The Universalist. [volume], September 18, 1897, Page 4, Image 4

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The Universalist.
J. s. CANTWELL. D. D., EDITOR.
THE EDITOR is assisted by Able writers in all
departments. Th* interior and Western States are
represented by re»uiar correspondents. News from
fee churches solicited and always welcome.
•** All articles intended for The Universalist
•hould be addressed "Editor of The Uoiversallst,
Chicago, III."
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•rders payable to A. M. Johnson, Cashier, or Uulver
•alist Publishing House. Western Branch.
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Bemlt by postal money '‘rder. registered letter, draft,
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Universalist Profession of Faith.
ADOPTED 1803.
L
We believe that the Holy Scriptures of the Old and
New Testaments contain a revelation of the character
of God. and of the duty, interest and final destination
of mankind
n
We believe that there is one God. whose nature is
Love, revealed In one Lord Jesus Christ, by one Holy
Spirit of Grace, who will finally restore the whole
family of maukind to holiness and happiness
III.
We believe that holiness and true happiness are
inseparably connected, and that believers ought to be
careful to maintain order, and practice good works,
for these things are good and profitable unto men.
SATURDAY. SEPTEMBER 18.
Editorial.
THE GENERAL CONVENTION.
The Universalist General Convention
will meet in St. Paul's Church, Chicage,
HI., on Tuesday. October 19.1897, at half
past two o'clock, r. m. The session of
Tuesday afternoon will be devoted to the
Holy Communion, followed by the Occa
sional Sermon, to be delivered by Rev.
Arthur G. Rogers. D. D., of Pennsylvania.
The reports of the Board of Trustees and
the Treasurer, with other reports and
communications will occupy Tuesday
evening and the general business of the
Convention will proceed on Wednesday
morning, and on until concluded. A full
program will be published in anticipation
of the the meeting.
The State Conventions have been duly
notified as to election of delegates. The
names of such, in order to be placed up
on the roll foi organization, must be of
ficially certified to the Secretary of the
General Convention before the time of
meeting.
Arrangements have beem made for a re
duction of fares to all in attendance who
obtain certificates of payment of full fare
from the starting point to Chicago, which
when signed at the church by the Secre
tary, and vised by the Railway agent,
will secure return tickets for one-third
f are. Pull particulars will be published
later.
G. L. Demarest, Secretary.
Preparations are already in progress
for what promises to be the greatest
Convention we have ever held. Delegatee
and ministers will be furnished with
lodging and breakfast free. A first class
caterer will give dinners and suppers in
the vestry at the lowest possible price.
But St. Paul's sends a cordial invita
tion to all, promising, with the aid of our
sister churches here,as far as possible to
deal as hospitably with the visiting
brethren, as with the delegates. But
let all who purpose attending send at
once name and address to Rev. J. J.
Lewis. 3,000 Prairie Ave., that cards of
entertainment may be returned to them
in good season. By order of committee.
At q rAPAiit W7 Pj T
Universalist Wo- u. School of Methods,'
men in Reform, held af £,ong Beach,
California, ten representatives of as
many denominations, some of them hold
ing entirely antagonistic theological
views, were present to exchange opin
ions and to greet each other as work
ers in the field of benevolence. One of
the seesions was devoted to a sympo
sium on this proposition: "Women in
Reform, especially what has been her
influence in my own denomination?”
Rev. Dr, E. L. Conger, of Pasadena, was
the representative of the Universalist
church, and the Loe Angeles Herald,
reporting the meeting, said Dr. Con
ger had by many odds the advantage,
in the long list of noble and notable
women who in his church had wrought
i n philanthropic lines of reform for the
world’s good. Dr. Conger had a splen
did opportunity at this symposium to
make a good impression tor our church
and its noble array of women workers.
We are pleased to have testimony that
the opportunity was duly improved.
Many columns this
The Indiana weei, are ,n evidence
Reports- aa j.Q ^e growjDg
importance, and almost wonderful pro
gress, made by the Indiana Univerealist
Convention during the last decade.
