The morning times., 1896-04-29
NEW CHURCHMEN In COUNCIL
First Days Session Devoted Largely
to Routine.
Discussion of the Occult Caused nv a
Paper-Reports OF Conferences
Read and Considered.

The opening exercises OF the meetings of
the council or ministers and the seventy
sixth session of the general convention
of the New Jerusalem were begun yesteT-
day afternoon in the National New-Church
edifice, orner Sixteenth and Corcoran
streets.
Previous to the opening OF the council. in
conference, meeting OF the several classes
OF ministers Was beid, at which subjects
Tor discussion other than those which were
decided upon at the recent meetings in
Philadelphia, were considered and Will be
reported a the meetings OF ministers today
and tomorrow.
When the meeting was called to order
yeste rday afternoon there We're about
twenty-five in the church, but before the
afternoon session was closed nearly as
many more, some OF whom were ladies'
came In carrying their gripsacks and hand
bags with them.
Tue Rev. s. S Seward of New York
presided. After prayer. the singing OF u
chant. reading OF scripture and the minutes
OF the previous meeting, held In PhiIadei-
phia June 4, 1885, the reports of the ONO,
Ma ryland and Massachusetts local con-
ftrenees were read by the secretary. the
Rev. ii. c. Hay of Providence.
IL was then announced that seven bound
copies of the journal or the old organization
had been secured, and on motion it was
voted To deposit one OF these journals in
each of the church libraries at Boston,
Chicago, Washington, New York, Gin
clnnaII and Philadelphia. They were to he
virtually loaned, but it was understood
they would not be nIolested so long as they
were well cared for and properly used.
The reading OF a paper by the Rev. Joseph
Worcester OF San Francisco was omitted
ON account or Mr. Worcester 5 absence, I'd
the paper, IS wedenborg and the occult, -
prepared by the Rev. John Goddard Of Gin
Clnnati, was read IN its stead. The paper
brought out a lengthy discussion On The
phenomena rr occulJIsrn, which was partici-
pated N by Revs- F. F Wright OF Cam
bridge, Mass; William H. Alden OF PEIla-
delphla, Jabez Fox OF this city, AdoIph
ROeder OF Lawrence n j; H F. yon h
Crownlnshield OF Pennsylvania, W. II.
Ill mkley, Mount Auburn, Mass; L. P.
Mercer OF Chicago and several others
There was Il much larger attendance at
the evening session OF the ministers council
than there had been during the day, many
ladies, members OF the Washington church,
being present The Rev. Mr.. Seward ofNew
York presided.
Three papers were read. The first was on
Aims of preaching - by Mr.. Seward; the
second by the Rev. John Whitehead of
Urbana. Ohio, on Leading by truth TO good. =
and the third by the Rev. Frank Sewall on
Methods Of preaching in the New Church. >
All Of the papers were very able in their
composition and each one was atteurively
listened to.
some OF the ideas expressed were ne v 10
the ma jority Of those present and he state
ueHts made were Of tie greatest interest.
Each paper brought out an animated DIS
Ear- Z f.ff
bridge, Mass: the Rev. A. F. Frost aISH
OF Cambridge, the Rev. p. B Cabeil Of WL-
nlington. the Rev. John Goddard Of Cip-
ciHnati. the Rev. L P Mercer of Chicago.
tire Rev. H F ysn X .CrGwnfield OF New
York and the Rev. Hiram YFuOman OF Bal
timOFe participated
II was announced that the committees
on sociology and translation OF the word
would meet in the church ut $50 this morn
ng, after which the meeting adjourned
until 10 O'Clock today. a hymn being sung
aud the benediCtion pronounced.