The Washington times., 1903-10-19
SPIRITUALISTS TO HOLD
THE CONVENTION HERE
Plans Complete for the Ses-
siOns This Week.
ASSOCIATION MAY SPLIT
atheists" and "Materialists" at Odds
Over a Ritual-Many Messages"
and "Seances" Planned.

convention Of the National Spiritual
lists Association, which will meet at the
National Rifles ArmOry. G Street, near
Ninth, tomorrow and continue in session
until Saturday. Headquarters for the
delegates will be at the Regent Hotel,
Fifteenth Street and Pennsylvania Ave
nue..
The meeting this year is considered
the most important since that at which
the association was founded. The all
absorbing question will be that con-
corning the ACCESSIBILITY of adopting a
regular service similar to that in other
organized and recognized churches.
The faction known as the Material
lists" which does not believe in a God
in the future life, will strongly oppose
the innovation, while the members of
the other faction. known as the
THESIS" who believe in the existence
OF God. will insist that a regular serv-
ice should be adopted in order that
Spiritualists may have standing be
fore the law in those States which de-
mand an ecclesiastical ceremony by a
recognized religious body as an essen
tial to the contamination of marriage
Division Expected.
This matter will come on Wednesday
afternoon. and is expected to receive
long discussion. whichever way the
question is decided IL is believed that
II will eventually result In a division of
the Spiritualists as II is realized that
factions containing such widely diver
gent basic theological ideas as the
THESIS" and "Materialists' can hard
~ continue In the same general organ
ieztiGn.
Another important subject for consid-
GRAFTON will be the maintenance OF mis-
sionaries. Some OF the Spiritualists are
strongly In favor of continuing this
branch of organized endeavor. while
others think that Il is INSTRUCTED en-
ergy.
Fight for President.
The convention expects to raise an
endowment fund Of $4,000 with which TO
establish new societies and churches.
Harrison d. Barrett, OF Boston. edI-
tor OF the Banner Of Light" who has
been president OF the association FOR
ten years. has declined to accept a re
nomination because OF family and bust
ross reasons. The retirement of Mr.
Barrett will precipltate a fight in which
half a score Of ambitious Spiritualists
viii take part. but four men are thought
10 be the most prominent factors in the
general scramble for the position. They
arc Charles r. Schiru. Representa-
tive from Baltimore; George w. Hates,
or Philadelphia: II. w. Richardson. Of
East Aurora, y. Y. and DR. George b
Warne. Of Chicago. The general di-
vision in thc fight is between the East
and West. but TO one seems 10 be able
10 predict the victor
Spirit Services.
Spirit messages ana lectures will be
ccsiVered at the evening sessions by
prominent mediums Following is the
program for the meetings:
Tomorrow morning - CONGREGATIONAL
singing; Invocation by Mrs Mary 7.
Lcngiey; address Of welcome. President
Barrett; response. Nine. Florence Mon
tasue. OF Oakland. Cal; appointment OF
committee; report on credentials Aft
ornoon: Second report on credentials;
appointment Of committee on rules: ap-
pertinent of standing committees; re-
port Of secretary, Mrs. Mary T. Long
Icy. Washington. d. C: report OF treas
urcr. Theodore j. Mayer. Washington
d G. Evening: Invocation by Mrs
Anna = Gillespie. Of California: lecture
H.. Roy. NJ r. Ravhn, OF Baltimore;
81 int message. by Margaret Gaule. o.
CT Philadelphia.
Wednesday morning-General business
reports on missionaries: communica
tons. Accommodation on usages. wher
the differences between the THESIS
and "Materialists" viii be discussed; re
port on presidents report: first report
Of committee on finance. Evening-Lec
ture by Mrs. II. l.. +. Ressegue. o
Hartford. Conn. spirit message, by Mrs
Anna l. Gillespie and Mrs. May S. Pep
per.
Constitutional Changes
Thursday morning Report Of commit
tee on secretary's report; report OF com
mittee on trcasurer's report; report @
committee on amendments. dealing IS
pecially with the change in the consti
tuition. by which the board Of trustee
will become perpetual body by the re
tirement OF only a portion OF it's mem
bcrs each year: report on delegates re
ports. Afternoon-Report Of committe
on resolutions: reports Of special com
mittees; second report Of committee oil
finance; unfinished business. Evening
Lecture. by ]. j. Morse. OF London
spirit message by Margaret Gauie an
Mrs. May S. Pepper.
Newspaper Message
Friday moTning-New business: repor
of local societies. missionaries and so
ciety work: report on chUdren's Iyceun
work Afternoon-Selection of meetinI
place for next convention: final repor
OF committee on finance: election Of of
crs. Evening-Lecture by Carrie Firt
Curran. Of Toledo. Ohio; spirit message
By Mrs. c. d. Prudin. and Marsare
Gaule
President Barrett was asked last nigh
II he would arrange a special spirit mes
sage for newspaper men only. He reptile
that he thought well OF the idea an
would use all Of his influence TO brin
on the affair. He added that II in
mediums who are to take part I'm tn
regular exercises Of the convention ca
not or will rot give the seance he wouI
endeavor 20 secure another medium
from out OF the city.
RTIIEn THE C0TIECTQp