Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-20
IN ANNUAL SESSION
GENERAL CONVENTION OF THE
NEW JERUSALEM.
Reports of Officers Showing Strength
of the OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
of Swedenborg.

r-be Aiehty-fourth annual session of the
general convention of the New Jerusalem
in the United States was called to order
this morning in the National New Church,
corner of 18th and Corcoran streets. The
day was given over to the reading of an
nual reports by the secretary. treasurer
other officers and the chairmen OF the sew
eral committees Considerable progress IN
the work of the denomination was reported.
the record showing fifty-nine Sunday
schools in successful operation. embracing
ab3 officers and approximately 1900 stu
dents The schools are located in every
state and territory in the United States and
are rapidly spreading the doctrine OF the
Rev Dr. Swedenborg. which prescr1bes a
line OF instruction following the hterary
story of the Bible, embellished by what
is termed 1.-The internal sense of the woru
of God" BY this doctrine, 1T is held, the
Indifferent epochs recorded in the Bible are
Treated allegorically for the purpose or IN
educating into the teachings of Christ
greater and simpler human interest.
3D. The better portion of the morning seS-
sion was taken up by discussion OF tne
ipracticability of prescribing one line OF
study for the Sunday schools, irrespective
of ages of the students. 1t was pointed
out that one line of study should be pre-
tscribed for the youngest scholars and
something entirely different presented for
the consideration of the older pupils, and
that the interests of both classes could
not be best subserved by teaching the
Same manner OF lesson to both old ana
young The matter was brought up by
Rev. William l.. Worcester of Philadel-
phla, who, chairman of the committee
on lessons, included the subject in his re-
port He proposed the study for the next
year be limited to the book of St John
and the Revelations. Rev. DIR. Hobart of
Cincinnati and Prof. Thomas French, jr,
of Amherst, Mass, took an active part in
the discussion, but the suggestions of DR..
Worcester were finally accepted by the
convention.
The report of the treasurer showed the
finances of the association to be in good
condition. The chairman of the committee
on libraries reported that a revised list of
books proper for children to study was
being drafted and would be presented prob
ably this evening for the consideration of
the convention.
The "Related Meetings"
The convention is composed of what il
terms related meetings." several separate
organizations being represented. The meet
ing this forenoon was of the American New
Church Sunday School Association, with
its president. Rev. Samuel C. Eby of ST.
Louis. presiding. The committee on Gre
dentials was composed of Rev. ]. w. Stock
well of Chicago and Rev. Charles W. Har-
vey of Brookline. Mass. The committee On
nominations consisted of Rev. DIR. T. +.
Wright of Cambridge, Mass; Rev. Russell
Eaton of Urbana. Ohio, and Prof. Thomas
French jr.. of Amherst Mass
The program for this afternoon included
the reading of two important papers, both
of which were followed by an interesting
discussion. Miss Rabbit of Concnnati
spoke on "A Brief Doctrnal Catechism."
Rev Hiram Vrooman's paper described
some of Our Sunday School Experiences"
AT late hour this afternoon the board
of managers of the theological school will
hold special meeting in church study.
The convention choir will rehearse in the
"a tnryy n fo1
services tomorrow, when the annual ad-
dress of the president of the convention
Rev. Samuel S. Seward of New York, will
be delivered Tomorrow afternoon the
Young Peoples League is scheduled for a
sail down the Potomac to Marshall Hall
and Mt Vernon, special arrangements hay-
! ing been made for the trip. The conven-
ton will continue in session until next
Thursday.
Young Peoples League.
The Young Peoples League conference
was held last night in the National New
Church, and the works of the late DR..
Swedenborg were discussed at length.
This was the seventeenth annual con-
ference of the league and encouraging
progress was reported. Mr. Lloyd F. Frost
OF cambridge presided. and an address of
greeting was delivered by Rev. Dr. Frank
oeW3d1. pastor of the National Church and
>enort addresses by Rev. c. w. Harvey of
cambridge and Rev. Russell Eaton
The work of the last year was reviewed
and that for the coming year planned.
The executive committee reported that
steady progress had been made In the past
year There was much discussion of the
book to be selected for the reading cir
cies FOR the ensuing year. and as there was
difficulty in uniting on any one work of
Swedenborg 1T was decided to bring the
matter TO a vote tomorrow morning
tomorrow evening there will be a recon-
ton to the general convention delegates
and to the young people at the residence
OF Justice and Mrs. Job Barnard 1905
Rhode Island avenue