The Washington times., 1901-10-17
SPIRIHUALISTO BUSY DAY.
The Reports of Various AssOcia-
tion Officers Read.

Nearly Twelve Thousand Dollars in
the Treasury-PropOsitio to Con-
soHdntc with the National Lyceum
Mt Present Under Consideration.
The second days session of the ninth
annual convention of the National Asso-
/ citation of Spiritualists was one of the
most important and exciting meeting held
/ so far. During the morning the attend
I ance was not large, but when the hour
I for the afternoon meeting arrived Mason
I ic Temple was filed with delegates, all
! eager to settle down to the important
| work of the day. the discussion of the
1 coming election of n new President.
/ There are five candidates. namely, Har-
| rison d. Barrett, the present; presiding
officer whose friends think him entitled
| to another chance. because of his ener-
getic work for the association during the
past year; E. w. Sprague, Rev. Moses
Hull. Charles r. Schirm, member of the
House of Representatives, and c. s. c.
Stevens, one of the directors Mr.. 5chirm
and Mr.. Stevens have declined the nomi-
nation, and have asked that their follow
ers support the present incumbent.
The coming election is the more inter
esting, because of the gradually increas-
ing opposition to Mr.. Barrett, developed
within the past three weeks Not one of
the delegates is willing, so far to give
an expression regarding the final out
come. Despite the fact that some of the
delegates insist that Mr. Barrett will be
defeated, it was learned yesterday after
noon from one of the most prominent
members of the associati"~ that the fol-
lowers of Mr.. Barrett would have more
than enough votes to re-elect that gen.
tleman. The date set for the election is
Frey. and a stormy session is predicted
by all.
Yesterday mornings meeting was
opened with the announcement of the fol-
lowing special committee on history:
Chairman DIR. Dean Clarke, of Massa-
chusetts; Mrs. f. f. Kurch. Of New York,
and Samuel Wheeler, of Pennsylvania.
The report of the treasurer. Theodore
]. Mayer, of Washington, d. c., was also
presented. Summarized. it is as follows:
Balance on hand October 1, 1900. $500;
total receipts from October 1, 1900, to Sep
tember 80, 1901. $l0390.66. Total. S19,s9l.66
Total amount dishursed from October l,
1900 to September 30. 1901 IS, %. Bal
ance on hand October l. 1901. 81, 81.
Special historian fund, s1s.29; mediums de-
fence fund. $525 IA; babe win fund, s350.3
Unfinished business was taken up. after
which the report of Mrs Carrie E. S.
Thing, of Westfeld, N. Y, was read by
the Secretary. Mrs. living. being Ill, was
not present to tell of her missionary work
in the remote districts OF Mississippi, Ten
nessee. and West Virginia. The report of
Mrs. Julia Steelman Mitchell, of Chicago,
a medium and missionary who has been
conducting meetings throughout the
States of Ohio and Indiana, was then
read. Mrs. Mitchell told of successful
work and growing interest in spiritualism
In those States.
E. w. Sprague, of jamestown, N. Y,
in a lengthy report detailing his mission
ary experiences throughout Indiana, COW
ering u period of eleven months. found
occasion to refer to the enemies of spirit
ualism. Mr.. Sprague's recommendation
that a test medium travel with every
spiritualistic missionary was received
with great applause by the delegates. Mr..
Sprague claimed the record as a mission
airy and organizer having, during his
itinerary of eleven months, held 272 meet
ings and organized 80 societies.
THE camp meetings are spreading the
truths Of spiritualism and preparing the
people for organization" declared Mr..
Sprague.
@. w. Kates, who has been associated
with President Barrett in d series of spir-
itualistic revival meetings throughout the
Middle West, read his annual report. Mr..
Kates agreed with Mr.. Sprague in many
of his recommendations, but registered q
claim himself as premier reviValiSt, haV-
ing held 27S meetings in eleven months.
Following Mr. Kates' report Charles r.
Schirm, of Baltimore, Md, in the course
of a few remarks declared himself as not
favoring any methods tending to antago-
nize the orthodox churches.
The verbal report of Harrison d. Bar
rett President of the National Associa-
tIon was then submitted Mr. Rarrett1s
report was brief resume of the work of
the society in twenty-one States. He an
nounced growing interest throughout
the country. He states that the attitude
of the secular press toward spiritualiSm
was more friendly than heretofore
The reading of communications occu- |
pied the attention of the body for an
hour, after which the review of the Sec !
retarys $ report was submitted.
Z. w. Sprague, Robert Hayden, Samuel |
Wheeler. Ella Royal Williams, and Miss {
Zaida b. kates, composing the commit
tee appointed to review the report of the
secretary, announced that the report was
spirit of devotion to the cause that
speaks well for the fitness of the secre-
tary for her position" The committee
recommended that the secretary be con-
tinued in the place. The meeting then
adjourned.
The afternoon session was held under
tIt uiIttlloH OF lNe National Spirltud1St
lyceum Association. The conductor, j. |
y. Hatch, jr.. of Boston, Mass. presided /
over the meeting. In view of the fact I
that the Lyceum Association was but !
meagrely represented, Mr.. Hatch in his |
Introductory address turned the conduct I
of the meeting over to President Harrison |
ID. Barrett Of the Natior al Association
Mrs. Matte Il, Hull. Secretary of the |
Lyceun Association, was introduced. and /
read her annual report. Mrs. Hull spoke /
of the Importance of lyceum work among |
children.
Conductor Hatch moved that the Iyce- |
um work be turned over to the National |
SpirituattstS' Association, and the separ- 1
ate charter surrendered. This motion was |
seconded and a lively discussion followed |
George W. kates spoke at some length |
in opposition to a surrender Of the char /
-er Mr.. Hatch finally withdrew his mo- /
tiOn, and one was substituted by Moses |
Hull, of Buffalo, N. Y, asking that com
mittees be appointed from the Lyceum |
and National associations to consult on |
the matter of consolidating the two So
cieties
President Barrett announced the names
OF those selected to serve on the commit
tees of the rival societies. after which the |
left the main hall to go into
executive session. Their names are as
follows:
National Spiritualist Association Com
Hull, e. w. Sprague and
Carrie Curran.
National Spiritualist Lyceum Associa-
tion Committee-Carrie Hatch, Matte E
Hull, DR.. A. a. Kimball
While waiting for the committee to
return, the various delegates We're ad-
ers, some in favor Of the proposition for
the National Association to take charge |
of the LyCeum, while others We're op-
posed to such action.
President Barrett announced that he
wished delegates who carried invitations
from their respective cities asking for the