The record-union., 1897-10-17
UAlVERALIST CONVENTION.
WILL OPEN IN CHICAGO To-
MORROW MORNING.
Many Important Questions Are to
be Settled at the Meet
ing.

The approaching biennial convention
OF the UniversaIist Church, to be held
at Chicago October 18th to I'D, inclu-
sive, calls public attention anew TO the
standing and the work of this growing
body of Christian believers. The ses-
sion now approaching is one of the most
important for many years in the pusl-
ness to be transacted and the questions
TO be settled The convention Will meet
in the beautiful St Pauls Church, one
of the most picturesque bits of archl-
lecture in the city. whose pastors, the
Rev. A J. Garfield, D. D., formerly Oh
Brooklyn, N. Y, and the Rev j. j.
Lewis, the well known lecturer, have
charge of all arrangements for enter
tanning the delegates and other attend
ants The convention, according to the
admirable organization of the church,
consists of delegates chosen by the va
rious State conventions, which in turn
are made up of delegates from the sew
eral parishes. The organization OF the
church is thus representative in its
form and carefully systematized. Dur
ing the interim between the sessions
the affairs of the church are in the
hands of a. Board of Trustees, which
has power to adopt all needful meas
ures for the growth and welfare of the
church The President of this board
is the Hon. John d. w. Joy of Boston,
and its other members are the General
Secretary of the Convention, DR.. G. L..
Demarest of Manchester, n. H; the
Financial Secretary, Rev. DR.. H. w.
Rugg of Providence, r. L; DR.. E. G.
Sweetser of Philadelphia; President c..
Ellwood Nash of Lombard University,
Illinois; Ex-Governor Sidney Perham
of Maine; Stevenson Taylor of New
York; Rev. Dr. Almon GunniSon of
Worcester, Mass; Rev. DR.. John Cole
man Adams of Brooklyn; Henry A.
Manning of Chicago and Harry M.
Fowler of Cleveland, o.
The business which viii come before
the convention of Chicago is various
and Important and serves to show the
functions of this body. A long debate,
running through some fifteen years,
cone erning proposed changes in the
Winchester Profession, the creed of
this church, will be continued, and a
vote taken on a. substitute offered two
years ago at Meriden, Conn. A propo-
sftion has also been made TO change
the basis of representation in the
church, giving to every parish one dele
gate and to every clergyman in fellow
ship a seat in convention. Some other
constitutional questions will come up,
and the interests of the home missions
of the church, as we'll as of it's flourish
ing work in Japan. The financial pol
icy and conditions OF the church will
a 81,
mon with all religious bodies the con-
vention has been much crippled of late
years by the hard times.
The convention will assemble at 3:3D
p. m, on Tuesday, October 10Th. 1t will
be welcomed in an address by DR. Cam
Held, the popular and eloquent pastor of
the church which entertains the con-
vention. A response will be made by
the Viee-President of the convention,
DR.. George l.. Perrin of Boston, well
known all through New England for
his work in the Everyday Church, -
in Boston. The convention will then
organize and the communion service
will be observed, as a solemn and re-
lgious prepara ton for the work in
hand, by the pastors of the local
church, DR.. Garfield and Mr. Lewis.
This will be followed by the occasion
al sermon" so-called, by the Rev DR..
Arthur G. Rogers, brilliant and very
able clergyman, recently of Washing
ton, D. c., now of Reading, Pa. DIR.
Rogers is the son Of the Rev. Guinness
Rogers of London the famous Con-
gregational leader in England. The
evening session will be devoted to a
platform meeting, with addresses on
themes of social and ethical interest.
by Henry d. Lloyd of Chicago, and
others. Wednesday will be devoted to
the conventions business, including the
important reports of the Board of
Trustees, the Financial Secretary and
the National Missionary. The latter
official is a unique character, IN the
person of Rev. Q. H. Shinn, an ener-
getic, earnest organizer, who is fur