The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-05-12
UNITARIANS CONFER.
Worcester Conference Held
in Historic Lancaster
Edifice.

Lancaster, May 1.-THE spring meet
ing of the Worcester conference, Uni
tartan, was held in the old church in
this town today, with the First Con-
gregational society.
There were 500 people in the church
at $50, this morning, when President
Jonathan D. Smith of Clinton called
the meeting to order. A large number
of these were Worcester people to whom
the old fashioned .pews with their high
backs and gates at the end were ew.
Each of the peWS in this old church is,
in fact, an Enclosure by itself. The pull
pit, far above the heads of the congre-
cation, was also a novelty. Many of
the prominent people of Clinton and
Lancaster were there and delegates from
the Unitarian parishes in ami about
Worcester. The ladies of the parish
were very hospitable in arranging the
entertainment of the visitors. The ta-
bles were spread in the old town hall.
Covers were laid for 250 persons. Each
cover had to be laid twice.
The conference really opened last
night at 730, when there was public
worship with preaching by c. F. Dole
of Jamaica Plain. From $50 to 1890,
this morning, there was a devotional
meeting led by Rev. r. G.. Douthit of
Petersham. W. L. Walsh of Brookfeld,
William Bancroft of Clinton and F. T..
Morse of Leominster were appointed a
committee on credentials.
The forenoon was given to a discus
sion of the missionary work of the con-
ference. Rev Lyman Greenman of
Grafton read an essay on "Our mission
airy work" He enforced points in his
essay with map of the county, show
| ing in colors the strongholds of Uni
! tarianism. There were short addresses
| by Rev. Harry S. Mitchell of Westboro,
! Rev. E. F. Hayward of Marlboro and
Rev George w. Kent of Worcester.
The collation. was served at 1870.
| Feeding so many people, involved no
small amount of work Nearly every
| body in town contributed to the bill OF
! fare which included cold meats, salads
and hot coffee
| The arrangements were directly in the
charge of dinner committee and To-
BILE committee, composed respectively
as follows:
| Dinner .committee-Mr. and Mrs. w
A. Kilbourne, N. S. Towe, Warner Car
ter. E. T. Cunningham, Mrs. E. I
Cunningham, A. c. Hawkins, Mr.. and
Mrs. c. K. Powers, Eben Mann, Mrs
! Bessie Warner, Mrs. Annie e. Hawkins
Table committee-Mrs. A. F.. Harri-
man. Mrs. Everett Hawkins, Mrs Fred
Hanford. Mrs William Stafford, Mrs
George Sampson, Mrs. Richard Ward
Mrs. ]. X. Burrage, Mrs. Oscar Eng
strom.
The afternoon session was devoted
mainly to a consideration of the work
in the Sunday schools. Rev. S. NJ
Crothers, Cambridge, delivered the
principal address. Reports were made
by representatives of Sunday schools in
Hopedale, Second Worcester parish and
Fitchburg. There were some general
reports and q general discussion. The
Worcester people returned to Worcester
late this afternoon by train and troll
ley car. Most of the officers of the
conference were present. The officers
are as follows:
President. Jonathan Smith, Clinton;
vice presidents, Rev. George S. Ball
Upton, John c. Otis, Worcester; secre-
tary, Rev. James c. Duncan, Clinton
treasurer, Edward F. Tolman, Worces-
ter; directors, Rev. A. S. Carver Wor-
cester. Mrs. e. w. Batchelder, West
Upton, Rev. w, F. Greenman, Fitch
burg, Mrs. James H. Wall, Worcester
Rev A. f. Bailey Barre, Charles S
Lord, Templeton.