Evening star., 1898-10-20
BASIC PRINCIPLES
Discussion of Several Declarations bv
the Spiritualists.
PROCEEDINGS OF TIE CONVENTION
Assertion Of Mediumship as Foun-
dation of the Faith.
BRIEF SUBSTITUTE E

A Is X II h 5 u BST 1t u Il T.
There was little of general interest in
the morning session of the National Spirit
ralistic Association today. The committee
on resolutions brought in report setting
forth that mediumship ts the bed rock of
spritualism and placed the seal of disap-
proval upon all forms of chicapery. This
resolution received the unanimous approval
of the convention.
A resolution was also brought in concern
ing the ordination of ministers In the spir-
itualistic church. 1t was the duty of the
state organizations to ordain ministers. If,
however, any of the ministers were found
to be unworthy 1t was the right and duty
of the national association to dismiss them.
The report of the committee on auditing
accounts showed a balance due the presi-
dent of s157.5O. The debt of s295 on ac-
count of the California State Association
was assumed by the association.
DR.. w. A. Croffut of the Free Thought
Federation presented the convention with
$40, and received a flattering vote of thanks
Tor his generosity.
Question of Salary.
Some discussion was caused by the reso-
luton which proposed to make the office of
president non-salari one. The salary Of
the secretary was reduced to $500. out of
which he is to pay all expenses, save that
of a. stenographic report OF the convention.
A great deal of time was lost by the con-
vention in discussing the number of copies
of the annual report of the convention to
be distributed Some thought only 300
copies should be printed, others thought
1000 and still others only a few typewrit
ten copies.
lli he tp1a a
closed with the adoption of resolution
recommitting the matter to the committee
OF finance.
Just before the morning session closed
there was warm colloquy in relation to
the adoption of set of principles. Chair
man Bond was recognized from the COM
mittee and reported the following:
The Declaration.
The declaration of principles set forth
that spiritualism rests on science. That
there is an objective spirit world Of vary
ing grades. enveloping the earth. which is
as tangible and real to those living in that
world as the earth is to US; that it Is peo-
pied with men, women and children who
previously wee inha abitants of this world;
that there are laws in nature which, when
understood enable those people to hold
communion with those still in the flesh
That so-called death marks no change
whatever upon individual character, but
that enters the spirit world in the spirit
body absolutely the same person in ell
respects tha- he was here; that the full and
most important consequences Of earth life
are not and cannot be experienced on earth,
hence without Knowledge revealed from the
future worli one knows not and cannot
know fully how he ought to live nor the
truths he ought to teach while here; that
in the spirit world the way is open for each
one to advance in the scale Of life in pro-
portion as he answers and obeys the laws
Of soul growth; that spirits uniformly les
tify that their future condition would have
been greatly improved had they investi-
gated and understood before leaving earth
the fact and principles Of spirit return;
that on the question of who, what or where
God Is spiritualism gives no absolute.
final and demonstrated knowledge but
leaves 1t fo- each one to determine by the
light of MS own understanding. 1t Is no
part OF sp1rttualism to dogmatize or state
theories, but simply to state demonstrated
facts.
Series of Resolutions.
Then followed series of resolutions set
ting forth that spiritualism does not depend
upon organized societies or ministers. That
II was opposed to the enactment by states
of medical laws; that 1t resisted all at
tempts of religious bigots or whatever
name, to engraft their God upon the Con-
stitution of the United States. that II was
opposed to all Sunday laws that are ba sed
on the idea that it is Gods holy dav: thai
II was in favor of taxing church property
III NpiiSiuSioi, cordial Sym-
pathy and cooperation to the struggling
masses of other countries, as well as our
liberty i"i SCI
A delegate moved the adoption of the
principles read at the Rochester iuhiIee
Ihis brought to his feet a delegate from
California, who had a set of princinIes to
present. "
Mrs. Barrett's suggestion
Mrs. Barrett suggested that the adop-
ton OF long declaration of principles is
beyond the power of the convention as
the expression of belief of our constitu-
ents The declaration of principles. she
thought. should be little more than an
automatic basic outline of spiritualism.
reference was made to the recommends
uon OF President Barrett on the subject
which is as follows:
Spirltuallsm stands for (a) universal
principle of life; CD truth, the reveIator
OF that ire and the cleaner of wisdom. fc)
immortality, the divine Inheritance Of the
race td) eternal progression, the sublime
utstpy OF man; te) spirit return a dem
ohstfated TACT in nature; GD sympathy, the
prlnclple that unifies the race on earth.
'g) love, the lever by which men are lifted
out OF sin and ignorance, and higher and
noner conditions brought in amonp man
rms is the declara ton | once made in an
important case in this city some wears ago
II STOOD the test then, and | see NO reaSon
why IL should not do SO again"
Inc report was under discussio,, r,ho,
the morning session ended