The San Francisco call., 1897-09-04

CONVENTION
The Second Annual Gath
ering Of the State
Association.
During the Past Year the Old
Board Lifted a Very
Heavy Debt.
W. E. Coleman Sounded a Warning
That Greatly Exercised the
Believers.

The second annual convention OF the
California State Spiritualists Association
was opened Yesterday morning in Scottish
Hall, at 105 Larkin street There were
about forty-four delegates present from all
parts of the State. The old board of Off
GERS consisted of the following: Thomas
6. Newman. president; c. Ii. Wadsworth,
vice president; John Koch. secretary; B.
+. Small, treasurer; directors-Professor
J. S. Loveland, H. s. Brown. DR.. H. NJ.
Barker, S. D. Dye and NJ. S. Norton;
press com mittee-T. G. Newman and NJ.
s. Norton. The committees in charge OF
the arrangements consisted of the follow
ing:
angemeuts-Thomas G. Newman CHAIR
MANI, c. H. Wadsworth, John Koch, B. +.
Small. NJ. s. Norton, H. S. Brown.
Reeeption--Mrs. Louisa s. Drew (chairmar),
Mrs. Mena Francis, Mrs. {. II. Wadswortn,
Mrs E. Ladd.Finnican, Mrs. Sarah L. Cooke,
Mrs Clara Z. Mavo-steers. Mrs. Maxwell
Colby, Mrs. Eggert-Aitkin, Mrs C. Cornelius,
Mrs Lizzie Fulton-1utey, Mrs: Kate hoskins,
Mrs. Ella Marchant Stewart Mrs. Julia Sch!es-
niger, W, T. Jones, Carl Eberhardt.
[chairmanJ, Mrs. Lena Cook -Hawes, Mrs. Kate
Heussman, Mrs. Hattie Wrenn, Mrs. Emily
Seeley. Mrs. NJ. Bird, Mrs NJ. A.. Ellis, Miss
Media Hoskins, George l. Drew, William Rider,
o. A. kraus
Nearly all OF the well-known spiritualists
and MEDIUMS were present, and the
greatest interest was manifested in the
proceedings. The morning session was
consumed in the reading of the reports of
the several officers, etc. The Siale mis-
sionaries-Mrs. JULIA Schlesin2er, Mrs. S.
Cowell Mrs. w. J. X. Robinson and Mrs.
+. Drynan-showed that these ladies had
done all in their power to form new
societies and reorganize the old ones, but
they were badly handicapped for the want
OF money with which to carry on the work.
Several interesting addresses were made.
President Newman presented a very long
report of the work of the association dur
ing he past year. In it be said that when
loaded with de BIT OF $400 However, by a
great effort it has lifted the debt and will
leave no burden of the kind for the incom
ing board.
William Emmett Coleman delivered an
address that produced a sensation, en-
titled "Spiritualism, What 1t Is and Why
1t Should Be Organizei.' In his dis
course he said that organization is abso-
lutely necessary for the protection from
foes within and without. The foes on the
outside OF the fold can be combated in
the usual way, for their methous of fight
ing are well known, put those with IN
should be com bated whenever they
show their heads. He went on and made
the statement tnat there is an organized
DOQy OF guardians VINO pretend 10 De
mediums, whose methods are the most
deadly to the cause of spirituaism. These
persons have. he said, regular lists of
people who can be gulied into believing
most anything that is told to them.
These lists beside the names give the
names of the departed relatives OF the
same and such incidents as will convince
the investigator that the NANTES tations
are genuine and that they are really re-
ceiving messages from the dear departed.
The speaker said that such lists are passed
around among the self-styled mediums
and sent from town to city in order that
the others in the .des spicable business
may profit at the victims expense.
Several of these books have been captured
by the open enemies of spirituaiism, who
are making use of the same to the detrl-
ment of all, the genuine as we'll as the
frauts..
The annual election OF the board of
managers will be held to-day, and lively
contest Is expected, as those who now
hold the reins are determined that
the class to which Mr.. Coleman referred
shall not get possession of the State board.