Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-06-14
AUGUSTA LOCALS
MAINE uNITARl-
ANS Open THEIR
ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Tuesday Evening at All Souls
Church-Organ Recital Fea-
ture of S e s s o n-President
Whitehouse Delivers Annual
Address-Three Sessions Will
Be Held Today

49,
good attendance A special feature Of
the session was an organ recital by
Mrs. Karl B. Sturgis. organist at All
Souls church, and a cordial invitation
which had been extended to the pub
lie was accepted by a goodly number.
Mrs. Sturgis' numbers were as follows:
The Sea, Mcdowell
Cloister Scenes, Mason
Vision. Rheinberger
Vesperall. Diygle
Kamennei Ostrow, Rubinstein
Tccatta, Dubois
|. The devotional service Of the session
which opened at s o'clock, was in
charge of Rev George F. Pratt of San
ford.
An address on the war by William P.
Whitehouse, former chief justice of
the supreme court Of Maine and pres
ident Of the association, was the fea-
ture.
American citizens repudiate the
mCnstrous doctrine Of the Divine right
OF kings" he said. land deny that any
European despotism has SO monopoliz-
ed the virtues of humanity that it has
acquired the right to dominate all the
other nations Of the earth, and they
deem it n solemn obligation which they
owe to their own country and to man.
kind to engage in a defensive war for
the protection of their own lives and
liberties. and the preservation Of Cow
eminent by the people throughout the
world.
I'm 1851. the patriotism Of our coun-
try defended and maintained govern
ment by the people and liberty under
law on this continent and in 1917. with
Gods help, the pa .riotism of our coun-
try will save and preserve govern
ment by the people and liberty under
law for ourselves and all mankind"
The complete address follows:
In September 1852. a convention was
held in Portland for the purpose Of
forming permanent organization Of
the churches Of the Unitarian faith in
Maine. and in the preamble, prepared
by Rev Sylvester Judd of Augusta, it is
said: I'VE are the church, not of
creeds, but of the Bible :>not of a sect.
but of humanity, seeking not uniform
ity Of dogma, but communion in the re-
ligious life"
And the objects Of the Association
were said to be among others, Ito re-
view the condition Of the several
churches, to concert the best methods
of propagating gospel truth, and to ad-
just ourselves more nearly to the
course Of events whereby Divine Prov
idence seems evidently to be ushering
IN a better and millennial day to the
whole human race"
1t will be remembered that this was
in the year 1852 when the civilizat ton
of large section Of our country was
plighted by the curse of human
slavery, and strenuous and persist
ent efforts were being made by
libertyloving men and women to effect
the abolition Of it. In 1861 this nation
was plunged into the agony and tumult
Of a civil war, begun and waged for
the perpetuation Of human slavery. 1t
was then predicted by the autocrats Of
Europe and the apologists of the sys-
tenn in America, that there was no
strength in the union of our states and
no patriotism in the nation to prevent
the disruption and downfall of our Re-
public. But the flag Of our country was
flung to the loyal breezes on every hill
top in the North and West. The great
principles of government by the people,
and liberty under law, with equal OPP
portunity and equal justice for all
Gods children in this land, were tri-
umphant. I have referred to this great
crisis in American history for the pur-
pose of illustrating the fact that there
NAV be defensive war which Is alto
gether a just and righteous one
This nation was compelled to take up
IN n nd re-
defensive war to maintain and perpet-
uate the great truths and purposes
which were consecrated by the fathers
as the ground work for this nation. The
Federal triumph struck the shackles
from four millions of slaves and dem
onstrated for all the ages the power Of
a democracy to command the forces
requisite to protect and defend its ma
tioEal life. 1t 'regenerated the civiliza-
ton of the south. and was promptly
followed bv the restoration of amicable
relations between the two sections of
the country, and marked increase in the
welfare and prosperity of the aggress-
ors themselves who were vanqu,succ in
battle.
After the triumph Of Freedom and
Union at Appomattox, and the prompt
return Of the citizen soldiers Of both
armies to the paths Of peace nearly
two generations passed without any
wars in the world except the few shots
fired for the liberation Of Cuba. and
some petty conflicts among the small
states Of Europe. Thus when the Uni
tartan convention met in this church
three years ago, there seemed to be
some basis for The cheerful optimism Of
Mr.. Judd in regard to the approaching
millennial day-a day free from wick
edness and full Of righteousness and
joy. Then intelligent and thoughtful
people in all civilized countries felt
warranted in cherishing the belief that
there had been no period in history
when people evinced a higher regard
for truth: when the sense Of justice
was more widely diffused, when there
was broader spirit Of charity or more
Righteousness and honor among the ma
tons Of the earth than at that time
Then all the Christian influences Of the
world SEEMED to be working in fur
therance Of the most beneflcent move
ment Of the age in favor Of the judicial
settlement II International disputes
and the establishment Of worldwide
peace. But in two short months they
were rudelv awakened and disillusioned
by the sudden outbreak In Europe of