Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1904-10-19
UNITARIAN CONFERENCE &c.
Continued from first page.

all streams of reform. Mr.. Judy asked
if it were not true, on the other hand,
that the church derives life from the
working reformer; whereupon DR..
Eliot rejoined 'There is no quarrel
between faith and works. Genuine
faith always leads to work, and earn
est work always leads to faith" The
discussion further brought out the
opinions that minister may engage
in any reform work to any extent that
dose not cause neglect of his main
work, and has right to speak from
his pulpit, on occasions. in behalf of
any reform.
Two speakers on the program were
unable to come, but their time was
proftably filled with other business
The secretary's report showed a
healthy and steady gain along all
lines Miss Stafford the secretary, and
Mr.. Judy, the president, have held
their respective offices many years.
Both have shown rare ability and con-
secration. The old officers were re-
elected. The business committee re-
commended that number of volun-
teers be called for to assist the Secre-
tary in completing the endowment
fund. To this appeal five people re-
sponded Immediately. one of them be-
ing Rev. Rett E. Olmstead. Later,
two more offered their help, and Mrs.
Dakin of Mason City gave unsolicited.
500 to the fund.
The evening meetings were greeted
with full house. The congregational
singing was supplemented with an
thems by the chorus choir. solos by
Miss Eaton and Mrs. Simpson, violin
music by Prof. Smalley. and the al.
ways beautiful and soul-stirring vol
untaries of Mrs. Marsh.
Mr. Barkns' sermon was striking
application of Gen. XIX, 90. He said
all backward looking results in our
being saved as in brine. To be sailed
down, or turned to salt, is to be pre-
served from decay, but it is also to
cease growing. Instead of clinging to
the traditions and ideals of the past
we should look forward and be saved
by growth.
Mr.. Jones spoke on 1.-THE Three
References, suggested by Goethe q
Wilhelm Meister. First, reverence
for the things above; the sense OF
worship and piety pure and simple.
This is necessary but always a pri-
mary lesson. We should 60 on to the
higher reverence for things below
God as revealed through3s science
learn to see Him in the earth worm
and the pebble. Still higher is the
third reverence. the reverence for man
God as revealed in every human
brother the Divine Life manifested
in every soul.
DR.. Eliot, in the closing address o
the conf srence. took for his theme th'
validity OF feeling as an element of re
ligion.
He holds, as Herbert Spencer doe
in his last book. that the emotiona
life is more fundamental than the in
tellectual life; that feeling. rattle
than thought, determines our actions
hence the importance of cultivatin
NOBLE emotions.
The personnel of the evening speaker
presented an interesting contrast; Di
Eliot in look. speech and manner th
embodiment of Boston culture; MI
Jones with his rugged strength an
unique personality Mr.. Backus
different type from either; vet eac
one eloquent in his own way. eac
characterized by simplicity. direct
ness and convincing power.
The noon lunches in the church pal
lor were delightful seasons of socia
intercourse.
The noon devotional meetings lie
by Miss Gordon and Mr. Wilson, an
the evening devotions conducted b
; Mr.. Judy, Miss Padgham and Mis-
Stafford. were supreme moments c
spiritual uplift. Altogether this cor
ference was pronounced by many tn
best ever held in the state. 1t Ina
brought to the DEBORAH church renewe
life and hope.