Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1909-08-18
UNITARIAN CONFERENCE.
Annual Session at sullivan Last
Week Most Enjoyable.

Week Most Enjoyable.
The eighteenth annual session of the
Hancock county conference of Unitarian
and other Christian churches was held at
the Church-of- Our Father in Sullivan,
| Thursday and Friday.
| The service of worship Thursday even
ing was conducted by Rev. Palfrey Per-
kins, in charge Of the summer services at
| Bar Harbor. The sermon was by Rev. G..
A. Henderson, OF Wilmington, Del, in
| charge OF the summer services at West
the vital elements OF religion as emotional
uplift, conviction, right action.
The exercises Friday opened with de-
yotional service conducted by Rev. G. A.
purdy, of the Methodist society, Sullivan.
An address was given by Rev. Alva Roy
Scott, of Bangor, on 1.-THE Contagion of
| Happiness, setting forth the Joy in the
wholesome adjustment Of ones self to
ones surroundings, and the noble conta-
| gion of the Astounding life. This was fol-
lowed by words OF confederation by Rev.
C. A. Purdy and by Rev. S. W. Sutton, OF
| Ellsworth.
| Rev. c. F. Dole, d. D., spoke upon ''The
New Religion. He said in part: 'sThe
new theology is a widely accepted
| phrase; but a new theology involves a
| new religion. Men tire of false teach
ings; they want good conduct, and they
want happiness; these are social neces-
sity, and they want the sense OF know
| ledge. The new message is that this
| world in which we live is Gods world.
| The law OF life coming to rule is the law
| of goodwill.
The note OF JOY IS test OF the validity
OF religion. There is the law Of cost,
of sacrifice; yet sacrifice Is not sacrifice.
| The authority of religion is the experience
| of religion. The business of life is to
bring in the life OF goodwill The
church is for this-to send the Worship
ers forth to do the deeds; an inspiring
influence for freshness and reality"
| In the afternoon three addresses we're
given. W. T. Sedgwick, Phi. D., Sc. D.,
professor Of biology at the Massachusetts
Institute OF Technology, on s.Science and
| Conduct, said that ''science has gained
| victories, has come to the place OF power;
| it influences conduct; and it accepts the
| responsibility that that influence, that
| that power involves. 1t becomes a bull
wark OF conduct by casting out uncer-
tainty, by showing the sure effects OF
acts"
Charles Sprague Smith, II. A., founder
and managing director Of the Peoples
Institute, also OF the Ethical Social
league, New York, gave an address on
1.-THE Basis OF the New Social Order. He
said ave are facing . transformation OF
society that is revolutionary; not local,
but worldwid Whether the method Of
change will be revolutionary or evolu-
tionary depends upon the wisdom that
guides or fails to guide.
Much Of present administration is un-
intelligent and uneconomic; the common
man in his protest is fundamentally right;
he must come into his inheritance. We
cannot with exactness chart that land
into which we must come by slow pro-
cesses OF readjustment and experiment.
The changes should be peacefully guided
by the ethical forces.n
Rev. William Adams Brown, Phi. D., d.
D.. professor of systematic theology at the
Union theological seminary. New York,
spoke on 1.-THE Christian Idea OF God",
He said sin the growth of modern SCI
ence and the spread OF the new social
spirit, our chief task is still to bring men
to faith in God-the faith that the world
is controlled by a being like Jesus in
character and purposes and to bring men
to the consent of their will to Gods will"
The discussion following the addresses
was engaged in by Rev. Samuel A. Eliot,
D. D., Rev. Francis G. Peabody, D. D.,
and Rev. Charles 4. Dole, d. D.
A company came up to Sullivan, beauti-
full for situation, sufficient TO well I'LL the
attractive church. The following officers
were elected: President, Rev. H. II.
Saunderson, Cambridge, Mass; vice.
president, Irving Osgood, Ellsworth;
secretary and treasurer, B. c. Reynolds,
Bar Harbor.
Resolutions of thanks to the speakers,
the entertaining parish, and the trans
portation companies were adopted.
Resolutions were passed in commence
ration Of Capt. s. o. Moore, OF Prospect
Harbor, of Mrs. E. J. Morrison, OF Bar
Harbo and Of Mrs. Solomon Kelliher, OF
Ellsworth, who have died in the confer
ence year. The conference closed with
devotional service conducted by Rev. II. Fl.
Saunderson