Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-09-22
ALLIANCE OF CHURCHES
UNITARIAN CONFERENCE IN sES-
SION AT ATLANTIC CITY.
Addresses by Mrs. Fifield and Carroll
ID. Wright, United States Com
missioner Of Labor.

ATLANTIC CITY, N. J., September 22.-
Over 1000 delegates were in attendance at
the opening session of the national confer
ence of Christian churches today. An ad-
dress of welcome was made by Mayor F. p.
Stoy and was responded to by Preside mt
Carroll D. Wright.
Growth Of Practical Religion.
There is a great deal Of discussion at the
present time relative to the supposed de-
cadence of the church. of church attend
ance and Of real religious spirit. can
not assent to the suggestion that there is
any decadence or lessening of a true re-
ligious spirit, taking our community as
whole.
We see the evidence OF the truth Of my
assertion in the question OF crime. I think
1t is the general belief that crime is largely
on the increase; that civilization, instead
of purifying the public mind, Is leaving 1t
demoralfzed and more open to criminal
practices to an increasing number than
formerly, and the statistics of crime sup
port this contention.
If we look beneath the figures we shall
find that the crimes that have remained
persistently so under the criminal code dur
ing the last fifty years have not only rot
increased, but have relatively decreased
Criminal Statistics.
One illustration is sufficient In the crimi-
nal statistics of fifty years ago crimes rela
tive to liquor selling did not appear; today
they constitute large proportion OF such
statistics
The church has done this, and when l
say the church mean all churches-I mean
religious teaching, the constant annuncia-
ton Of the highest principles relating to
human conduct, the endeavor Of pulpits
everywhere to impress upon the people the
necessity-not through a system OF rewards
and punishments, but in order to secure the
best results and the surest happiness--of
dealing with all questions on a broad, toler-
ant basis. accepting the precepts of Christ
and His teaching as the surest guides by
which to mold not only individual but pab-
lie conduct.
The address by Secretary Mrs Emily
Fifield Of Dorchester. Mass. was full Of
important information and was attentively
listened to.
In reporting for the Alliance, the secre-
tary said:
1.-THE field of the Alliance Is broad. vastly
broader than the unintiated can know
and our best endeavors are given to keep
1T up to the high plain of its Importance
First. In fellowship there are clear gains
to show. Because women can better meet
together on common ground for some pur-
pose rather than for what is simply society,"
the Alliance has offered countless oppor-
tunities for fruitful interchange Of thought
and personal acquaintance.
The Alliance is happy in this outgroWth
of its original plan of doing religious work
together, and its welcome has not been
given merely to Unitarians, but to all
women wishing to work with them.
The Alliance believes in the church. Its
primary object is to deepen the religious
life in our churches to vitalize their meth
ods and make them a positive moral infiu-
ence in the community. The Alliance has
already done much for the churches.
Missionary Work.
"Under It's auspices four churches and
chapels have been built since the last con-
ference. Two are in North Carolina, one
in Georgia. and one in Florida.
THE Alliance has joined also In the large
missionary work of the denomination and
no appeal has ever been presented without
meeting some response. The motive Of the
Alliance is of necessity the religious mo-
tive as allied to our Unitarian Church and
faith and denominational needs take prece-
dence over any educational or philanthropic
undertaking whatever. Generous help,
however. has been given to schools, hos
pitfalls and institutions without end.
THE Alliance claims to be additional
force to the working power of the denomi-
nation. such as it's founders believed it
would be. and help as We'll In solving
the tremendous moral and religious prob
from every side
Education Of the Negro.
A deviation from the original program
was ihdoe WHICH liirly minutes were ue-
voted to the discussion of the negro educa-
tional question in the south. It was par
ticipated in by w. Benson of Kowaliga
and ]. Taylor of Tuskegee, the latter repre-
senting Booker T. Washington. Assistant
secretaries were appointed as follows: Rev.
c. w. Brown of Ltttleton. Mass. Rev. E. c.
Smith of Hinsdale N. Y; Frank H. Burt
of Boston. w. T. Salter Of New York.
Ushers named were Rev. w. L. Walsh of
Brookfield, Mass; Rev. II. s. Mitchell of
Peabody. Mass; Rev. L. M. Greenman Of
Gloucester, Mass: Rev. W. S. Nichols of
Walpole. N Y.
number of committees on election of
officers and credentials were named and will
report later
AT the afternoon session the Women's Ma
tional Alliance rendered reception to the
delegates.