Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-10-24
THE UNIVERSALISTS
Adopt New Platform Of Principle,
Liberia and Progressive.
Union oil Uniyersalis.s and Uli!arans Pro.
posed by the Latter.

/ Boston. oct. 23.-The Universal st biea
7 lila! neral conference at its first sys
I >iau. today. heard scholarly addresse
/ from mcn who stand forth as promincl
I III the ConEr, gationaI denomination from
tho governor Of the commonwealth anc
from Prof. Peabody If Harvard: it lis
| tened to reports that must have squire
every worker in The church to new
efforts; il fought out T. the end. an oppo
stion u enlarge its numbers: ana IL
adopted without a word q. discussion th
most progressive declaration WI pincipl,
that mas Itt been given - a church III
the liberal faith.
The evening session was without huS.-
ness ana was held in the Second juiVer
salist church. whore all the business ui
/ the convention is carried on. The churCn
was crowded ana the several address. :
were listened to with great attention.
The first business Was d muiun tp rat
liY the new platform OF principles BY TIE
acceptance Of watch the nirersdiis,
body forever gives up the NinchtSt-T
confession of taith. adopted by ii In 1915.
The following is the new platform:
niVrrsalist Profession of ralth:
The universal fatherhood of God.
The spiritual authority ana leadership
IF His Son Jesus Christ.
TIE trustwortninvss IF the Bible az
containing revelation from God.
The certainty Of retributiln fDr With.
The final harmony Of all souls with
God.
The ratification was granted BY vot.
of 1872 tor. ANA ~ against
\ delegation headed by the Rev Ell
ward Hale from the lnitarianS. was ad
mitted to confer on the subject OF union
Of the two denominations. DR. Hale in
part:
There is a parallel between the Poop G
who permitted John Knox ana John CaI.
vim to write their charters of incurpora +
Ian no vi M MAJ "a.
willing to bind themselves to statements
made two or three centuries ago. Ii IL
YOUR business and il is ours u take thu
work Of religion. upon the industries nf
our time. upon its treasures and upon at
the work Of our time in these next 20
Years. and II illustrate these lessons in
the voices of today. II We can show thdt
God Is nearer u us than ever. ana can i'm 4
terpret Him in all His strength ana His
rove 70 the people NJ the next half century
We shall succeed"
~ the afternoon session there was a
trial Of strength on what was openly
charged To be star chamber methods WI
conducting the business. The point at
issue was the representation ut the con
Nentlon one body of delegates faVoriuI
the ratio which has heretofore been ON
ploNed and another advocating that the
representation be doubled. The latter
won the day by a substantial margin
Out of total attendance Of 1856 delegates
the proposal found friends To the number
OF 100, while u wished the Oil way 10 on
tdlH: me proposition was submitted al
the last session. held in Chicago. ana the
action taken. today. ratified the measure.
reports We're then listened to from Gen
Supt. DR.. Atwood. Financial Secretary
pr Perrin of Boston. ana Gen. Missionary
Mr.. Shinn and all were significant of a
grand years work
! ne evening session was presided over
by Attorney General KnOwlton who
after few brief remarks introduced Gov.
Wolcott. His excellency spoke for some
minutes Of the Iniversalist creed as h
il ana ended his remarks IN
giving the delegates cordial welcome 10
the state.
Dr.. Lyman Abbott OF BROOKLYN. fol
lowed, speaking for the Congregational
lists lie declared himself with the Uni
Nersalists in that he did not believe II |
me doctrine Of eternal punishment He
differed with his hearers by daring IL b. |
heye that universe in which there is a |
nell ana heaven ~ better than uni |
verse where there is neither He srid
mat the most awful ana splendid fact ii !
human life Is that God puts the reins int1
one own hands to do as he pleases
: Inc last speaker Of the evening was |
i'eV. FRANK %. Hall OF Cambridge.