The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-07-10

choir or leader it is possible to secure.
Oficer's Reports.
At the afternoon session the secre-
tary and treasurer gave their reports,
which showed number of valuable
pieces of property decided to the con-
vention during the year, including
that at Iowa City, where the Unitari-
ans have had practical possession fer
a number of years. The treasurer
reported all pledges and bills paid in
full and S247 on hand in the contin-
gent fund. The permanent fund now
amounts to over 5000, exclusive of
the "Waverly Fund" of $500, which
is held by the General Convention,
and the interest sent to the Iowa
Convention treasurer yearly. The
S., 200 bears six and seven per cent
interest.
The report of the Fellowship Com
mittee showed twenty-one ministers
in fellowship. One had been trans
ferred to Michigan Rev. j. M.
Getchell; one had been received on
transfer from Minnesota-Rev. A. R.
Tillinghast, and one, Mrs. Sophie
Glib, of Boone, had been received
from Unitarian fellowship.
Missionary Enterprise.
The liveliest interest centered
around the missionary enterprise
proposed and outlined by DR.. Crum
in communication. Owing to an
illness he was unable to be present
to push and elaborate his plans, but
under Rev. j. E. Keyes's vigorous de-
Tense and appeal the movement was
fairly launched. A special session
was called Friday evening after the
regular services to consider the mat
ter.
After brief discussion canvass
was made for pleaees. Three or four
fifty dollar pledges were received,
several twenty-five dollar pledges and
many smaller ones, aggregating
about four hundred dollars. 1t was
voted to have the matter presented
to the parishes not represented, and
to individuals whose names the Sec
rotary could secure. Estimating re-
ceipts from all individual pledges,
and from the work itself when start
ed, together with the sum available
from state funds, it seemed safe to
inaugurate the campaign. The plan
is to secure some one as missionary
with others to help in management,
and to go into all parts of the state
and hold continued meetings of the
Universalist evangelical order; to
procure large tent for use in places
where there is no suitable building oh
tainable, or even where there is such
building, if the tent seems to make
it easier to ''popularize" Universal
ism. Matters of detail were discussed
but such were left for adaptation
after the movement should be started.
At the Saturday forenoon session DIR.
Crum was selected as missionary,
with Rev. Messrs. Keyes and Giles
pie as assistants and general manag-
ers.
Sermons and Addresses.
The convention was rich in SER
mons and special addresses. 1t was
the intention to make the occasion
not only profitable to the state from
business standpoint, but helpful
also to the local church by giving
much of interest and instruction to
those of Bloomfield who might attend.
The public meetings were certainly
successful in this matter, and the at
tendance was uniformly good.
Thursday afternoon before the
Sunday-school session, Rev. Mrs.
Porter gave beautiful address ON
the value of Universalism in thor
oughly satisfying the soul. Colonel
Moore, of Bloomfield, followed with
talk along the same line. All were
more than delighted with his address
which was full of touching and
amusing incidents.
He told of one experience when
minister was trying to preach the flu
neral of one of his (Moore's) army
comrades. Expressing himself as un-
able to say anything of the mans
future prospects comforting to the
mourners, Col. Moore rose up in the
audience and said: MY friend, if
you are not able to say anything for
this man please take your seat and
I will try it."
Sermons were delivered by Profess
sor Chaplin, Rev. John Hughes,
Henry Gillespie. T. E. Dotter, Mrs.
Hughes, j. E. Reyes and A. r. Til
linghast.
Conferences.
Each morning session was opened
by conference, in which the religi-
Gus and devotional spirit had free