The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-02-06
WEDNESDAY.

At $50 A. NJ, Wednesday, Rev. q. E..
Jones, of Mason. conducted brief but
profitable Conference. Rev. Mrs. Cos
ley, led in prayer which was key
note to the excellent spirit which con-
tinued throughout the Association,
Brief addresses were made by Revs.
DR.. j. W. Henley. r. N. John and U. S.
Milburn. Bro. Jones closed the meeting
with prayer.
At 10:15 Rev. u. S. Milburn. Presi-
dent. called the Association to order,
and after prayer by Rev. o. G. Cole
grove, "Our Work in Ohio" was pre-
sented as follows:
l. "Our Present Outlook" by DIR. j.
w. Henley. He presented briefly some
facts in regard to present financial con-
ditions, mentioned the number of pas
torless churches, which fact was large
ly owing to the difficulty in securing CO.
operation among churches unable to
support pastors alone. Could this diff
ficulty be overcome. no church need be
without regular services.
2. Rev. HI. L. Garfield, DID,, of Bell
vile, then presented quite full state
ment of "Our Resources" so far as or
ganized churches and number of minis
tiers were concerned. While the facts
presented showed that larger portion
of the State was unoccupied by organ
lied Universalists, yet he was not dis.
couraged in regard to the final result of
our work.
3. Rev. j. A, Stoner, pastor of Mil
ford circuit, presented an excellent pa
per, followed by some extempore re-
marks, concerning "Our Methods" He
showed that lack Of growth was owing
to failure to secure thorough CO opera
ton on the part of ministers and laity.
He was glad to note, however. growth
in the right direction. These addresses
were freely discussed and the trend of
opinions offered was in approval of the
thoughts presented by the speakers.
At 2P. M, Rev. John Richardson, of
Westville, presented paper on, "The
Mission OF the Church Today" which
was replete with valuable suggestions in
regard to methods of advancing the in
terests of truth, concerning life, duty
and destiny, through the Universalist
Church. He brought into vivid con-
trast the generosity and philanthropy
inculcated by true presentation of the
teachings of Jesus, whose life was in
accordance with the record. He went
about doing good" and the selfshness
encouraged by partialism. The latter
thought was illustrated by quotations
from number of hymns in which the
idea of effort for personal salvation was
emphatically presented. The paper
was quite fully discussed. DIR. Rextord
said he thought that among the more
intelligent of the partialists. the hymns
referred to were understood in the
light of self-renunciation.
"The Twentieth Century Church"
had been assigned to Rev. II. X. RE
gel, of Kent. but he having been pre-
vented from coming, DIR. Garfield intro
duced the subject. His leading thought
was. that the Church of the Twentieth
Century would be what the church Of
the Nineteenth Century prepared it to
bs. Several snort addresses were made,
chiefly in harmony with the line of
thought advanced by DIR. Garfield. Rev.
G. A. Koenig. of the German Evangeli-
cal Lutheran church, was present and
added much to the interest of the meet.
ing by his frank and manly avowal of his
belief in Universalism. and the state
ment that many ministers in his church
occupied the same position.
Rev. o. G. Colegrove, of Manchester.
presented good paper on Especial Lines
of Work in the Sunday schools" en-
phasizing the necessity of specific doc
trinal instruction. He called for brief
reports from the pastors present. re-.
garding the condition of schools under
their care. The responses were all of an
encouraging character.
"a Creedess Church" was the title
of we'll written paper by Rev. Carrie
w. Brainard. of Little Hooking. She
was unable to be present, owing to a SER
les of meetings in which she was en-
gagged. Miss Brainard demonstrated
clearly that an absolutely creedless
church was an impossibility. yet she
urged brevity and simplicity OF creeds
and the cultivation of charity and unity
in seeking the good of humanity. An
interesting discussion followed in which
it was made manifest that the majority
of Ohio clergymen do not favor the pro-
posed new creed for our church. to be
voted upon at the General Convention
in Chicago next October.
At 1880 P. NJ, notwithstanding the
storm prevailing without. good sized
congregation was present. The choir fur
nished music. Bro. E. Mumford read the
Scripture Lesson. Rev. r. e. Olmsted
offered prayer, and DR.. Rexford deliver
ed a sermon from the words: Behold
the Lamb of God which taketh away
the sin of the world" He answered the
question: "In what sense is Christ the
Saviour of men?" making it clear that
we are saved, or get into the kingdom of
righteousness. get the righteousness of
Jesus, by absorption, and not by substi