Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-06-06
CLOSING DAY.
Universalists Complete a Meet
ing of Three Days.
Several Interesting Addresses Given
at the Last Session.
Received by Governor Hill at State
House in Afternoon.

The annual convention of Universal
lists. which as been in session here
during the past three days, closed, yes
terday AS on the previous day well
attended prayer and praise services
were held at 5 and $50 o'clock. The
first was held by Rev. Donald Fraser of
OLD Town. and the second by Rev. w.
L. Gaskin of Mechanic Falls.
| AT $50 Kew. w. II. Gould of Dexter
spoke upon THE Sabbath Question. y
Mr.. Gould's remarks were in answer to
:hc question, Does a man who never
goes to church lose anything" Mr.
Gould spoke very interesting and was
followed by Rev. A. E. Rouillard of
Augusta. and others.
Rev NJ. r. Townsend of DixfieId,
| then addressed the convention upon
Church Membership" Mr.. Townsend
spoke forcibly in favor of a larger men,
| bership in the church among those who
believe in the Universalist faith. Mr..
Townsend was followed by Rev. Nor
man Mckinnon, pastor of the local
Congregational chIuch and others.
The closing address of the convention
was given by Rev. f. S. Rice of Calais.
| Idr. Rice spoke upon the subject, "A
Review of the Reforms of Today" He
spoke briefly i'm regard to the events in
| the realm of government during the
past few years, especially as relating to
the Philippine islands. He said, The
| old idea of society is passing away.
| Government is for the many and not
! for the few. 1t is for the purpose of
lettering existing conditions.
This idea is extending itself rapidly.
| The governments are as a result better
| than ever before. | have been inter-
ested in the discussion of the Philip
| pine question in this convention |
differ somewhat from the opinion ex-
| pressed here. | am one who is not
| sorry that our government has taken
possession of the Philippine islands 1
regard the history of the past few
years as the most momentous since the
surrender of Lee at Appomattox. am
not sorry that our government is in the
/ Philippines because l believe that the
| United States are best calculated to
help the Filipinos. We are not there
| to subjugate but to help. We are not
to send over a carpet bag government,
| Dut W w WI n tIctt Dpdlu COulu IlOl 10,
to give them freedom and civilization
and if need be to give them independ-
ence. l believe that these events are
to usher in a reform in the govern
ments of the world.
| And now let us look into the indus
trial world. What supreme evils we
find here to be reformed. They are al
most incaIcuIable. The oppression of
the laborng people is very great.
When l think of the oppression of the
many: of the greed Of the great cor
| pora tions | am horror stricken. But l
am hopeful as am looking forward to
the solution of these evils. Do not the
American people realize what a power
these corporations have in the coun-
try Their cause is the cause of the
striking miners. l have no remedy to
| offer for these evils but l believe it is
| to come.
| There are reforms necessary in the
moral world. l wish to refer to but
one phase of the conditions here, the
use and sale of Intoxicating liquors.
| There is q great variety of laws upon
| the matter throughout the entire coun-
| try Every conceivable law is placed
upon the statute books. Here is our
own State, we have constitutional
prohibition, but it is not enforced.
Even our judges and other public Of
fcials are blind to the provisions of
! the law.
But it is not hopeless outlook. In
studying the legal aspects of the ques-
ton we overlook the temperance senti-
ment which is eXtant. There are more
total abStainers than ever before.
There is 0 larger sense of the wrong
which the evil of intemperance does. II
we take broad view of the question
we must see that society is agitated.
Although we cannot see how the re-
forms are to be worked out we can see
that they must come from this increase
of temperance sentiment. In this | be
lievc we have the solution.
There is a reform taking place in
the religious world. We find every
where a better religion than the world
ever had before. | am satisfied that
there is a reform going on. The atti-
tudn of the Christian church is beCom-
ing more and more humanitarian. The
old theories and creeds are being per-
ceptibly withdrawn from the vital
thought of the people"
The convention just closed was con-
sidered one of the most successful in
the history of the denomination in the
State The outlook is regarded as the
most promising.
The pulpit was very beautifully deco
rated during the whole series of meet
ings with ferns flowers and potted
plants, very kindly furnished by Mr..
and Mrs. w. III. Gannett.
The convention considered a number
of resolutions during the session and
took action upon several questions,
showing there attitude as a denOmina-
-. .I,aAio I'd q