Evening star., 1901-10-15
ANNUAL CONVENTION
The National Spiritualists' Assooia-
ton Assemblies Today.
PRESIDENT BARRETT'S ADDRESS READ
Appointment of Committees and
Submission OF Reports.
PROGRAM FOR THIS EVENING

About 100 persons mainly of the gentler
sex, assembled in Masonic Hall at $3.50
o'clock this morning for the ninth annual
convention of the National Spiritualists
Association OF the United States of Amer
lea and the Dominion of Canada Seats
had been placed across the hall. of which
the delegates filed about one-fourth. On
the stage were seated Harrison D. Barret
OF Needham, Mass, president of the asso-
citation: Thomas NJ Locke of Philadelphia,
vice president: Alonzo Thompson of Full
lertOn, Neb.; Charles r. Schirm, member
OF the House of Representatives from
Maryland. reading clerk of the convention.
Sessions of the convention are to continue
until Friday evening. and will include four
evening meetings for the jubilee
Mr.. Barret opened the convention with
fifteen minute address on the beauty of
harmony and union in the exposition of
spiritualism. The presidents report is to
be submitted this afternoon, and will con-
tain Mr.. Barret's recommendations which
are intended for the consideration of the
convention. The report has already ap-
peared in substance in The Star.
The reply was made by Willard J. Hull
of Columbus, Ohio. 1t was generally
affirmation of Mr.. Barrett's address and
was most eloquent and carefully prepared
plea for the uniication of the several move
menus IN DendiI OF
Proposition Submitted.
When Mr.. Hull had finished. Rev Moses
Hull of Buffalo, N. Y, read to the delegates
the following letter:
Morris Pratt and his wife. Zulema Pratt.
to the National Association of Spiritual
lists:
WHITE WATER, Wis,
September %, 1901.
Dear friends: Whether we are or are
not able to be with you in the annual
meeting in Washington, October 1918. 1901,
We have determined to submit to you, by
the kindness of Moses Hull and Mrs. Clara
l. Stewart, a proposition.
We are both veterans in the cause of
spiritualism; We love spiritualism and Its
truths more than We love anything else
in the world; and wish our life accumu-
lations to go to assist 1t in its work.
We own in White Water. Wis, brick
block containing two large halls and nu-
merOus smaller rooms. One of these halls
is well seated. and contains a fine organ
and other such furniture as is needed to
adapt 1t for congregations; the other con-
tains 300 chairs and some other furniture,
the whole having cost over 100000.
This property we wish to have conse-
Grated and devoted to the cause of spiritual
ism. We want to see spiritualist teachers,
mediums and other workers educated espe-
ctally for their work.
Terms of Transfer.
We now propose to deed to the National
Spiritualists' Association all of this real es-
tate and give 1t a bill of sale of the most
of the furniture-reserving what We wish
for our own use-on the following terms:
Il. The National Spiritualists' Association
is to use this property for educational pur-
poses. along the lines of Moses Hull and
A ]. Weavers Spiritualists Training
School, with such alterations in systems of
teaching and curriculum as Moses Hull,
NTh nI,
think 1t wise to make.
- The association Is to raise, as an en-
dowment fund, $4,000. After this amount
Of endowment has been subscribed, we pro-
pose to increase the endowment to the ex-
tent of our ability. This endowment fund
to remain intact, only the interest to be
used in paying the expense of the school,
and IN educating poor, but honest young
men and women for public work
I'VE reserve the use of the two southeast
rooms on the second floor and one room on
the third floor as a home should We desire
IL during our lives
Wishing to see the Spiritualist Training
School Immediately brought to this build
Ing and become a chartered college, We sim
cerely and earnestly hope this offer will
be accepted by the National Spiritualists'
Association.
Whether this is accepted or not please
give US an Immediate answer, as if this Is
not accepted We shall make offers to other
parties.
Respectfully submtte ed In the love of the
cause MORRIS PRATT (SeaD
'ZULEMA PRATT (SeaD'
Plans Outlined.
Mr.. Hull outlined his own plan of action,
which he desired to have approved by the
convention. He asked that the proposed
donation be referred to committee: that
the committee report at this convention;
that the members of the committee be Pres
ident Barrett. Treasurer Mayer and Alonzo
Thompson On motion of Mr.. Sebirm the
matter was so referred. 1t Is anticipated
the national association will accept the
gift with it's conditions. Otherwise. accord
ing to notice informally given this morning,
the state association of Wisconsin will as
sumo the gift and organize the school.
A lyceum or conference of forty-five
minutes was held. Brief addresses were
made by Moses Hull of Buffalo. N. Y; Mrs.
z. W. Sprague OF jamestown, n. Y; George
W. Kates OF Kansas; w. H. Simpson of
Pittsburg; G. l.. Stevens of Pittsburg;
Irving S. Symonds of Summerville, Mass; !;
DR.. A. B. Spinney of Reed City, Mich;
George A. Bacon Of this city, Samuel
Wheeler OF Philadelphia, Mrs. II. P Rus
segue OF Connecticut, Prof William NJ.
Lockwood Of Chicago. Mrs. May s. Pepper
Cambridge, Mass; Mr.. John W. Ring of
Texas. Mrs. Carrie Furth Curran of Toledo,
Ohio; Rev. A j. Weaver of Old Orchard,
Me; II. c. Dorm of New Jersey, George h
Brooks OF Wheaton. ILL.,; Mrs. Sarah Fiske
of Iowa, Miss Margaret Gall of New York
city. Oscar Edgerly of Ohio.
Every one who spoke during the confer
ence dwelt on two thingS-the necessity for
systematic labor and the necessity for har-
mony- Methods of furthering the influence
Of spiritualistic faith were offered and dis
cussed Phases like The Earth Life"
Starved for the Truth" Spirit Vibration"
and Angel Guidance abounded but did
not cloud the evident desire of all the
speakers to organize their work on the
most material basis. Mr. Simpson pro-
posed scheme of circuit expansion where
by the older local bodies become the means
OF establishing permanent new ones. The
convention heard Mr.. Simpson, who Is a
young man and manifestly in deep earnest
with such favor 10 extend his time to
ten minutes. a privilege not granted any
other speaker of the morning. Mr. Wheel
er testified 10 a promise from one Of the
arisen workers: that the earth follow
ers were soon TO rejoice in wave of ma
terial progress. Mrs. Rossegue evoked al
most continued applause by a brief talk on
what might be termed "Spiritualsm mill
tant- The faith had grown popular. she
said: Its meetings were widely noticed; its
followers were no longer branded as "Spir-
itualists the faith had been recognized as
q religion Many of the speakers referred
uhiavorably TO proposed change in the
associations name-from "sprituausm' to
altruism. Gauged by the applause the
voice OF the convention was dectsiyelv