The Republican journal., 1910-10-06
Maine State Spiritualists Con.
ventiOn
Held in Memorial Hall, Belfast, October
1st and End.

Held in Memorial Hall, Belfast, October
| 1st and End.
The fourteenth annual convention of the
Maine State Spiritualists convened at ten
o'clock on Saturday morning, October 1st, with
large attendance. The sessions were held in
Memorial hall and opened with the address of
President Mark A. Barwise of Bangor. The
convention was of two days. The Saturday
morning and afternoon sessions were devoted
to business and in the evening an address was
given by Mrs. Harriet C. Webber of Dorchester.
Mass, who also iectured on Sunday evening.
Sunday afternoon Mrs. Minerva R. Barwise
OF Bangor gave an interesting address. The
reports from the various officers showed the
society to be on very prosperous footing, with
a large and increasing membership from the
small organization of some fourteen wears ago.
Financially the society is in good standing and
the number of societies has increased material
ly during the past year. The address of Presi-
dent Barwise was review of the year and the
offering of suggestions for future work. some
of which were most important and will be sub.
stantiated by further action on the part of the
convention.
In his address President Barwise called the
attention of the audience to the fact that
Spiritualism looms larger in the public minds
than ever before. More space is being devoted
to it by both newspaper and magazine Books
and papers in the scientific field are giving at
tention to the phenomena
-Four summer campmeetings have been held
IN Maine this season and their entire sessions
were devoted to spiritual teachings, and thev
were successful both financially and in attend
ance. There are now ten or twelve local So
cleties and innumerable family and neghbor-
hood circles.
We advocate the federation of local societies
and camps into the State association, that in
concentrated body they may bring pressure to
bear on the legislature or any other body which
might injure our rights. Gifts of Spiritual
books to the public libraries at frequent inter-
walls will keep in the minds of readers the
teaching of our thought and the libraries will
be pleased to accept the gifts.
The continuation of the work of the historian
is recommended, that complete history of
Spiritualism and its growth in the State of
Maine may be recorded. An excellent begin
ming has been made, and this will be followed
by more work this fall and winter
| recommend that strong committee be ap-
pointed by this Association not to labor for any
special legislation, but to protect our rights by
working against legislation hostile to Spiritual
ism and its mediums.
The committee on resolutions, Mrs. Minerva
A. Barwise, Bangor; W. w Wall of Rockport
and Mrs. Bessie c. Blake of Camden reported
the following resolutions, which were adopted:
The Maine State Spirituaist Association in
fourteenth annual convention assembled. rev.
erenty thankful that since we last convened
the higher powers have been leading us up-
ward and onward, and still looking to them for
guidance, would take up the work of the fu-
ture with renewed conservation and devotion
Resolved, that We adopt and affirm our al
leglance to the following declaration of princi-
pies adopted by the national association, nei-
ther inclusively nor exclusively as matter of
creed binding upon the individual but rather
that the public may know in general way the
cardinal principles of our religious philosophy:
First. We believe in Infinite Intelligence.
Second. We believe that the phenomena of
Nature, physical and spiritual, are the express
sion of Infinite Intelligence.
Third. We affirm that correct understand
ing of such expression, and living in accord
ance Herewith, constitutes the true religion
Fourth. We affirm that communication with
the so-caled dead is fact scientifically prov
en- by the phenomena of Spiritualism
Sixth. We believe that the highest morality
is contained in the Golden Rule: whatsoever
ye would that others should do unto you, do We
also unto them.'
Resolved, That from the civic side of our
activities we declare ourselves as unalterably
Sn1 TO off oil 1rfin nd H.
honest, impartial and thorough endorsements
of all of our laws, to the end that a decent
respect for our forms of governments and a
deeper sense of the responsibility of citizen
ship may be inculcated in the minds of the
rising generation.
Resolved, That we affirm our belief in the
righteousness of the fundamental American
doctrines-"no taxation without representa-
ton and that governments derive their just
powers from the consent of governed-and
that these two propositions made sacred by the
blood of the Revolution will not have their COM
pletest and fullest embodiment in our land un-
til the women granted equal rights of fran
chise with those enjoyed by the men.
Resolved, That we extend our warmest
thanks to the people of Belfast for providing
for our comfort and convenience; to the Bel
fast Spiritual Society for providing a hall for
use free of charge; to those who have re-
ceived US into their homes with kindly hospi-
tality; and especially to Mrs. Nora Larrabee
for her untiring efforts in making arrangements
and for valuable services rendered in the in
terests of this convention; to the proprietors
of the Windsor hotel for special convention
rates and for courteous service; to the railroad
and steamboat officials for reduced rates; and
to all others who have contributed to the sue
cess of this convention.
The closing session was held Sunday even
ing Before adjournment the date of the an
nual meeting was changed by unanimous
vote from the first Saturday and Sunday of
October to the third Saturday and Sunday of
May. 1t was thought that legislation at the
annual session had better precede rather than
follow the campmeeting. 1t was also voted
that the securing of the speakers for the an
nual sessions should be left with the directors,
instead of with the president as in the past,
and that the selection of the city for the hold
ing of the next meeting should not be decided
by the annual meeting but by the board of di-
rectors.
The committees serving during the session
were as follows: Amendments, Mrs. Nellie M.
Kneeland of Boston, G. c. Lower and Mrs.
Frank Riggs of Belfast; credentials, Mrs. Eva
Jordan of Old Town, Mrs. G. c. Lower of Bel
fast and Mrs. Minerva A. Barwise of Bangor;
presidents report. S. M. Giles of Sangervlle
E. M. Bartlett of Winterport and Mrs. Idella