The permanent fund of this convention
is now upwards of $20,000, and the
reports of the year presents many en
couraging features The addition to the
Indianapolis church and the erection of
the new parsonage, gives the capital
city of Indiana a valuable Univerealist
plant which will be wisely administered
as a Univerealist center for operations
in the state. We can ODly refer to the
report this week in general terms as
indicating a steady advance along all
lines of work in Indiana. The action
of the convention with reference to the
Profession of Faith is explicit. The
> Indiana delegates will come instructed
by the convention to oppose any change
in the Winchester Articles and in addi
tion a Memorial and Protest will be pre
sented from that state at the Chicago
Convention, based on the contention
that the convention cannot legally make
any change in the Articles of Faith.
This is an aspect of the discussion
which has not yet received attention
When the Indiana protest is made in
convention, we may expect that the
legal objections to a change will be very
decidedly set forth.
An extra edition of this impression of
The Univf.k-.ai.ist is printed for distri
in Indiana.
We regret to be ob
Thc Lansing Dedi liged to defer this
cation. week an account of
the stirring and impressive services at
the dedication of the newly erected
Church of Our Father, in Lansing,
Michigan, last Sunday. Next week we
will have an engraving of the church
and a full account of the interesting ser
vices. In response to the appeals made
morning afternoon and evening, a total
of 81673 was secured towards the in
debtedness resting on the church. This
large amount came in small subscrip
tions and from nearly one hundred per
sons. The day was a joyful one for
Linsiog, and the church thus dedicated
is one of the mo9t beautiful and commo
dius in the citv, and will rank well with
the finest edifices in our denomination.
Kev. Charles Legal is the patient, enter
prising and industrious pastor, through
whose instrumentality this fine edifice is
added to the wealth of our denomina
tion. The total cost of the church, ex
elusive of the valuable lot,—a gift to the
parish by the late Mrs. Sarah E. V.
Emery,—in exact figures is 816,385.74,
a sum well expended in securing this
beautiful house of worship, which is an
ornament to a city of elegant churches,
and a credit to the parish and pastor
who have carried it forward amid many
obstacles and discouragements to sue
cessful completion.
THE PROFESSION OF FAITH,
Opposition to the Winchester pro
fession of Faith begun in 1877, simp
ly as an effort to substitute some
other word for the word “ restore,”
culminated in Meriden in 1895, in a
vote to abolish every part of the His
toric Profession and put in its place
something altogether different. Ow
ing to the wise provision in the con
stitution of our General Convention,
two consecutive conventions must act
on such a proposition and so the
matter comes up for final action at
the comiug session in this city, in a
few weeks. The opportunity thus
given for a sober second thought”
has produced in the minds of many
who voted at Meriden for the pro
posed substitute, a complete change
of opinion, and the prospect now is
that the new creed cannot possibly
receive favorable consideration a
second time. The most that can be
expected by its friends is that it may
be changel by amendments; but
these, if approved by the convention,
must wait another two years for the
final action.
In view of this fact the unfavora
ble opinion entertained of the Meri
den substitute and the impossibility
of final action on any change at the
Chicago session, a large number of
proposed creeds have been brought
forward, and will no doubt be pre
sented, with the possible result of
the approval of none of them. The
friends of the Winchester Profession
may therefore be assured that the
grand old creed will at least round
out a century of glorious history.
Does the present generation know
much about that history, especially
what the Profession of Faith stood
for and the work it wrought for our
church in the early day of its adop
tion? It may be doubted if even
some of its most able opponents have
a clear apprehension of what we
were and how we were looked upon
by the different religious bodies in
the new world, engaged as they were
a hundred years ago, in a desperate
struggle for existence.
We often think that we are now
living in degenerate and irreligious
times, called to mourn over deserted
churches and a seemingly growing
tendency to ignore religion alto
gether. And in some respects our
condition is deplorable and alarm
ing. But the twenty years following
the close of the war for independ
ence were so much w’orse in these
respects, that, as has been well said
by an eminent historian of American
Christianity, they “ include its low
est ebb-tide of vitality.” Episcopal
bishopsdespaired and laid down their
functions, and no less a clear headed
man than Chief Justice Marshall,
himself a pillar and ornament in
that church declared, “ the church is
too far gone ever to be revived.”
The Lutheran historian writes over
his account of all this period the
word “Deterioration;” while serious
proposals were made looking to a
union of the remnants of the Episco
palians and the Lutherans. The
Methodists were also in such great
perplexity that despair well-nigh
wrecked their zeal. For three years
ending in 1796, their membership
diminished at the rate of 4,000 per
year.
