The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-03
A PROFESSION OF FAITH
THE INDIANA UNIVEDSALISTS WILL
STAND BY THAT OF 1903.
Decide to Favor No Change-Execu-
tive Board, Committees and Chi
cago Delegates Chosen.

The first business session of the fiftieth
annual convention of the Universalists was
held yesterday morning with a fair rep
resentation OF all of the churches of that
faith in this State. Rev T. S. Guthrie pre-
sided. The leading discussion of the morn
ing was anent the changing of what is
known as the winchester Profession of
Faith" This profession was adopted in
1903. Article of the confession says:
Il: We believe that the Holy Scriptures
OF the Old and New Testaments contains
revelation of the character of God, and of
the duty, interest and final destination of
mankind.
%. We believe there is one God, whose
nature is love; revealed in one Jesus Christ,
by one Holy Spirit of Grace, who will final
~ restore the whole family of mankind to
holiness and happiness.
SO. We believe that holiness and true
happiness are inseparably connected; and
that believers ought to maintain order and
practice good works, for these things are
good and profitable unto men,
The session, as a whole, is against any
change. In a resolution protesting against
the change one reason given is that it is
Illegal. The Universalist Church, as it now
stands, is trustee for about 100000 worth of
property. Any change of faith would
necessarily cause q division in the church.
Under the existing conditions there would
not be any possible way to divide this prop
erty and the church has no right to change
it's faith. The protest was accepted by the
convention and the members were in
structed to vote against any proposed
change.
A new executive board was elected con-
sisting Of president, Il. S. Guthrie, of this
city; vice president. T. e. Ballard, of Craw-
fordsville; secretary, Miss Flora b. Brown,
Of Of Dublin; treasurer, Cyrus I. swain ~, of
castle; George w. Staley, city; j. E. Half
ner, of Muncie. The new board will meet
this morning at 1880 o'clock at the par
sonage.
The committee of fellowship elected in
cludes Rev. Henry Groves, of Rome; Rev.
]. b. Forsher, of Pendleton; Rev II. N.
Brown, of Dublin, representing. the clergy,
and DIR. s. o. Budd, of Muncie, and Mr..
George Rogers, of Lafayette, representing
the lay delegates.
The delegates elected to attend the ma
tional convention to be held lin Chicago
next month are Rev. D. A. Patrick of
Charlottesville, clergy; Milton Trusler, of
Ccnnersville; Joseph NJ. Taylor, of this
city, DR.. s. o. Budd, of Muncie, and Milton
A. Bridges, Of Fincastle, laity, with the
president and secretary delegates by virtue
of their offices.
Reports were made by the secretaries of
Christian Union, the Sunday school, the
committee of fellowship and of visitors to
the Lombard University of Illinois.
There was a discussion of the question
of placing q state missionary in the field.
1t was considered advisable and was left
to the committee to fulfill the requirements
of placing such a person in the position.
The auditing committee reported that all
accounts were correct.
Last evening the service was preceded
by conference, lead by ]. E. Hafner, of
Muncie. The sermon of the evening was
delivered by Rev. Margaret Bremen, of
Muncie, on 1.-The Liberty of Faith" This
morning the sermon will be delivered by
Rev j.. S. Cantwell at 1O:45. o'clock; Mr..
Cantwell is editor of the UnNersalist, pub
lished at Chicago. There will also be a
memorial service for Albert Mitchell, Of
Liberty, member Of the executive COM
mittee, who died in June. This afternoon
there will be a discussion of THE Needs
of the Universalist Church in Indiana" by
the five different branches, the Ministerial
Circle, led by Rev. Henry Groves, of
Rome; the executive committee, led by T.
E; Ballard, of Grawfordsxille; the Sunday
the Y p C. u, led by Mrs. Kate Tramp
ton, and the UniveTsalist Woman's aid Aid AS
Munoie. The convention will close with the
afternoon session.