Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-10-23
AN ANIMATED DEBATE
SPIRITUALISTS AT ODDS OVER A
COMMITTEES REPORT.
Missionaries Resent the Language En-
ployed, Alleging Impositions--
Nominations for officers.

heated debate was provoked in the
convention of the National Spiritualists
: Association in National Rifles Armory,
this morning by rhe introduction of the
reports of the committee on missionaries
reports. The committee recommended that
state associations which were young ana
needy should be provided with missionaries
from a fund to be established by the
national association for that purpose 1t
also called attention TO the alleged fmpo-
sition of missionaries on state organizations
which were unable to support them and
old not want them.
Mr. r. W. Sprague. a prominent spiritual
list miss ionary. gained the floor, after the
report had been read, and in rather IN
dignant words attempted to refute what
he termed the statement that the mission
aries had been bleeding state and local
societies He cited instances which, he
claimed. evidenced that the missionaries
who had gone into states, had, through
their efforts in establishing new societies
ana awakening old ones. caused more
money to be brought into the treasures
of state associations than was expended
for their support. Only travelling eX-
peuScs at clergymens' rates, board, lodg-
ing and hall in which TO preach were de
sired by himself and his fellow workers, he
said
Others gained the floor and stated that
discretion should be used in sending mis-
sionaries to the states. One delegate claim
ed that Michigan had received this kind OF
aid when il included over sixty local So
cieties and was better able to take care
OF itself than is the national association.
Some one intimated that missionary work.
carried on recently in this state by MT.
Sprague had crippled the state association
Mr. Sprague made sharp retort. asking
the convention to examine the state asso-
cations books. where they would ind
that, while s2o0-had been expended for his
Jiah de
amount had been COLLECTED by the mission
aries and added to the associations fund.
Investigation Courted.
Il request the convention to discover for
itself whether or not 1 am falsifying," he
exclaimed in conclusion.
Mr. Sprague was interrupted many times
by President Barrett for responding out of
order to questions raised by others.
Continuing the debate on the committees
report, some delegates held that the state
associations should be the backbone of the
national association and support 1t. instead
of looking to it for aid. Pros and cons were
heard from all sides, with the ultimate re-
suit that the committees recommendations
We're adopted in their entirety. This con-
clusion of the affair was not reached, how
ever, until the previous question had been
demanded and ordered.
The convention next heard the report of
the general superintendent of Children'S ly-
ceum work Mr.. John w. Ring of Texas.
The financial condition of this department
of the Spiritualists' work was stated to be
very encouraging. Over "a 500 lesson sheets
have been distributed over the country dur
ing the past year. lie said. When he re-
ferred to the children the greatest hope
of the church, and called attention to the
successful work that he had been carrying
on among them. he was loudly applauded.
Following Mr. Ring. Mrs. Emma Rood
lutte of Berlin Heights. Ohio, addressed the
assembly at some length.
The program OF the convention calls for
the election of officers at 3 O'Clock Late
yesterday President Harrison D. Barrett
consented to stand again for the first
office, having received petition that he do
so signed by seventy-five delegates. The
other nominee is George w. Hates of Penn
sylvania. 1t Is considered certain that Mr..
Barrett will be reelected The nominees
for the other offices are as follows:
For vice president, DR. George b. Warne
of Illinois: for secretary, AIRS. Mary r
Longely of this city; for treasurer, Mr..
Theodore ]. Mayer, also of this city; for
trustee from the District of Columbia. Mr..
flour to be chosen, Mrs. Clara L. Stewart
of Wisconsin. Mrs. Carrie f. S. living of
New York, Mr.. j. s. Gillespie of California
Mr.. c. l. Stevens of Pennsylvania, Mrs Car
RE +. Curran of Ohio Mr. Thomas Grim
shaw of Missouri, Mr. AlonZo Thompson of
Nebraska MIR. ]. r. Hatch of Massachu-
sets. DR.. b. Odell of Michigan. Mr.. +. w.
Sprague of New York and Mr.. c. d. Pruden
OF Minnesota.
be held tonight The meeting will be
cial in nature like those held each even
Ing this week. Spirit messages will be
received.