The colleges were also infected with
irreligion and immorality. “The
College church,” says Dr. Lyman
Beecher, then a student at Yale,
“was almost extinct. Most of the
class before me were infidels and
called each other Voltaire, Rousseau,
Dr. Alembert, etc.”
The demoralization incident to a
long war, the fury of political fac
tions, far exceeding in personal in
decencies anything manifest in our
day, the philosophic deism of men
like Jelferson, the popular idolatry
of Paine, all had wonderful influence
in producing this state of things; but
impartial history will yet more fully
show that it was a reaction from the
terrors of Calvinism, the legitimate
after-result of the fearful and agon
izing revivals under Edwards, whose
sermons described God as simply an
arbitrary and cruel monarch, abso
lutely without character, wholly the
incarnation of power. And the sal
vation which he preached had just as
little to do with human character. It
was wholly the result of a decree
made without regard to moral action.
The moral sense revolted at all this
and as extremes always follow ex
tremes. irreligion and infidelity pre
vailed.
Into the midst of all this contradic
tion and turmoil Universalism came
At once it was assailed as infidel.
Murray was a Calvinist, minus the
doctrine of reprobation, holding to a
universal election in Christ who was
mans representative and substitute
in bearing all that was due to human
sin. Winchester had been a high
Calvinist, but as a Universalist had
some leanings towards free will,
Hosea Ballou, the first five y^arsof
his Universalist belief, was also a
Calvinist, with strong leanings to
wards Rellyanism, Murray’s theory
In 1795 Hosea Ballou became a
Unitarian and preached it so vigor
ously that, as the late Dr. Ballou
recorded, “by 1805 these views pre.
v iled almost universally in our
church.’
From 1790 to 1805 several books
were published against Universalism,
branding it as infidelity,and one,“Uni
versalism Confounds and Destroys
itself,” from the pen of Rev. Josiah
Spaulding, dealt with the diversity
of views entertained by Uni versa lists,
as evidences of inconsistency incom
patible with the truth of its basal
doctrine of the final salvation of all
souls.
Impelled, doubtless, iu a large
measure by this vituperative opposi
tion and malignant abuse, and in
part by other considerations to which
attention has been called by Dr. Eddy
in his “History of Universalism in
America,"theConvention of 1803gave
us its famous Profession of Faith.
And when they set forth in this, as
against the untenable doctrine of ple
nary inspiration, the reasonable doc
trine that “the Scriptures contain a
revelation,” that God has a character,
his nature being Love;—that the
Universalist Church is not deistical
but Christian, God being revealed in
the Lord Jesus Christ, by the Holy
Spirit;—that all men are to be re
stored to holiness and happiness, in
stead of being put arbitrarily iu a
particular locality, or excluded by
like arbitrary selection from another
locality;—that holiness and happi
ness stand in the relation of cause
and effect, instead of being wholly
dependent on something done by
another in our stead, and so clear
ing us of our deserts; that a personal
obligation rests on each human be
ing to maintain order and practice
good works, instead of resting on the
imputed merits of another; hundreds
of men and women who had been
tortured by the old creeds, driven to
atheism by their cruelties, or led to
desert the churches because their
teachings insulted reason and the
moral sense, became happy, consis
tent, useful, Christians by becoming
Uniyersalists.
Such is, in brief, the history of
some of the circumstances surround
ing the creation of our Profession of
Faith, and the results which fol
lowed its avowal. Should it now be
thrown aside? We will consider in
future articles some of the reasons
offered for abandoning it.
=====
SEPTEMBER MINISTERS' MEETING
A very happy occasion was the gath
ering of the last meeting of the Univer
salist ministers of Chicago and vicinity,
Monday, September 6th.
By invitation it was at the house of
Rev. Dr. Cantwell, 2602, 118th st. Sev
enteen ministers fresh from their vaca
tion were on hand to receive the cordial
greetings and to hear the words of the
Essayist and the lively discussion
which followed. Rev. T. B. Gregory of
the Church of the Redeemer gave a
carefully prepared paper on "the Old
and New Universalism.” His pointed
words called forth the eloquence of the
members present,
After much had been said on the
question under consideration, the com
pany was invited to partake of an ample
repast served at 1:30 and evidently en
j >yed by all present. Dr. and Mrs.
