Evening star., 1901-10-17
Committees Action on Presidents Re.
port Considered by Spiritualists.
PROCEEDINGS OF CONVENTION TODAY
Representative Schrm's Plea for
a Formulated Creed.
ANIMATED DISCUSSION

| dent Barrett's annual statement, occupied
| the National Association OF Spritualists
today. This phase OF the conventions work
| is viewed by the delegates as the most i'm
| portant of the entire program. Paragraph
| after paragraph of the committee report
| was debated vigorously, divisions occurred
| without number and the whole body OF
| delegates followed the proceedings closely
| AS a whole the report of the committee
| was in approval of President Barrett's sug-
| gestions. The one exception was that the
| date for holding the annual convention be
changed from October to January Occa-
ence to special committee of some recon-
mendation made by the president. In
| one instance-concerningt the adoption of a
declaration of principles-the report was
briefly: Your committee has no recon-
mendations to make under that head But
the spirit of the report was heartily in
support OF MIR. BarretS statement.
In Accord.
The conventions action and the report
OF the committee were practically in ac-
cord. They were to the following effect:
That Theodore ]. Mayer be heartily
thanked for his gift of national headauar-
ters.
That reports of the conventions be print
ed and distributed.
That tracts and other Spirtuaistic lit
erature be freely distributed
That in contested will cases funds be
set apart for the expenses of actions in
court.
That a special committee be at once ap-
pointed to defend mediums under charges
before the courts or subjected to a license
fee.
That mass meetings shall not be entirely
abandoned.
he mis- off Of
vention be seconded and extended by the
employment of ten missionaries.
That speakers be Settled as regular
pastors wherever possible
That the valuable suggestions and care
full thought of the president on the subject
of phenomena in the home and the labora-
tory OF the scientist are indorsed, but as
to Mr.. Barrett's suggestion that phenomena
be not exposed to the curious and the in
sincere the committee advised a reference
to special committee.
That future national conventions give
half day to the work of the Lyceum
and that capable teacher, preferably Mrs
Matte e. Hull, be appointed missionary
That history of spiritualism be compiled
and special history fund" be created.
!hat an international congress of the
spiritualiSts be held in ST. Louis during
the worlds fair in 1903.
That delegates be appointed to other
organizations Of free thought and liberal
inclinations.
That all mediums should be educated to
the fullest degree possible.
That cooperation with the spiritualistic
camp meetings should be heartily encour-
aged.
That altruism-the gospel of love against
self1shness-receive more thoughtful atten-
ton.
That auxiliary state associations be all
lied in the national association especially
for cooperation in repeating obnoxious
state laws.
That the convention continue to meet in
October.
That action be taken Immediately on the
medical persecution of cIairvoyants'
That the spiritual press be heartily in
dorsed.
That the entire message be heartily ap
proved.
Mr.. Schirm's View.
Representative Schirm arrested the move
ment to dispose without action of the rec
ommendation of the president in favor of
declaration of principles. No action was
suggested by the committee, and an evl-
dent desire prevailed to dismiss the subject
without even word of comment.
Mr. Schirm held that a committee should
be appointed to reduce to a clear statement
the doctrines taught by spiritualism. Hith-
erto, he said, the public had been COM
pelled to depend upon the Interpretation
or the individual for an answer to the
question What is spiritualism?' There
should be formulated creed issued by
authority.
IF we have had phenomena and expert
ences, he exclaimed, they must estab-
lish certain definite teachings. and untII
such teachings are positively declared spir-
itual1sm will lack cohesiveness and pres
tige Let us have churches and temples
Let us nave form of worship. Let us also
nave creed"
Declaration of Principles.
A declaration adopted at Chicago in 1899
witty
is as follows:
First. We believe in infinite Intelligence
Second. We believe that the phenomena
OF nature, physical and spiritual, are the
expression of infinite intelligence
Inird. We affirm that a correct under
standing OF such expression and living in
religion.
Fourth: We affirm that the existence and
personal identy of the individual continue
| after the change called death.
Fifth. We affirm that communication
with the so-called dead Is a fact scientific
cal!y proven by the phenomena of spirit
ualism
Sixth. We believe that the highest mo-
rality is contained in the Golden Rule:
Whatsoever .ye would that others should
do unto you. do ye also unto them.'"
The question went over undecided
At the close of the debate the reports of
the president and Mrs. Mary T. Longley,
the secretary, were adopted by rising vote.
Condemns Al \ alton,
Through Mr.. Willard ]. Hull the COM
mittee on resolutions then offered a report.
1t began with an affirmation of the spiritu-
alistic faith and an exposition of altruism
"as the cardinal idea of spiritualism. -
There were declarations also in favor of ex-
tended education; in opposition to 'ssump-
| tuary laws designed to Cypress the people
| in the free exercise of their will in con-
| formity to moral and civil law" for med
| iCal persecution of mediciums be tested by
law, If necessary, to the United States SUI
| preme Court; supporting the international
congress Of spiritualists; deploring the as
| sassination of President Mckinley: con-
| demning anarchy and the anarchistic pul-
| pit utterances proposing lynch law for the
| assassin.
The report was signed by Rev. Moses
| Hull, Willard ]. Hull, F. w. Smith. Mrs
! Stella A. Fisk and Mrs. Susie c. Clark
| report was received from q special
| committee that the next convention should
| be held in Boston.
Miscellaneous Business.
| Miscellaneous business occupied the dele
gates for the remainder of the morning
session. The afternoon program includes
conference on the local societies and ar
address by Mr.. J. B. Townsend In the
1 he od 70 ho do;