The times., 1898-10-19
TIE CONVENTION Opens
Spiritualists Meet and Ex-
change Greetings.
THE PRESIDENTS REPORT
Response of Moses Hull to the Adj
dress of Welcome Delivered by
Cora L. v. Observation-Disclosures
Urged to Put Aside Personal Pre-
judices and Widen the New Realm
of Religious Thought.

The National Spiritualists' Association
| of the United States and Canada began
its sixth annual convention in Masonic
Temple yesterday. The morning session
was consumed in the delivery of ad-
dresses of welcome and the usual re-
sponses. 5r
The president of the association, Har-
rison d. Barrett, called the convention to
order and outlined the labors that lay
before the delegates. He urged them to
lay aside their personal differences and
grapple with their tasks sincerely, earn
estly and hopefully.
Mrs. Cora L. v. Richmond, vice presi-
dent of the association and president of
the First Spiritualist Society of Wash
ington. made the formal address of well
come. She spoke of the good in spirit
ualism. its past and its future.
Moses Hull, one of the foremost work.
ers in the realm of spiritualism, respond
cd to Mrs. Richmond's address. He said:
Fellow Workers. Ladies' and Gentlemen OF the
Convention: ! am happy to respond to the words
OF wisdom which our eloquent sister has uttered
IN behalf of the board OF trustees and the Sp.r-
ituaiists OF this city. We are glad to assemble
where the wisdom of the world assemblies. but
more glad We to be the representatives, chosen
from various societies scattered four million
square miles OF territory, 10 represent the move
ment which inaugurated the new dispensation-
the kingdom of heaven upon earth
When the angels first handed this move
ment to us it regarded by most of Il
kind of go-as-you-please movement. We all
went, as Paul said, "a warfare at
| charges" When one desired TO become an apostle
OF the new religion. he ordained himself and set
himself to work Then some OF US began 10 realize
! that in union there is strength. Hundreds of
honest earnest, intelligent men and women met
IN Chicago FIVE years ago and formed a national
association. They had previously had no expert
cnce in such work. but, like our fathers who un.
dertook to give US our great democratic institu-
tons, they gave US some things which needed
amendment. We are here at this time 10 lay
out the work for the coming year. What is good
for one is good for all II each OF us has come
he.e to work for ALL il We have not brought axes
here to grind, shall have profitable meeting
and go TO our homes like giants filed with new
wine
One other object of this asse1nblage is to get a
divine baptism-a baptism of the Holy Ghos,
which gives US strength for the work of the year.
trust this is not merely convention Of Spir-
ituslists but a convention OF spirits; OF God and
wise angels angels whose counsels will be en-
ioyed, and whose advice will give mo-e than
mortal wisdom.
President Barrett then presented his an
nual report. in which he reviewed the
work of the past year and paid graceful
tributes TO those who have been active in
spreading the new doctrine. The speaker
compared the tremendous political events
of the past few months with the remark
able progress made by religion in various
parts of the globe. particularly in the
United States. Many of the foremost
thinkers of the day had found orthodox
creeds too narrow and had forsaken their
old prejudices to follow the broader high
ways of religious thought. The people de-
clared that more than 50.ooo.00 American
people have no church home. and that the
nation was not nearly so religious as It
once was.
The afternoon session was taken up
vice president, secretary, treasurer, spe-
cial financial agents and of delegates.
The report of the committee on creden-
tials showed the presence of delegates as
follows:
Mrs. NJ T Longwey. C. P. Longwey, John
Slater. California; Miss Mary Flagler, Mrs
Wheeler Brown, District Of Columbia; Helen
Palmc=- -Ressegue, Miss Mary 4. Hatch, Rebccca
A. Jennings, Mrs. F. II. Spauldng, Connecticut;
Theodore Mayer, Mrs. Amy Buchanan, Florida;
Arnold Van Alsdale Indiana; Mrs VI. VI. Hare,
! William Richmond. Illinois; Sophia Bond, Louis
lana: c. d. Pruden, Minnesota; f. ". Hatch,
Daniel Shepherd, J. b. Hatch, ir.; Carrie L.
Hatch. Carrie F. Loring, Benjamin J. Loring. DR..
A. A. KimbaIl, j. r. Snow, William A. Hale,
Carrie p Pratt Ada L. Pratt, Massachusetts,;
Mrs Rachel wacott, Lloyd Norris, Maryland;
E. W. Gould. Missouri; B. NJ. Bradbury, Rev.
A. ]. Weaver, Mrs. Burgess, Mississippi; NJ II.
French, Maine; b. P. Dewey, Mrs L. V. Asouton,
Michigan; Carrie E. s. living. Mrs. ]. NJ. Il.
Matteson. Frank Walker, Wines Sargent, George
W Rates, Mrs Tille L. Reynolds, George A.
Bacon, Moses Hull. F. A. Wiggin, Mrs. E; F.
Kurth, Paul Guvera, Miss c. J. Walker, New
York; F. Sleuth. Henry Dorm New jersey; E. W.
Wallace Ontario; f. W. Bond, Ohio; Mrs. A. VI.
Gladding, b. b. Hill, Mrs. NJ. f. Cadwallader,
Thomas VI. Locke Mrs Julia II. Locke, Helen J..
Hill, John Grayburn C. L. Stevens, Pennsylvania;
Mrs. Harry Gladding, Mrs. NJ S. Pepper, Miss
Lizzie Harlowe. Rhode Island Jennie b. II. Jack
son, Texas; E. \. Smith, Vermont; Mrs. Mar
garet c. Barrett, Wisconsin; Mrs. 10y F. Prior.
Washington.