Cantwell and Mies Jessie were at their
best in making the occasion one long to
be remembered. It was on L tbor Day,
and it proved to be just the place to en
joy a time of social delight and to get in
touch again with the work and interest
o' the Universalist Church.
The members present were the presi
dent, A. A. Thayer, the secretary W. P
Burnell. Miss Mary Straub. J. Straub,
A. J. Cantield, J. J. Lewis, T. B. Gre
gory, H. Slade, J. S. Cook, the State
Superintendent, J. S. Cantwell, J. W.
Hanson, R. F. Jononnot, G. A. Sahlin,
H. J. Orelup, W. W. Lovejoy, R. A,
Waite, and S. Crane.
After enjoying several hours in the
home of Dr. Cantwell, the company re
luctantly separated to meet again on the
first Monday of October. w. p. b.
WITHDRAWN.
After Saturday, of this week, the
date of this paper, our offer of “ Peculiar
People” will be withdrawn. The books
are nearly all gone. We will have no
more after supplying the orders of this
week
UNIVER5ALIST CONVENTION OF INDIANA, 1897.
The fiftieth annual session of the
Universalist Convention, of Indiaua
met in theCentral Universalist church
in Indianapolis, Wednesday. Thurs
day and Friday, September 1st, 2nd
and Hrd
The church was beautifully and
elaborately decorated with the blue
and white, and the red, white and
blue. Over the pulpit our state col
ors,—brown, blue and white, were
gracefully draped; and hanging
from the center was the banner pre
sented by the National Union to
our Indiana delegation at Detroit for
the greatest per cent, of increase in
membership.
Our young people can, if they will,
bring this banner back with them
from Chicago next year, and with it
the banner forthelargsst attendance
at the Chicago convention.
To do this let us keep the Detroit
echo, ‘‘I can and I will,” ringing in
our ears.
Wednesday afternoon while the
Executive Committee was meeting in
the handsome new parsonage, the
U. W. A. A , and the Y. P. C. U., met
in the church. The three organiza
tions were busily engaged every
minute until the call for supper was
given. |Tbe reports of these meet
ings are printed on the second page.
—Ed.] _
EVENING.
Wednesday night the Occasional
Sermon was preached by Rev. D. A.
Patrick, of Logansport. A collection
was taken for the Gunn Ministerial
Relief Fund, and a beautiful and
impressive communion service was
conducted by Dr. Guthrie and Rev.
T. E. Ballard.
THE OCCASIONAL SEKMON.
"Preach the word, be instant in sea
son and out of season, reprove, rebuke
with all long suffering and doctrtne.”—
II Tim. iv, 2.—This is Paul's advice to
Timothy. It embodies that which is as
essential to the success of the Christian
ministry and church of today as well as
to the times in which the advice was
given.
Success is attained only by earnest
systematic work. Every occupation has
its rules and methods. The church and
ministry are no exception to this rulp.
Education means more than instruction.
It means the training or discipline of
the faculties and sentiments, a develop
ment of our moral and religious nature
to the greatest perfection. Our schools
cultivate the intellectual; our gymna
siums, our shops and fields the physi
cal; our homes, our churches and our
Sunday-schools the moral and spiritual.
These should go together. We can
separate them only at our peril. The
moral is the conserving force. “Ye are
the salt of the earth” refers to the moral
and spiritual within the disciples. Sci
ence and philosophy alone do not spirit
ualize the people. Even the works of
the law failed because they did not,
could not, cleanse the fountain of man's
internal activities. Crime, we know,
begins from within. AduHery begins at
the heart. He that hateth his brother
is a murderer.
We believe Paul's plan is the divine
plan. “Preach the word” is the first
duty. Jesus said touching his word,
“He that drinketh of the water that 1
shall give him shall never thirst.” It
quenches the thirst of humanity.
Again: “Now ye are clean through the
word 1 have spoken unto you.” Thus
it cleanses the source of man's internal
activities. Again “Sanctify them
through the truth; thy word is truth.”
The word sets aside, makes holy. Again:
"Ye shall know the truth and the truth
shall make you free.” The church's
victory comes through divinely ap
pointed means. It must fight its bat
tles with the sword of the spirit which
is the word of God. And woe to that
man who dares to go unarmed for sure
ly he will go down in defeat and moral
death. The "word” lays down the plan
for every department of Christian work.
