The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-10-24
raj and three privates wounded. Ens-
my's Los unborn.
UNIvERsALIsT PLATFORM.
Biennial Convention Opens In Bos-
ton.

Boston, October 23.-The biennial con-
vention of the UFivsrsalist church opened
here this morning. Hon. Charles L.
Hutchinson Of Chicago presided. The
preliminary devotional services was con-
ducteds by the Rev. Joseph Croker Snow
OF HaverhIll The first business was =
motion to ratify tho new pIatf lrm of
principles by the acceptance of which
the Universalist body gives up forever
the Winchester confession Of faith adopt
ed by 1t In 1903. The following is the
new platform:
The essential principles of the Univer-
salist faith:
The universal fathsrhood Of God.
Ths spiritual authority and leaders hip
OF His Son. Jesus Christ.
The trustworthiassz of the Bible as
containing q revelation from God.
The certainty of -retrihution for sin.
The final harmony OF all souls with
God.
The, ratification was granted by a vote
of ia2 for and I0.againsk A dsIsgation
headed by the Rev. Edward Everett Hale
from the UEitaxians, was admitted to
confer on the s1bjest Of tins u nion Of the
two dsnominations.
DIR. Hale In his address to the conven-
tion, said, In part: There 10 parallel
between the people who permitted John
Knox and John Calvin to write their
charters Of incorporation for them and
the people who are willing to bind them
selves to statements made two or three
centuries ago.
III Is In your business and IL IL ours
tn take the work of sreli sion upon the in
dustries Of our time, upon Its pleasures
and upon all the work of our time in
these next so years and to illustrate these
lessons in the voices Of today.
"h we oan show that God Is nearer
than ever and can interpret Him in His
strength and His love to the people of the
next half osntury, we shall sncceed." I.
At this afternoon session there was a
trial OF strength on what was openly
charged to be star chamber methods of
issne was the representation at the con-
vfntion. one body of delegates favoring
the ratio which has heretofore been EN- !.
pIoyed, and another advocating that the
representation be doubled.
The latter won the day by substantial
margin. Out of a total attendance of
1866 delegates the proposal found friends
to tbs number of los, while 25 wished the
old way to obtain.
The proposition was submitted at the
last session held in Chicago and the act
ion today ratifles the measured Reports
were then listened to from GsnsraI Su-
perintendent DIR. Atwood, Fin sncial Sec
r1tary Dr. Perrin of Boston, and General
Missionary Mr.. Shinn. and all were sig :
niucant of a grand years work.
Lhe evening session was presided over
by Attorney General Knowiton who, af-
ter few brief rsmarks, introduced Gov.
Woloott His Exoellenoy spoke for some
minutes. Of the Universalist creed, as he
understood 1t, and ended his remarks by
giving the delegates a cordial welcome
to the state. Dr. Lyman Abbott of
brooklyn followed. speaking for the
Congregationalists. He declared himself
W 18th the Universalists in that he did
not believed In the doctrine OF eternal
punishment. He differed with his hear,
ers by daring to believe that universe
In which there is hell and a heaven is
better than a universe where there Is
neither. He said that the most awful
and splendid fact In human life Is that
God puts the reins into ones own hands
to do as he pleases.
The last speaker of the evening was
Rev. Frank o. Hall of Cambridge. .