The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-10-30
Official Reports.
REPORT OF COMMIrTEE ON OFFICIAL
REPORTS.
)HIcAGo. ILL.,, Oct. 10, 1897.

REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON OFFICIAL
REPORTS.
The committee to whom was assigned
the task of examining the Official Reports
made to this convention and of formulat-
ing expression and recommendation on the
same, having attended to that duty,
would respectfully report
L. That the value of the Biennial Con-
ference as occasions of religious quicken
ing and opportunities for free expression
of views on denominational interests, is so
apparent that special and timely prepare
tions should be made with the object of
securing at all these Conferences larger
attendance. This subject is commended
to the attention of the Committee on In
formation.
2. The very large number of clergy
men added to the death roll during the
last two years, joined with the smaller
attendance at our divinity schools during
the same period, and the considerable
losses to our ministerial force from other
causes, showing decline in the whole
number, calls for prompt effort to in
crease the supply; while the ability and
usefulness of many of those last, makes it
equally the duty of the church to seek
men of strength, character, and the best
equipment for recruits.
B. 1t is extremely encouraging to note
the unusual number of new church
edifces, erected and dedicated since the
last session OF. this Convention. These
are signs of growth and permanence. We
commend the activity and liberality Of
our people in this direction and urge that
this form of parish enterprise, often the
pivot on which the future of the cause in
a given locality turns, be not relaxed.
4. That the results of the Cent-a-Day
plan are meager in comparison to reason
able expectation. Yet such progress has
been made as to demonstrate the FEAST
bility and to indicate the large possibili-
ties of the method. This convention,
therefore, recommends that the Cent-a-
Day plan be pushed in all practicable
ways, especially the appointment of
agents in States, districts and wherever
it can be done, in parishes, to attend to
this very business.
5. That the Convention endorse and
adopt the recommendation of the Board
of Trustees with reference to the conven-
tion debt, viz, that one-half the amount
received from Scholarship Loans be ap-
piled to the reduction of the debt, the
other half of these returns to go to the
general account at present.
g. The Mission in Japan is re-
garded as one of the happiest en-
Of nj coli CT nd
we look with satisfaction and some pride
on the achievements of that mission
hitherto. We feel that the mission should
not only be sustained but supplied with
the men and the means essential to in
creased usefulness. We therefore rec
ommend that the calls for the support of
the Japan Mission be reiterated and con-
tinued until the churches respond to the
full measure of the need. Any hesitation
or retrograde action on the part of the
church in this important matter would
cover us all with dishonor.
z. That we commend the action of the
Board of Trustees appropriating under
extraordinary circumstance nine hundred
dollars from the repaid Scholarship
Loans in aid of the payment of the
mortgage debt on the church in River
side, Cal. and we would express our
hearty appreciation of the devotion of
Mr.. Joseph S. Dennis to the work of saw
ing the church property, and of his gen.
erosity in contributing largely of his
means for that purpose.
s. That we record our grateful recogni-
tion of the various requests and gifts re-
ceived by our church during the past two
years, and express special thanks to those
who, seeing the immediate needs of our
church, have anticipated the requests Of
their wills and have given the convention
the money for immediate uses.
That we also urge the pastors of our
churches to make it part Of their pas
toral business to inform their people Of
the work our convention has done with
its funds, ard of what it could do with
larger funds, and to counsel Universalists
to include in their wills requests to our
denominational interests; and further
that these requests, so far as practicable
be without restrictions, except so far as
investment of the principal is concerned.
o. Recognizing in our General Convention
our whole church we consider ourselves
fortunate in having as auxiliaries of one
body such organizations as The Woman
National Missionary Society, Womans'
| Universalist Missionary Society of Massa-
chusetts, and the Young Peoples Chris
| tian Union and we congratul tie them and
ourselves on their present .tality We