Preach it! Preach the doctrine with all
long suffering. Preach the word and
obey it and live, or disobey and die.
These are the general thoughts of the
speaker in his interesting and effective
d scourse.
THRSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2.
The conference meeting Thursday
morning, led by Joseph Taylor, of
Indianapolis, was well atteuded and
the time fully occupied. Bro. Taylor
is a young man whose zeal for our
church never abates and for that rea
son we had the right man to lead this
inspiring meeting.
At 9:30 a. m., the President, Dr.
Guthrie, called the Convention to
order. The opening prayer was
offered by Rev. M. L. Pope, of Fin
castle.
Instead of making the usual wel
coming address, the President of
fered the following recommends
tions.
RECOMMENDATIONS.
As president of the convention I have
some suggestions to make:
(1.) In view of my age and the dull
ness of my hearing I recommend that
you select some one to serve in my place,
and 1 would suggest our worthy vice
president as the man.
(2) It would be in harmony with my
feelings if all the other members of the
convention be continued, and that some
one from Pleasant Hill be selected to
take the place of our lamented Brother
Mitchell.
(3) In regard to a state superintend
ent, I have considered the matter pro
and con: still I have no recommenda
tions to offer. Would be satisfied how
ever, to have matters run in the old
groove.
(I) There is to be a vote taken at our
corning General Convention in refer
ence to a change in our Confession of
Faith, and while 1 have no objection to
the sentiments contained in the pro
posed new Confession, and while if I
had been at the last meeting of the Gen
eral Convention I should have voted with
the majority, still, after more reflection I
recommend that a resolution be passed
at this convention instructing our dele
gates to vote against the proposed
chaDge. While there may be some utili
tarianism in the third article, and the
word “restore” may be objectionable,
still it would be unfortunate to leave
out of our confession the grand old
statement that “ The Scriptures of the
Old and New Testaments contain a rev
elation of the nature and character of
God." Besides, under it our battles have
been fought and our victories won.
(5) I recommend to all our ministers
who have not had an opportunity
to take a course in some of our Theo
logical Schools to obtain the text-books
and pursue a corresponding course of
study.
(6) I recommend to all our pastors
that they urge upon their parishioners
who have children to educate, that they
patronize Lombard University. They
can assure their children that lo be un
dt r tho cars of such men as Pies. Nash
and Prof. Parker, it will be well with
them.
(7) I urge upon all young men who
wish to engage in the ministry of re
conciliation that they take a course in
our Theological school at Galesburg
which is under the care of one of our
wisest and best men, viz., Dr. Nehe
miah White.
(8) I recommend that the Central
Universalist Church, of Indianapolis, be
regarded as the State Church and that
the names of all those who have not
convenient church privileges be re
corded on our church books here and
that it shall become the duty of the
clerk and pastor to keep trace of them
and look after their interests.
(9) While I do not wish to awaken
any controversy, nor interfere in the
leist with any minister in our state in
his or her work, still I recommend that
all those who come into our state shall
adhere in the future to the rules and
resolutions of 1896, viz., that the Bible
contains infallible rules of faith and
practice.
The followiug committees were ap
pointed:
Credentials: Dr. S. O. Budd. Muncie:
Hon. Milton Trusler, Connersville; Mrs.
Amanda Silvers, Pendleton.
Resolutions: Rev. T. E. Ballard, Craw
fordsville: Wm. P. Powell, Logansport;
Rev. Margaret A. Brennan and Mrs. Rose
B. Stuart of Muncie.
Auditing Committee: Wm. C. Hamilton,
Oaklandon: S. A. LaBoy beaux, Roann;
Alex L. Selfer, Brookston.
Session Clerks: J. E. Haffner and A. C.
Stouder of Muncie.
Dr. Cantwell was then warmly wel
comed and the courtesies of the Con
vention were extended to him.
The roll call and report of com
mittee on credentials showed that:
there were present all the members
of the Executive Committee; three
members of the Committee on Fel
lowship; nine clergymen; two licen
tiates; and one lay preacher.
Twenty-one churches and one as
sociation were represented by forty
seven delegates.
SECRETARY'S REPORT.
The annual report of the secretary
Flora B. Brown, was read as follows:
SUMMARY OE CHURCH REPORTS.
