Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1904-10-19
UNITARIAN COME RENEE
HELD AT UNITY CHURCH LAST WEEK
Although the Attendance was Small From
Abroad, a Very interesting and Profi-
table Session Was Held.

Association of Unitarian and other in
dependent churches was held at Unity
in church this city last week.
| AS there are less than q score of
churches in the state affiliated with
this association. the delegate atten-
dance is never very large, and it was
smaller than usual this year because
of Decorah's poor railroad facilities.
But If our guests thought this hard
place to get into and out Of. they ap-
preciated the place itself. They were
enthusiastic over our picturesque
scenery and though. our town well
named the Switzerland of America. I"
More than one said the success of the
conference was due in part to the
autumn beauty which the decorating
committee had transferred from the
ovarfowing hillsides to the church
walls.
The local attendance was excellent,
especially in the afternoons and even
ings, many friends from the other
churches coming in. Those present
from distance we're:
Rev. A. NJ. Judy, Davenport.
DIR. D. j. H. Ward, Iowa Oity.
Rev. Mary A. Stafford. Des Moines.
Rev. Elinor E. Gordon, Des Moines.
Mr.. Wilcox, Des Moines
Mrs. Needles, Centerville.
Rev. Elizabeth Padgham, Perry.
Rev. r. E. Ramsev. Humboldt.
Mr.. and Mrs. Pike, Hesper.
Mesdames Holden, Hill and Whar-
am, Manley.
Mrs. Mary A. Emsley. Mason City.
Mrs. Julia M. Dakin. Mason City.
Mrs. w. b. Chapman, Washta.
Mr.. and Mrs. II. NJ Ferrin, Washta.
Rev. Effie x. M. Jones, Waterloo.
Mrs. j. W. Daubney. Lakefield,
MINI.
Rev. w. M. Backus, Chicago.
Rev. Jenkin Lloyd Jones, Chicago.
Rev. Samuel A. Elliot. d. D., Bos-
ton.
Rev. A. G. Wilson. Rhinelander.
Wis.
The address of Mr. Backus on "Fads
and Fancies in Church Work" on
Tuesday was q plea for the quiet,
steady, old fashioned methods of con-
Quoting public services. He thought
sensational methods lowered the dig
nifty Of the church, and did not make
for the best permanent results in up
lifting the people. He also thought
the institutional church q hindrance
rather than help, unless the main
object of the church was kept clearly
in view, namely, religious culture.
The discussion brought out different
opinions while no one advocated SEN
sational methods. some thought the
conventional Sunday morning service
inadequate to present day needs.
They would supplement it, for in
stance, with the evening sermon or
lecture illustrated bv the stereopticon
to which Mr.. Backus objected.
DR.. Ward. in his paper the next day
on 1.-The Sunday Meetings, took
radical view of the same question and
the lively but always courteous uis-
cussion continued. Mr.. Judy offered
a valuable suggestion to the effect
that in the ideal church every hour of
Sunday should be filled with different
kinds OF services. One hour should
be given to the devotional service and
sermon. one to the Sunday school. one
to music, one to great literature. one
to great pictures thrown upon the
screen, aud SO on, thus ministering to
mans higher nature on its every side.
Mr.. Ramsey in his paper on" Graded
Studies in the Sunday School" out
lined an eight years course, of which
the main object was to develop in the
pupil the consciousness of God in His
two aspects of Law and Love. The
subjects included in the course are
Nature, The Old Testament Ideal. The
New Testament Ideal. Life of Jesus.
Church History. Unitarian History.
Diversity of Belief and Unity of Spir-
it, Unity of Belief, Applied Teaching
of Jesus.
Mr.. Judy's talk on How to Make
Unitarians who will work for the
Spread of Unitarianism," was in the
main q recommendation that represen-
tatives of the various conferences meet
and uevise systematic plan of educa-
tion. adaptable in all our churches.
whicn should aim to make our young
people intelligent, enthusiastic and
loyal concerning the cause for which
our church stands. Both Mr.. Ramsey's
and Mr.. Judy's papers aroused keen
interest and hearty commendation.
Mrs. Jones in her able address OH
"The Relation of the Church to Social
Reforms" said that while the church
must ever be interested in all reforms.
her relation is that of an inspirer.
She is not to do the reform work her