New-York tribune., 1907-09-24
RELIGIOUS LIBERALS.
Notable Gathering at National con-
ference IN Boston.

Boston. Sept 23.-The. National Conference .,
Unitarian and other Christian Churches was heo
In this city to-day with notable gathering OF DER
gates and an attendance in which were repfeseii.
many distinguished and women of npera i0i>-'
who had TO attend the International Collsi .ss
of Religious Liberals. which opened in Syh'pho'
Hall last evening. The business sessions vi IL
international congress will begin tomorrow. i4i0
national conference occupied the interval WITH se'
sions scheduled for forenoon afternoon and even
ing.
To-day's meetings were held in fremont 1eiip'',
which will be used also by the internatloiai
congress, though the historic Kings Chapel Will u
the Headquarters of the Internal tonat BODY CarIoi
D. Wright president of Clarks College. Worcester
president Of the national association, presided a'
the opening session this forenoon After brle1 au
dress committees business and resolutions "elo
appointed the report of the council was pre-
, sented by the Rev. Paul Revere Frotnnghani VI
Boston
Following the business meetings. Charles w,
Eliot, president OF Harvard University, dlscusseo
the Freedom of Churches in the United States as
regards property holding and self government ne
said that the had all given large rights ana
powers to voluntary associations for renelons puf-
poses because they have distinctly recosnzeo thdt
the churches whole, contribute TO the "el'e
and efficacy of the people, and therefore, 10 Tie
success and stability of democratic government
The Rev Dr. George A. Gordon. of Boston spoke
on Faith Affected by Freedom. Inc kesnote
of the address was that freedom was the cohui-
tfon OF progress, and that among Americans lfee-
dom was fixing attention upon character he ue-
plored irresponsibility as the one supreme eFi III
all departnlents of existence and urged strongly
the need of 'the authority Of an enlightened con-
science.
The afternoon session opened with devotional
o-,oe Professor Fem Of Harvard the first
sneaker held that as the function OF theology is
so tn interpret religious experience as TO unlly
ho,h exnerence and thought increasing knowledge
md daene1ing experience require progressive the-
ology. s-.,,
Professor Francis A. Christie. Of MeadVi"e.
penn referred 70 the causes of the resolution Oh
the church into local units, and the increasing
tendency toward social unity. Humanity ne
sa,a having repudia ted uniformity or orSanlzd
,tor tba rongenial diversity may be retained But
tbe new snirt asks that this be retained IN some
new, condition Of friendly and concerted action
Marcus P Knowton. chief Justice OF the supreme
Court of Massachusetts, said, regarding the sep
aration of Church and State, that of the many
blessings Of free government we deem thls the
choicest .
~. hepef of r-nitarfans and that of Universalists.
and declared tha. there was no real ooStacie u
closer fellowship and cooperation
The foreign guests were invited to make Vlsa'
- .ba afternoon 70 the homes of Emerson. HaW-
ttorna AIcott Thoreau and other liberal thinkers
In Concord. -.
Tonight a reception was held at the Hotel SOM
erset and there were brief addresses by Governor
Curtis Guild ir Professor Montet. retiring pres-
dent of the International Council; Sir William b.
Bowring Bart president Of the British and For
eign Unitarian Association: DR.. Meiboom OF cIron-
ingan: Professor ReviIe Of Paris: PROFESSOR
Pfeiderer of Berlin, and others.