Societies . ... 48
Buildings 44—Value. $92,000
Buildings insured. 8
Societies with regular ser
vices . 30
Societies with occasional ser
vices . 5
Societies dormant. 13
Families attending. 809
Families supporting. 032
Total membership. 1,895
Members received this year. . 168
Sunday Schools. 24
Membership. 1,247
United with the church from
the Sunday School. 48
Amount of current expenses
for churches. $7,191 62
Amount of current expenses
for Sunday School. 369 43
Amount paid to the Conven
tions from 16 churches.. . 66 31
Amount paid for other pur
poses. 10 00
Total amount expended. 7,637 36
Galveston deeded its church to the
Convention, making 25 church deeds in
the secretary’s hands; representing 75
per cent, of the value of our church
property.
The treasurer, Cyrus T. Swain of
Dublin, then submitted his report,
which was substantially the same as
that of the secretary. Bjth reports,
wirh the books, were turned over to
the Auditing Committee.
These reports were discussed by
C. T. Swain, Dr. Guthrie, and Dr.
Cmtwell. Our splendid financial
showing was especially commented
upon by Dr. Cantwell.
EXECUTIVE.
The Executive Committee report that
they have accomplished some very im
portant work during tho year in the
interest of our denomination at large
and particularly in the interest of the
church at Indianapolis. The Committee
by paying a pledge of live hundred dol
lars, enabled the Indianapolis friends to
build a much needed annex to their
church which serves as a dining hall
and a stage tor concerts and the choir
and also a very convenient kitchen and
cellar. This has proved to be a very
valuable addition to the church.
Another important work is the build
ing of a handsome parsonage on the lot
adjoining the Indianapolis church. The
society owned a vacant lot which was
yielding no income, and the friends had
not the means to erect a building. The
church gave the Convention a quit
claim deed to the lot and we have built
on it a $2,500 house. The pastor occu
pies this and pays $300 per year rent.
After paying theConvention $150 a year
interest, there will be $150 left to place
in a sinking fund which, with additions
from other sources, will eventually en
able them the pay for their parsonage.
It was found in settling the Maria
Carithers, estate that the amount of
the estate was not sufficient to pay the
indebtedness and since she had do
nated $1,400 to the Permanent Fund the
Committee decided that rather than
have an unpaid claim against the es
tate, they would refund $127.95 and
leave the estate clear of debt.
An addition was made to the Gsneral
Permanent by the sale of the Columbia
City church for $950 and the bell for
$70.
This amount is held in trust tor the
Columbia City church.
An 81800 note was turned over to the
Wm. P. Powell Fund.
The committee has held fourimeet
ings during the year. The first in con
nection with MoCordsvilie convention;
the second and third in Iodianapolie in
January and April; and the last in con
nection with the present convention.
LITERATURE COMMITTEE
This committee made its report
through its chairman, Rev. T. E.
Ballard. It was briefly as follows:
The Executive Committee had ap
propriated $75 for their work. They
have not used half of this and now
have ready for free distribution
throughout the state, envelopes for
collections; the new State Conven
tion manual; the Model Church
Constitution; membership cards; and
two tracts, “Universalism and the
Bible, by Dr. Guthrie, and “Univer
salism in the Daily Life" by Rev. H.
N. Brown. A new tract by Rev, J.
B. Fosher will soon be ready for
print. The committee intend to buy
a large quantity of our best tracts
from the Universalist Publishing
House for free distribution.
This report called out manyjen
couraging speeches and excellent
suggestions. Everybody heartily
approved of the work of this Com
mittee and they were continued Jan
other year with power to act.
After a fervent prayer by Father
Groves, the Convention adjourned
until 1:30 p. si.
The Convention promptly called
to order by the President and after
an additional report from the Cre
dential Committee the Convention
proceeded to the election of officers,
trustees, Fellowship Committee, and
visitors to Lombard University;
which resulted as follows:
President. Rev. T. S. Guthrie, D.D.
Vice-President, T. E. Ballard. Craw
fordsville.
Secretary, Flora B. Brown, Dublin.
Treasurer, Cyrus T. Swain, Dublin.
Trustees: Geo. W. Stanley of Indian
apolis: J. E. Haffuer of Muncie.
X isitors to Lombard University. Josepb
Taylor of Indianapolis, Mrs Rose B.
