The daily morning journal and courier., 1900-04-25
THE UNIVERSALIST CLUB
SPEECHES AT THE CLUBS R1NO JET
 -OFFICERS ERECTED.
Comments on the New Superintendent Aims and Achievements of Connecti- cut UniversnItsts,

I The twenty-third semi-annual meet | ing of the Universalist club was held ! at Garde's hotel last night. A banquet | succeeded the business meeting and one holding of reception in honor of Rev. 1 E. M. Grant of Stamford, the new su | perintendent. At meeting held at 6 o'clock the following officers of the club were elected: President, Charles Gay l of New Haven; vice president, Henry | Scotield of Stamford; secretary, Rev E. M. Grant of Stamford; treasurer Rev. 1 w. s. Perkins of Meriden. The last two officers were serving in their respective capacities a the time the meeting was | held and were reelected. The delegates passed social hour after the business | meeting and at 8:30 an elaborate ban quet was served in the hotel dining | room, of which about fifty members | partook.
 | Rev Smith Dodge of Stamford, in- | troduced by Postmaster Charles Gay, | spoke felcitously of the progress of the sect which he congratulated on it's good fortune in having such a superintend- ent of the Universalist church in Con-
 necticut as Rev. Eugene M. Grant. He said, in part: 'The Meriden society was organized by Father Norwood. Later than that another was started in | Waterbury, which promised well, but exists now only as memory and re- gret. Meriden, from inauspicious be- ginnings, has done remarkably well. Few others have done better, some oth- CTS worse. Brother Grants task as su- perintendent calls for courage and sym pathy. Let us strengthen his hands. They are the best hands that have ever held this office in this state. He is taken from people who wish to retain him. The Stamford parish released him unwillingly, as duty. The re- stored position of superintendent is not given to man whom no one wants. With large sympathy, with great for bearance if necessary, with expectation of great success; let us pray for him.
 Rev. w. F. Dickerman, after a hu- morous peroration, spoke in part as follows: For four years the Universal ist church has been praying for a state superintendent. God has heard us, and we have one who will have charge of a vast congregation of needy souls. I hope the new leader will find us not in- considerate of the nature of his ardu- ous duties. He satisfies the need of a business and spiritual head who knows the ground and knows us. Let us give him sympathy along with our support. He comes after an interval of four years since the last superintendency and we have an appetite for him. He comes not as a bishop, but as a pastor at-large. He is our presiding elder, our presbuteros, our overseer. He has my heartiest cooperation.
 MT. Grant expressed his thanks for the cordial and fraternal welcome into his office. He said: This is neW-old office-new for it's creation to-day, old in it's purpose. It is too early to speak of my plans yet. They are only gen. eral at present. I hope my plans may speak for themselves when tried. We have had plenty of missionaries, but few superintendents. Intelligent co-op- eration will make us more efficient. Be patient, helpful and hopeful, and we will assist each other with advice and otherwise"
 Rev. F. c. Donley of Stafford Springs. Conn.,, congratulated the Universalists of Connecticut on the possession of such a man for such an office. He welcomed the superintendent to a park strewn with misunderstanding and perhaps misstatement, yet leading to a work manlike joy He advised a canvass of the state where needed.
 The Hon. Joseph Sheldon began by saying he was more "accustomed to practice than to preach" He praised Popes Essay on Man. George Combe on the Constitution of Man" and "The Origin of Species" He commented on the differences between Universalists and Unitarians. The Universalst says: God is too good to damn anyone" The Unitarian says; 'I am too good for God to damn" Judge Sheldons talk was the last of the evening, and was highly | enjoyed.
 President Gay then dismissed the l about half of whom were la dies, and the members of the club dis perseG.