Norwich bulletin., 1912-04-13
UNIVERSALIST YOUNG PEOPLE HERE
Delegates From Eight Unions Attendance 23rd Annual Convention Meeting at Church of the Good Shepherd National President BuCknel the Guest at Banquet

Delegates from eight of the nine unions in the state were in attendance here Friday for the 23d annual con venuon of the Young Peoples Chris tian Union of the Universalist church of Connecticut, which was held in the Church of the Good Shepherd (Uni- versalist) with the opening session Tn the afternoon. followed by a banquet in the evening. The plans carried out by the entertaining church and the facilities which it's new edifce offered insured a comfortable and enjoyable time for the delegates, and contribut- ed to the pleasure and prOttableness of the meetings.
 Through delay in the arrival of State President Ernest A. Stuckey of Dan bury the convention opened half an hour late in the afternoon, beginning at s30 with an organ voluntary by Mss Carrie K. Ciamplin. after which President Stuekey called the conven- ton to order. the attendance being about fifty. In the absence of the sec retary. Miss Edna H. Harris of Meri- den. her place was taken by one of the trustees, Fred Champlin of Hartford.
 Answered the Roll Call.
 The roll was called, with delegates responding from Norwich, Bridgeport. Danbyrv. Hartford, Meriden, Stafford. New London, but none from Stamford and New Haven. The New Haven del egates arrived later in the day.
 This was followed by the appoint ment of sessional committees:
 On credentials - Herbert Plumb, Stafford: Richard W. Young, Norwich; William S Johnson, Hartford.
 On official reports and recommenda- tions-Royal F. Foster Danbury; J. Oliver Armstrong, Norwich; Mrs. Charles Smith, Danbury.
 On resolutions-Miss Marjorie Nj. Howe. Hartford: Miss Marsh, Bridge port; Miss Susan M. Andrews Bridge port
 Address of Welcome.
 In his address of welcome President J. oliver Armstrong of the local union spoke of the pleasure they had in wei coming the young people of the state 70 the new church and the value ot such conventions as this for the young people. and he extended a cordial wei come 10 all the delegates to the clty of Norwich.
 Tha -esDonse was by President Stuckey. who spoke of the convention an Bridgeport a year ago, where ho was elected accepting the office with reluctance. and on behalf of the state union he thanked the Norwich Young Peoples union for the invitation to the new church in Norwich, and he ex- tended the best wishes of the conVen- ton to the Norwich union and church and the hope that the work here should show an ever increasing growth and that the convention in Norwich may be remembered with pleasure and inspiration by all attending
 H--4.--t A.-a;-
 The devotional meeting led by Miss Ruth Gibson, Hartford, who was sub stituted for Mss Marjorie M. Howe, Hartford, had for it's topic Opportuni- ties, and was opened by the singing of three hymns, Sound the Battle Cry, Only Armor Bearer and Whosoever Will
 The leader read a scripture lesson, and prayer was offered by Rev. F. A. Dillingham; of Bridgeport, state super intendent
 The alto solo Abide With Me was rendered in fine voice by Mrs. Freder- ick S. Young. In brief remarks upon the topic the leader brought out the point that opportunities came to us in number and even the smallest were often blessings in disguise. Our count | less opportunities should not be vast | ed, we 1h1uld distinguish between good 1 and bad. and recognize that the little | opportunities should not be neglected l while we are waiting for @ big one to l arrive. Let us stop grumbling that op p0rtunities don't come to us, but keep | our eyes open to the many, large and l small, that are thronging about us.
 Alter the singing of the hymn Abide | With Me, several spoke briefly upon 1 the subject in closing the devotional i meeting.
 Conditions of Growth.
 The convention was continued with | an address upon Conditions of Growth | by Rev Elliott Bates Barber. Danbury. | a former member of the entertaining | church and a brother of NJ. A. Barber | of this city.
 He referred pleasantly to his former | associations with the Norwich church | and took up his subject in an inform | ing way The fundamental factor in l growth is life which demands the | proper conditions in order that it may | accomplish that for which it is creat- ed Much as the plant demands right l conditions for true and the best {, growth, so life demands right condi- l lions ana institutions to grow and | prosper. The Young Peoples Christian | union has life and always has been the | expression of life, and today we are realizing as never before that the power by which the church is schiev- ing her victories is by the power of Jesus Christ. and the Christian union is a daughter of the church and is acsuated by the same source If life as the church. X second growth is that Tn the economy of God 1t is his purpose that everything which he has created shall be of use. and the Young Peoples ofn fc very much to their credit. There are few who have not felt it's impulse and It's power. The speaker instanced a Young Peoples union in Maine which had rescue1 their church from decay and made it power in the city
 He spoke of the production of leaders ss one Of the achievements of the Young Peoples unions. Growth can be attained by loyalty to our organiza- tions and the use we make of them, he said, put the Christian union must keep true to its type and purpose. If 1t de- generates into merely a social club, or merely meeting place. 1t is not true to its type, and the Young Peoples union that tries to maintain that type will fellow the order of nature and de- generate. Keeping true is one of the vital conditions to our work
 Today in the world there seems to ot TIT ICn moro Llan ever DeIOre or those things that dwarf the things of the spirit and magnify the things without. The pleasure seeking spirit the search for honors the craze for gain gre outer forces belittling the things of the spirit and we must re- sist or spiritual death will follow Re- membering the right spiritual type we shall some day rejoice. but forgetting it will bring endless regret and fail ura
 Rev. NIT. Barber close5 the after noon sessior with the benedlction. and there was then a conference of the local and srate officers
 The Connn1ittees