Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-10-27
Points Of Difference in Uni
Versalist Convention.
THE REPORT DISCUSSED
OF THE GENERAL
SUPERINTENDENC
Motion to Have Officer Elected by
Trustees Adopted-Place of
Next Meeting.

VerSallSt ChurCn OF America Drought dDou'
a long and spirited debate at this mornings
session of the general convention, held in
the Church of Our Father corner OF Eth
and l. streets northwest The report Of the
committee on official reports, DR.. X. f.
Johnnot of Chicago. chairman. was under
consideration. The committee recommend
ed that the convention declare itself to he
in favor of the-continuance of the general
superntendency, the incumbent to be
chosen by the board of trustees and to be
in the relation of an employe to the board,
getting under its direction entirely.
I:Srore vote could be taken on this por
ton af the committees report. DR.. Perkins
of Ma IS chusetts offered a substitute. pro-
ridIn-! tAAt tin superintendent be elected
biennialiy 1y the general convention, and he.
by virtue of his Office. president of the
board of trustees. This was subsequently,
amended as to give the board of trustees
power to remove the superintendent from
Office for cause.
A heated debate on the acceptance Of
the substitute followed
DR.. Perkins spoke In favor of his slibst-
tute. declaring that the superintendent had
found himself fiampered by the trustees. as
ne had always to act under Their supervi-
sion, and often found himself at cross p,lr-
poses with them. He stated that he be-
lieved the interests Of the church would be
advanced by giving the power of admins
tration more directly into the hands Of one
man.
DR.. Atwood Approves.
DIR. 1. NJ. Atwood of New York, the pres
ent general superintendent, stated to the
convention that the idea expressed by the
substitute offered by DIR. Perkins was en-
tirely in line with his own beliefs and
wishes. He claimed that under the pres
ent arrangement his work is limited and
made less effectual than it might be.
Rev. Edward G. Mason of Massachusetts
then gained the floor. and. amid much
laughter, moved that the title of bishoD
be given the general superintendent of the
church asserting that the consideration of
such question would be sure to come M
sooner or later, and SO might as well he
settled now.
form of an amendment to the substitute
but the chair. which was occupied by
former Senator Frank Bennett, declined to
put the question.
Delegates from all over the crowded ou,li
torlum asked to be heard on the main u,as-
ton. and attempted one after another To
explain the present status of the board Of
trustees. the superintendency and otIfI
matters. making an effort to throw ltabt
upon the effect of the adoption Of the s1Ih
stitute offered by DR.. Perkins.
Mr. Il. b. Gibbs of Wisconsin made \
plea for the people" He said thai IF a.
some one had intimated. the trustees w.rn
really the governing body of the church
ana II they should be empowered to choose
the general superintendent, he was afraid
Ior the democracy of the organization. IS
Peciaily In view of the fact that the differ
ent parishes of the church ARE not r.nra-
sented here. anyhow"
"A number of delegates spoke I'm favor of
me Ola form or administration. holding
changed.
President Capen of Tufts College. Massa-
chuse'tS' asserted that if Superintendent
ATWOOD were questioned it would be found
that he could not mention a single instrrr
IN which he had been actually hampere,i i'm
his work by the board of trustees Or
Capen pleaded for the defeat of the sub
stitute.
Superintendent Atwood did not attempt
to explain when he had been hampered In
his work, allowing the challenge of DR.
Capen to go unanswered
One argument against the adoption of The
substitute was that the election of the slI-
perintendent by the convention would he
similar TO the choosing of the superintend-
ent of a railroad by the stockholders, who
usually know nothing about the actual re-
quirementS of the office.
The Substitute Lost.
At length. after cries Of Question: a
vote was taken. and the substitute was de-
clared to be lost by vote of 81 to &C.
lating to this question was then accepted. 1t
Is understood that DIR. Perkins is not salts
fed with this vote and will bring the same
matter before the convention later In the
form of amendments to the constitution Of
the church. 1t Is said the convention Is very
nearly divided on the question.
Other Recommendations.
A further recommendation of the COM
mittee was that the superintendent be au-
thorized to act as the financial agent of
the church. DR.. A. w. Pierce. president of
Dean Academy. Franklin. Mass, spoke
strongly against the adoption of this
measure. He said he believed that there
should be one man who could devote his
affairs.
Money. money. money" he cried we
hear nothing but money all the time in
this convention. Let US have little real
gospel. This recommendation was indeti-
nitcly postponed.
Another recommendation of the commit
tee was to the effect that a college Of state
superintendent be established, to act as
an advisory board to the general superin-
tendent. but Supt. Atwood stated that such
an organization already existed, and con-
sequently the recommendation was not
adopted
Minneapolis. Mimi, was chosen, at the
session this morning, after a spirited fight
for Detroit. Mich. and Pasadena. Cal, as
the place for holding the convention In
1903. 1t will be held in the church In that
city of which former Senator Washburn
Is member.
The election of the officers OF the Conven-
ton will probably take place late this after
noon or tomorrow forenoon. The commit
tee on elections will present nominees.
Tomorrow morning. 1t is thought. tie
convention Will make it's final adjourn
ment.
AT noon the convention took a recess for
lunch.
Report on Penology.
The report OF the committee on penology,
which consists of F. w. Belts of Syracuse.
n. Y; Charles NJ. Skinner of Brooklyn, n.
Y, and Dwight NJ Hodge of Franklin.
Mass, was special order for o'clock
this afternoon. The committee stated
in the report that 1t had decided that
it could best serve this convention and The
universalist Church by making a careful
survey of its field. and reporting the facts.
the general principles. the Fundamental!
purposes and the practical plans which are
accepted by experts and specialists as con-
shutting what may be called the science
of penology,"
The future may modify. or even reyolu-
tioniZe. pathological ideas and practical
aims, states the report. I'VE have in
herited from the past pathological system
which is the result of ages of social revo-
luton. 1t is crude and full of traditions