Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-04-23
General Convention of Swedenbor-
gians to Meet Here Soon.
ACTIVE LOCAL PREPARATIONS
Organization and Work Of the "New
Churchmen."
MANY DELEGATES COMING

Saturday week. May 2.the general conven-
ton of the New Jerusalem in the United
States of America, the general governing
body of the New Church in this country,
will hold it's seventy-fifth annual session in
this city. The meetings are to be held in
the new edifice recently completed at the
corner of 10th and Corcoran streets north
west, and will continue until the following
Wednesday,. The services Sunday are to
he devoted to the solemn dedication of the
church building, which has been built under
the auspices of the convention and by the
contributions of the church-at-large. The
same evening the celebration of the jubilee
of the Washington Society of the New
Jerusalem. which was founded fifty years
ago this month of April. One evening dur
ing the session will also be devoted to
festival celebration of this fiftieth ami
versary with historical and commemorative
addresses. 1t is also expected that the new
edifice of the colored New Church men will
also be ready in time for dedication, but
the date for this has not been fixed yet.
The preachers appointed for the Sunday
services are the Rev. James Reed of Bos-
ton for the dedicatory sermon in the morn
ing, and the Rev. Louis p. Mercer of Chica-
go for the evening. The Rev. John Worces-
ter of Newtonville, Mass, president of the
convention, is to officiate at the dedication,
and will deliver the annual address on the
opening day of the session. Among other
prominent men OF the denomination. who
are expected lis c. c. Bonney of Chicago,
originator and president of the Worlds
Congress OF Religions.
Other Meetings.
Preceding ard accompanying the sessions
of the convention proper there are also to
be other meetings of associated bodies the
American conference of New Church min
listers beginning next Tuesday, this being
also the clerical council of the convention
The executive or general council meets
Friday, May. l, this being also the day of
the American New Church Sunday School
Association; the American League of New
Church Young Peoples Societies, will meet
May :, and a conference of the Ladies'
Round Table is also to be held during the
session.
The preparations for the musical program
OF the convention have been quite elabor-
ate Under the direction of Mrs. Susanna
OldberS, the music director, several musical
selections of high order are to be produced
The Organization.
The general conference is composed of
New Church men throughout the country,
but the right to vote at meetings is con-
fined to the ministers reporting to the con-
vention and to delegates of associations and
other bodies connected with the conven-
ton The associations correspond gen.
orally TO the state limitations and are COM
posed or local societies or churches. The
officers of the convention are the president
two secretaries and a treasurer the co,ln-
Gil of ministers and a general council. The
convention meets annually, and has among
its duties the ordination to and regula ton
OF the ministry, the furthering of the work
OF the board of missions at home and
abroad. of the board of publicatio and of
Its theological school, located in Cambridge
Mass.
The work of preparation from a local
standpoint is now about completed. A gen.
eral committee was appointed to take
charge OF the arrangements as to the en-
tertalnment and reception of the delegates
and visitors
Local Committees.
The Washington committee is made up
as follows: Chairman, DR.. R. B. Donald
son; secretary, Charles F. Keefer; treas
urer Job Barnard, and the Rev. Frank
SewaL e. G. Smith. ST., John Joy Edson
DR.. H. VI. Schooley, DR.. Rufus Choate
Mrs Sara A Spencer, Mrs. E. A. Carman
Mrs. NJ: A Knapp, Mrs. D. j. Macarty
Mrs. Ellen Spencer MuSSey, Mrs J. Fl
Smith and Miss J. VI: Leavey. There are
also seven subcommittee whose chairuen
are as follows: On entertainments John
JOY EdsonI on finance. Job Barnard; on
program, Rev. Frank Sewall: on lunches
Dr. d. NJ Sohooley; on accommodate tons
Alfred FrenchI on music. Mrs. Susanna
OldDerg, and on the press, c. F. Keefer
W lille the local society is small its MEM
bership not exceeding some 125. and its
congregations rarely exceeding 800 the
society has already entertained two nation
al conventions in Washington. and found
It's resources ample without calling on the
citizens for aid Those of the ministers
and their families who accept invitations
are TO be cared for free of charge as
guests of the local members and at the
hotels This city has always attracted a
large attendance to the New Church con-
Ventlons, and it Is expected that the at
tendance this time will be five hundred and
more.