The Washington times., 1901-10-19
THE CONVENTION CLOSES,
III. ID. Barrett Reelected President
Of the Spiritual;sts.
All OBcers Retained i'm Former Po-
sitiOns-Ncw Headquartcrs Build
ing Dedicated-S2.4IG Contrib
uted on Appeal for Financial Aid.

The closing session of the ninth annua
convention of National Spiritualists was
held yesterday. There We're many impor-
tant subjects considered, and owIEg to tn,
comparatively short time within which
the convention could dispose of the many
urgent subjects, the scenes enacted in Ma
soric Temple were something out of tht
ordinary. Yesterdays session is said by
many Of the delegates to have been the
busiest meeting that they ever attended.
The day was marked by the election of
national officers for the ensuing year; the
dedicatory exercises in connection with
the formal transfer to the association by
Theodore Mayer, of this city, of the hand
some new building, corner of Sixth Street
and Pennsylvania Avenue southeast, do
mated as headquarters, and the discussion
of the financial condition of the associa-
ton. Perhaps the most important act of
the Spiritualistic body was to re-elect
Harrison d. Barrett as presiding officer of
the association. This new term of office
rendered Mr.. Barrett marks the beginning
of that gentleman's ninth term as the Of
fetal head of Spiritualists in this country
ready response was made to an ap-
peal from President Barrett on behalf of
the association, calling the attention OF
the associations treasury. Mr.. Barrett's
statements of financial stress came as a
surprise to many of the delegates. but he
had scarcely finished speaking when ex-
cited delegates, pulling out pocketbooks.
hurried TO the foot of the stage. where
they showered contributions upon the sec
rotary. Within an hour and one-half. it
was announced that the sum of 81, 1860
had been collected. A number of dele
gates contributed as high as $500 and $500,
and asked that their names be kept from
the public.
The delegates expected to visit the
White House yesterday afternoon to pay
their respects to President Roosevelt in
body. President Barrett, however, re-
ceived a letter from Mr.. Cortelyou, Secre-
tary to the President, stating that Mr..
Roosevelt was so busily engaged that he
would be unable to receive the delegates
in body, but stated if they would send
committee of three persons President
Roosevelt would gladly receive them. The
visit of the delegates was necessarily
abandoned, but the committee was APP
pointed and will call today before de-
parting for their respective homes.
The delegates repaired early yesterday
morning TO their new headquarters, Sixth
Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, where
with due ceremony, the building was
turned over to President Barrett for the
association by Mr.. Mayer Upon the con-
ciusion of the exercises the delegates re-
turned to Masonic Temple, where they
settled down to business.
The first matter of Importance brought
TO the attention Of the convention was
the report of George IL Brooks, OF
Wheaton, ILL.,, 4 missionary who claimed
to have during the past year Travelled
n
ism Mr. Brooks report was adopted by
a rising vote, and ordered to be made a
part of the records of the convention.
The convention next accepted the oiter
of Morris Pratt, of Whitewater, Wis,
to donate building to the society, pro-
Yided it would raise Sl0,gH. Which was TO
be paid into the national treasury.
1t was announced that the committee
appointed fos the purpose of selecting the
city within which the tenth annual con
vention will be held had made lis report,
and that il had selected Boston as the
locality for that event. The delegates
from the Hub City cheered themselves
hoarse. The question was then put to d
vote and Boston was unanimously
chosen. The next convention Will be held
in October, 1862.
Following this action, the report of the
committee in charge OF the Work CT
amending the bylaws was read. As the
delegates were unable to agree upon Va
rious suggested amendments reported, the
matter. was laid over for an indefinite
until the next convention in Boston.
During the afternoon session President
Barrett took the platform and made an
appeal for contributions to the treasury
oil the association which met with spon-
taneous and most generous responses.
After the announcement of the amount
of contributions President Barrett sur
rendered the gHvel to Mr. Locke,
who directed that delegates prepare for
the national election. instantly all was
in confusion, and Mr. Locke expert
enced no little difficulty in restoring or
der. After quiet was resumed Mir. Locke
said that he had presided over many
political meetings in his time. but that
the present occasion although of diff
ferent character. was by far the noisiest.
1t was announced that there would be
three andidates-Harrison d. Barrett,
Rev. Moses Hull and Willard Hull At
the conclusion Of the voting the voting
committee retired from the hall, but re-
turned within a short time and announced
that Harrison ID. Barrett had received
more than hundred out of a total of l27
votes. and was consequently reelected to
serve for another year as the official head
of the Spiritualists.
This announcement was greeted with
prolonged cheers, and Mr. Barrett In re-
sponse delivered a brief address thank
ing the delegates for their action in again
placing him at the head of the orgaBiza-
tiOn. He promised them that he would
coming year TO further the establishment
of the rights OF SpirItualists throughout
the country.
The other officers were also reelected
for the ensuing year: Thomas NJ. Locke,
Vice President; Theodore J. Mayer. of
Washington, Treasurer, and Mrs. Mary
T. Longley. of Washington, Secretary.
The delegates then took up the election Of
a new board OF trustees, which resulted
in the selection of the following: c. J.
c. Evans. of Washington; Alonzo Thomp-
son, Fullerton. Neb.: c. d. Pruden, st.
Paul, Mimi; and c. L. c. Stevens, Of
Pttsburg.
O'clock
The closing exercises last night drew
one of the largest audiences OF the week
All seats were taken before o'clock, and
great number Of the visitors were
Obliged TO stand throughout the even
The meeting was opened by the rendi-
tion of The Rounders, by the Colby
trio of Boston. Prof William NJ. Lock
wood, a prominent Spiritualistic advo-
cate, delivered a thirty minutes discourse
upon the subject Of The Psychic World
We Live In"
May S. Pepper medium. delivered some
startling public tests. using in her
d. nonstratioD sealed letters which had
earlier in the evening, been laid upon her
desk.
J. Homer Altemus. a prominent local
Spiritual!st, delivered numerous spirit
ina ssages Of a mysterious character. Mir.
Altemus easily carried off the honors OF |
work was of such an interesting charac-
ter that the audience was loath to |
allow him to conclude.
At the conclusion Of the exercises the |
delegates went into business session and |
discussed unfinished business OF a routine |
nature, and Mr.. Barrett delivered a clos |
ing address, thanking the officers of the |
association for their work and announced |
that the ninth regular convention had ad- |
journed sine die
Many Of the delegates will leave this |
FaYafsa Tor fl,rF,-