Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-07-14
Omen National Convention
At Hartford, Conn.
Roll Call Brings Responses
From Almost Every State.
The Reports Show Prosperous Condition.
The Congresses Commenced.

service led by MISS Laura L. hen0alI OF
Massachusetts. opened the first days
session of the national convention Of
the Young Peoples Christian Union in
the Church of the Redeemer Univer-
salist), today. The attendance of dele
gates was very large as most of those
from the Connecticut and Massachu-
sets local unions arrived, last night, or
on the early morning trains.
The convention organized for BUSH
ness at the close of the devotional SER
vice, President Louis Amin Ames of
New York City, calling to order. The
roll call by states brought responses
from all sections of the United States
and many prominent members and
ciergymen in the denomination were
enthusiastically greeted by the con-
vention.
The report of National Secretary
Harry Adams Hersey of Boston, was
presented. In it he reviewed not only
the numerical growth of the union. but
also the work accomplished during the
past year in both the senior and junior
bodies and in the field. The figures sub
mitted by state secretaries, he said,
showed a membership of approximate
ly 5000 of which number $500 were in
the senior and $500 in the junior union.
The years gain in membership had
been about 1000. Financially the year
had been satisfactory one, he said,
1904 by 1854.
The contributions to missionary work
average 50 cents per capita for the en-
tire membership of the senior union.
The state unions the past year have
not only paid their assessments, but
have paid back dues SO that the total
receipts from this source have been
larger than ever before, indicating a
healthy revival of interest in the
work of the union.
Sec. Herscy also reported on the con-
dition of the Onward, the Official Or
gan of the union, of the post Office mis-
sion which had increased it's work
three fold, of the loan library and the
pictorial history of the Universalist
church. During the past year Secretary
Hersey in connection with field work,
Travelled over large part of the Unit
ed States, addressing state conventions
and summer meetings.
Among recommendations made in the
=
tenticn be paid to field work by con-
centration of the various missionary
enterprises into one department under
a salaried secretary and the appoint
ment Of national secretary who shall
devote exclusive attention to the bus
mess interest Of the union.
The financial report of the national
union was read by Sec. Hersey as the
national treasurer. George F. Sears of
Chicago. was unable to be present by
reason of Illness. Then followed reports
OH missionary work by J. c. Bond of
Atlanta. Ca. Rev. Alfalfa l.. r. Irwin
of Little Rock. Ark. and Rev. Henry
b. Taylor of st. Louis.
a message of sympathy was sent by
the convention to Treasurer Sears. A
number of recommendations made by
the executive board i'm its report came
up for consideration.
In the afternoon, congresses were
conducted. the first on the post Office
mission. conducted by Mrs. Emma
kecne Bushee of Washington. d. c..
the sccC0d on Christian citizenship
with general discussion on the topic
The Most Practical Work Union
and the last one on state unions with
Rev. John Murray Atwood of Portland,
Nc. as the leader.
The session, tonight. opened at 730
O'Clock. with song service and despite
the heat was largely attended. 1t was
presided over by Rev. Charles H. Pen
noyer, president of the Vermont and
Quebec Y. p. c. u. At O'Clock. an ad-
dress was delivered by eRv. Henry w.
r. Rose of Newark, N. j., on ,"Univer-
salism Of Healthy Mind"
This was followed by an address by
Rev. Leroy w. Coons of Pittsfeld. Me.
his subject being 1.-The Nathralness of
Religion. He said:
1.-The stupendous gifts which are
made in the name of religion betokcn
Il genuine feeling in the breast of the
world. This is an age of neutrality.
Men and women in general do not care
for what you and ! consider as the
choicest article in the world. What then
is our message to strengthen and en-
courage those engaged in the business
of religion and to turn into proper
channels the tide which seems to be
moving against us? My proposition is
that religion is the simplest and most
fundamental religion to human life.
Religion is usually considered as some
thing strange to human nature. AS
an experience religion is something re-
ceivcd from the outside. To many 1t Is
garment to put on and off. To others
ia l.. ~ nd