Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-05-21
NO BOASTS, NO EXCUSES.
Pres. Eliot Names Three Great Needs
of Unitarian Church.

Boston, May 20.-The annual business
| meeting of the Unitarian session which
began. yesterday, was continued today
In his annual address Rev. Samuel A
Eliot, p. D., president of the American
Unitarian Association said:
1.-The work of your association is in
reasonably healthy condition. Your di-
rectors make no boasts and no excuses:
When, however, we pass from the cramped
activity and limited sphere of the larger
responsibilities and tendencies of the Uni
tartan body which this association in pop
ular estimation represents. we discover
no large cause for satisfaction. Our very
discomfort may be, however a sign of
health A dead church does not cry out
for fuller life and more than a dead man.
Our chief problems are: First, the more
efficient organization of our associated
life; second. the recruiting of our minis
try with devout and able youth; and
third, the deepening of the spiritual life
of the churches.
"The quality of young men who offer
themselves for the service of our churches
generally improves, but the number de-
creaScs not increase. Our religious move
ment cannot be regarded as permanent
contribution to the Christian forces Of
America until our churches produce and
nuture their own ministers.
The annual report of the secretary show
ed net gain of six societies. making a
total of 466.
excess of $1l,9S over the income taken
from the surplus cash on hand. The con-
tribuiionS from societies, Sunday schools,
organizations and individuals amounted to
$50 7S6 and the income from invested funds
81 BIS
After the reading of reports the foreign
visitors and delegates We're presented:
They included the Rev. ALI ed Aitherr of
st. l.eonard's church, Baale. SWitzerland
Mr. r. Thorwaldson. secretary of the leo
land Unitarian Associa ton; the Rev. Hon
nv Williams of Dundee. Scotland, and the
Rev Frank O. Hall of New York.
A cabled request from several rabblS for
the association to pass resolutions CON
demning the massacre at klshlneff IN
Russia was diSre2arded by the association
the business committee reporting the in
expcdiency of dealing by resolution with
all matters that might be submitted to it,
An immense audience filled fremont
Temple tonight, to listen to addresses by
Rev. DR.. Edward Everett Hale, President
VIM. j. Tucker of Dartmouth College
Prof. Francis G. Peabody of Harvard,
Rev. Dr. George A. Gordon and President
Samuel Eliot of the Unitarian ASsOcia-
DR.. Tucker spoke on The Opportuni-
ties and Obligations of congregational,
lists He spoke for unity and prophesied
an ultimate blending of the divided forces
of Congreg ationaliSm.
Rev DIR. Hale reviewed the early his
tory of the Purtans who he said, worked
together without any creed or doctrine.
The same spirit should prevail among the
churches of today.
Rev Dr. Gordon said in part: We are
conscious of weakness A house divided
against itself cannot stand. We see in all
Vacations a ccmpleXity of work driving
men into fellowship. Science. scholarship,
philanthropy, succeed only through aSSo-
citation. We are weak because we are di
vided To regain our strength we must
work for union.
Prof. Peabody eXhorted his hearers to
take counsel by the advice of Christ to
lis disciples, to learn OF maln1non hut
not serve him. The attitude of the Chris
tan church, today, is not in consonancc"
with the spirit of modern times. 1T still
lineers in the old rut of the smaller indus
tries 1t is divided. The devil laughs at
a divided church. The church needs 10
learn the lesson of nlammon.'