The evening times., 1898-10-19
FOR MOVABLE MEETINGS
Spiritualists Discuss Aban-
dOning Washington.
FIGHT ON THE SECRETARY
His Reports Criticised as Unbusi-
nesslfke and ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
some Praise Of Friends Taken as
Ridicule and Stirs Up IL Lively
Scene-COmmittees Anheunced.

The second days session of the sixth
annual convention of the National Spirit
ualists Association was called TO order
by the president, Harrison ID. Barrett, at
Masonic Temple, at 10 O clock this morn
ing.
There is a strong disposition among GER
tain classes of delegates to hold movable
conventions; that is, that the conventions
of the association shall be held in differ
ent cities, and not altogether at Washing
ton as is now the custom.
The question came to the surface at
the morning session in an incidental way
and the advocates of movable conventions
lost no time in taking advantage of the
opportunity to precipitate discussion of
their pet theme In this they were sue
cessful. Those who objected to Washing
ton as the convention city OF the National
Spiritualists' Association had no criticism
for this city, but argued that movable
conventions might result advantageously
to the association in increasing the inter-
est in spiritualism in other cities. The
defenders of the present custom of the
association in holding its conventions
| here eulogized Washington as a conven-
ton city.
They made the point that as the asso-
citation was chartered in the District of
Columbia il must elect its officers here,
and that the most convenient and appro-
pirate time for the election of officers
was during the annual convention. They
! also argued that the constitution of
the association provides that the an
nual convention shall be held at Wash
ington, any change in the place of meet
ing would have TO come before the con-
vention in the form of an amendment TO
the constitution, and that the members
of the association would be entitled TO
thirty days notice of such an amend
ment. The controversy was finally gui-
eted by reference of the matter to the
committee on the constitution.
One of the scenes of the convention was
caused by the report Of the committee
having under consideration the report of
Secretary Woodbury. Like every other
officer of the association, Mr.. Woodbury.
has his enemies and friends His enc
mics are especially bitter and his friends
peculiarly stanch. There is considerable
opposition 10 his administration of his Of
flee.
His enemies criticised his report with
great harshness. They alleged that in
instead of being a business report. 1t was
a plea for the sympathy of the conven-
ton.
His friends maintained that he had
reported on all there was to report con-
nected with his office. The document
was referred to a committee and this re
port was read by the reading clerk of
the convention. Only the friends of Mr.
Woodbury. were on the committee The
report was laudatory In the extreme. II
set forth that the secretary had no as
piration for worldly Office or mundane
preferment. He wanted his reward in
the spirit world. The sphere of the
shades was his home. The report treat
ed of Mr.. Woodbury. devotion 10 his
wife and of her devotion TO the grand
and mighty, the wondrous and majestic
| truth of spiritualism. 1t was a fiowery
report, full of metaphor and figures of
speech. II lapsed into poetry at inter
walls
During the reading of the report there
were ripples OF laughter and applause
rolling through the audience. At the
conclusion of the report d storm of indig-
nation broke.
The committee had evidently gone too
far in its laudation of Mr.. Woodbury.. His
friends rose 10 their feet and denounced
! the report. 1t was their opinion that the
committee was using satire to humiliate
the secretary. The fulsomeness of the re-
port was mistaken for sarcasm.
The enemies of Mr.. Woodbury. objected
vehemently to the report because it
sought to eulogize the secretary. The
paper was unanimously sent back TO the
committee which had framed it.
The members of the committee eX-
planned that they were perfectly sincere
in what they had said about Mr. Wood
bury. They had no idea that their words
of commendation would be mistaken by
the convention for words of ridicule One
member of the committee Immediately of
fered his resignation. motion to ad-
journ was all that caused the storm 10
abate.
When the matter of the election of
secretary for the ensuing term arises
there will be a bitter wrangle. Mr.. Wood
bury is a candidate for reelection.
During the hours of the session the
following standing committees were an
nounced:
Finance, ways and means-Moses Hull
of New York; Mary L. Pepper. of Rhode
Island; Jennie B. Hogan-Jackson, of
Texas; C. w. Wallis. Ontario; DR.. a. A
Kimball. of Massachusetts.
Constitution, amendments and bylaws
Frank Walker, New York; Miss Lizzie
Harlow, Rhode Island Mrs L. B. Moul-
ton, Michigan; II. c. Dorm, New Jersey;
MRS. A. Nj. GOdlng, pennsylvania.
Auditing of accounts and treasurer's re-
port-Mrs. Carrie L. Hatch, Massachu-
setts; DR.. Paul Gibera, New York; Hon.
| Thomas NJ. Locke, Pennsylvania; Mrs. A.
NJ Jacques, District of Columbia; Andrew
Kane, New Jersey.
Delegates report-Mrs. NJ. E. Cadwal-
loden, Pennsylvania; B. NJ. Bradbury,
Maine; Mrs. Carrie F. Loring, Massa-
| chusetts; Prof c. p Longley, Califor-
Yoia
Correspondence-Dr. A. A. Kimban
Massachusetts: Mrs. c. r. Chapman, Dis
! trict OF Columbia; Tillie u. Reynolds,
| New York.
One of the figures of the convention is
| S. NJ. Baldwin, of the District of CO.
| lumbia. He is the owner of the relics of
! Thomas Paine, a set of shoebuckles and
| spectacles. Mr.. Baldwin was present at
the Spiritualist jubilee at Rochester and
| exhibited his relics there. These relics
are now in the custody of the National
| Museum.