The evening times., 1898-10-11
SPIRITUALiSqS COMING |
Annual Convention Meets Here
Next Tuesday.
HELD In MASONIC TEMPLE
Will BE Largely Attended-PropOse
Plan to Change the Place of Hold
ing the Sessions i'm other Cities
Probable Change in By-Laws
Prominent Persons to BE Present.

ing the Sessions i'm Other Cities
Probable Change in By-Laws
Prominent Persons to Be Present.
Preparations are now being made for
the sixth annual convention of the Ma
tional Spiritualists' Association of tie
United States and Canada. which will
be held in this city beginning one week
from today, and lasting four days,
Masonic Temple. Ninth and f Streets
northwest, has been engaged for the oc-
casion. and business sessions will be held
at 10 a. III. and D. m, on Tuesday.
Wednesday, and Thursday. Friday will
be Devoted TO the business of the Ma
tional Lyceun Association.
At 1870 each evening there will be pub
! lie meetings, with addresses, spirit COM
! munications, music, etc. A number OF
| prominent lecturers and mediums will be
| present and participate in the exercises.
! 1t is expected that nearly 200 delegates
/ will be in attendance, representing every
! State In the Union and Canada. Dele
/ gates headquarters will be at the Ebbitt
! House.
During the convention important busi-
/ ness of interest to every spiritualist Will
! be presented for action. The question Oh
! declaration of principles will be discuss
1 ed and societies and persons are request
/ ed to present to the convention such dec
/ larations as they desire adopted.
Amend the Constitution.
IN aroanl the constitution
so as TO permit the holding of the an
uual convention in other cities VIII De
acted on This question is considered d
vital one The national association Is
/ incorporated under the laws OF the DIS
| trict of Columbia, and all meetings must
/ be held in this District unless the act OIL
I incorporation be annuiled or amended.
! 1t is claimed there are many aoEah-
taees that would accrue in having
movable convention Is the argument au-
. vanced. and in proof the asseIt ton Is
/ made that contributing membership cCuia
be secured in large numbers, while many
I liberal donations might also be obtained
Those opposed to removal urge the fact
! ,bat Congress meets here and WASH
/ ington is the place where otner oehoinIiii-
/ tious are nxIng their ohclal heauqual :
! ers In order 10 watch Congress- ie9t
| legislation of d religious character De en-
| acted il is claimed the Spirlluallsls Is
| should have their headquarters III Ine
| CAPITAL City. They can then IL Is urseu'
| circumyent other denominations that are
| seeking favors from the hoNsfhiheh' a.
| the expense of the people.
IL is probable that an effort Witi De
| made to have the charter of the associa-
! ton so amended as to continue the mead
quarters in Washington, with the annual
convention movable.
Change in Bylaws.
Proposed changes in the bylaws VIII De
| discussed along with other matters re-
Iating TO the affairs of the associate
Sniritualism will be discussed and officers
will be elected.
II is estimated that the number OF
SpirituaIists in the United States runs
| into the millions. The association has
l25 600 members on roll and in good stani-
ing There are fifteen State associations
| which are subordinate to the national as
! ISOLATION They are organized in Maine,
j Vermont Massachusetts, Rhode Island,
| Connecticut New York, Ohio, Michigan,
| California, Texas, Minnesota, Missouri,
| Illinois, and Washington, and the Domin-
ion of Canada.
There are also local societies In othe:
States and the Territories which will
| have delegates representing them at the
annual convention. The national associa-
! ton has two agents in every State and
| twenty-five missionaries who are at work
organizing societies. There are also 350
| lecturers and 100 mediums in the SER
vice of the national association.
Harrison u. Barrett, of Boston, is the
president He is also editor of the Ban
ner of Light" the official organ OF the
national association, which Is published
in Boston.
The national headquarters are at 60C
Pennsylvania Avenue southeast, where
Francis b. Woodbury., the national secre-
tary, is in charge.
Prominent Members.
Among the many who will attend the
convention as delegates are DR.. Paul
Gebier, the scientist, who has the Pas
teur Hospital in New York city; w. A.
Croffut, of this city, vice president of the
Free Thought Federation, who will rep
resent his association; John Slater, one OF
| the most noted mediums in the country
and Mrs Montague both of San Fran
cisco; Hon. Z. a. Smith, OF Brandon,
| Vermont, who is a member of the legiS-
1 lature or MS state, Judge a. II. Ddliey,
of Brooklyn, n. Y; A. E. CASTOR. OF
Meadville, Pa, and II. w. Richardson,
of East Aurora, n. Y, both of whom are
nominees for the House of Representa-
tives on the Democratic ticket; Benja-
min Loring, agent for the Society for
| the Suppression of Vice, of Boston; Rev.
Moses Hull, of Buffalo, n. Y, former
Adventist: Rev. F. A. Wiggin, of Brook
| lyn, n. Y, former Baptist; Rev. A. j
| Weaver, of Old Orchard Maine, a for
mer Universaiist; Mrs NJ. T. Longley, OF
Los Angeles, Cal; Mrs. w. S. Butler. oi
Boston. and Dr. c. w. Hidden, a promi-
nent physician and mesmerist, of New
buryport, Mass.
The objects of the national association
as stated in the constitution are for mu,
tual aid and cooperation in benevolent
| charitable. educational, literary. musical
| scientific, religious, and missionary pur-
poses and enterprises germane to the
! phenomena, science, philosophy, and re-
ligion of spiritualism.
Mediumship is recognized as the chan