednesday was occupied by the
Young Peoples Christian Union of
the State; and Thursday was devoted
to Sunday school interests. We shall
give hereafter brief reports of these
meetings.
Thursday evening the address of
Rev. DIR. Nash on Education" was
delivered in the Universalist church
at Waterloo, the heavy and persist
emit rain of that day having made the
change necessary. The following
report of the fifty-fourth annual ses-
sion of the Convention embodies an
abstract of this ad dress. We now fol-
low with the proceedings of the Con-
vention in regular order.
The Iowa CONVENTION was organ
lied on Friday, July "a, at 1910 A. M.
in the hurch of the Redeemer, the
attractive and beautiful edifice of the
Waterloo congregation, built few
years ago under the passionate of our
now departed brother, Rev. L. F.
Porter. The preliminary conference
meeting was conducted by his widow,
Rev. Charlotte Porter. Touching
memories were revived of the sainted
dead by this service and tender words
were spoken by Rev. DIR. Crum and
others, in regard to departed mem
bers of the parish in whose memory
the beautiful windows of the church
were erected and inscribed.
In the absence of the President,
Hon. o. B. Ayers, of Des Moines, Mr..
Jacob Closz was elected temporary
president, and Rev. I. E. Dotter
acted as Secretary. DR.. Cantwell, of
Chicago, offered prayer. The usual
committees on credentials and re-
ligious services were named by the
chair. The Holy Communion fol-
lowed, the pastor of the Waterloo
church, Rev. ]. NJ. Getchell, and the
venerable Rev. G. S. Gowdy. presid-
ing at the holy table and administer
ing the elements in few brief but
we'll chosen words. The participa-
ton was universal and the service de-
vout and impressive. At the close,
after the hymn, DIR. Cantwell ex-
planned in few words the nature of