Stewart, Muncie.
The Committee on Fellowship were all
re-elected and are: Rev. Henry Groves,
Rome; Rev. J. B. Fosher, Pendleton;
Rev. Henry X. Brown. Dublin; Di . S. O.
Budd. Muncie; George Rogers, LaFayette.
The Secretary then read a com
munication from our General Sec
retary. Dr. Demarest, in regard to
the work before th9 Chicago Conven
veution next month. The letter was
ordered turned over to the delegatee.
The delegates to the General Con
vention were then elected with
power to choose their alternates. In
case of their failure to do so the
president was given power to appoint.
The delegates are: Revs. T. E.
Ballard, D. A. Patrick, Milton
Bridges, of Fincastle, Dr.S.O. Budd,
Milton Trusler and Joseph Taylor.
By a unanimous vote of the Con
vention the delegates were instructed
to vote “first, last, and always”
against auy change in the present
confession of faith.
Rev. Mr. Ballard theu moved:—
A MEMORIAL AMI (PROTEST
To the Universaliet General Conven
tion :
Whereas: The UDiverealiet Gem rat
Convention was organized for the pur
pose of promulgating the doctrines if
the Universalist Church ae expressed
and set forth in the Winchester Pro
fession of Faith adopted in 1803: and
Whereas: Said General Convention
now holds in trust for the use and ben
etit of about fifty thousand members of
said Universalist Church property and
funds amounting to about three bun
deed thousand dollars: and
Whereas: The highest courts of this
country have uniformly decided that no
church organization has any power to
so change its fundamental articles of
faith as to directly or indirectly work
a diversion of its church property from
the promulgation of its original faith
to the promulgation of a new and differ
ent faith: and
Whereas: The proposed amendment
to section two of Article three of the
General Convention now pending, is
such a sweeping and radical change in
the fundamental articles of the faith
of said church as must result in a di
version of its trust property from the
promulgation of the original faith of
said church to the promulgation of a
substantially new and different faith:
Therefore: The Universalist Con
vention of Indiana does most solemnly
and respectfully protest that the further
consideration of said proposed amend
ment is out of order on the ground that
said General Convention has no power
to do any act which may become illegal
and void.
Mr. Ballard then proceeded to'
speak at length upon the proposed
change of confession of faith from a
legal standpoint, showing many de
cisions in law to prove his position.
He was ably followed by T. J. Vater
upon the same subject from a theo
logical point of view. Both speakers
favored the memorial. It was adopt
ed unanimously.
The Auditing Committee reported
that
AUDITING COMMITTEE.
We, the Auditing Committee duly ap
pointed by your Convention, And the re
ports of State Secretary Flora Brown and
TreasurerC. T. Swain, correct.
(Signed.)
William C. Hamilton,
S. A. L,a Boyteacx,
Alex L. Telfer.
REPORT OK MINISTERIAL CIRCLE.
Instead of the usual report the
secretary, Rev. J. B. Fosher, read the
minutes of the two meetings held in
Devon in December and in McCords
ville in June. At the June meeting
the subject of a state missionary was
discussed and the Circle recom
mended that one be appointed.
This matter was then freely dis
cussed in the Convention, and on
motion the recommendation was con
curred in by a vote of 27 to 10, a few
persons not voting. The Executive
Committee was left to decide what
was best to do.
SUNDAY-SCHOOL REPORT.
The secretary of the State Sunday
School Convention, Miss Cora Fosher
of Pendleton, being absent, the
report was read by her father. The
following is a summary:
Number of officers. ',13
“ “ teachers. 7ll
“ " pupils. 847
Average attendance. 584
United with the church. 34
Helpers used. 85
Lesson Leaves. 577
Papers. 347
Money collected.
“ expended.
The State Cinvention was held this
year in June at Galveston. Four
ministers were present and six Sun
day-schools represented. A number
of topics of interest were discussed.
On motion it was voted that “it was
essential for the good of our Sabbath
schools in Indiana that a state mis
sionary be put in the field.’ The
following officers were elected:
Charles Styer of Indianapolis, Presi
dent; J. E. Haffner, Muncie, Vice
President; Cora Fosher, Pendleton,
Secretary; J. H. Hewit, Newcastle,
Treasurer.
Since the Convention adjourned a
good school has been organized in
Galveston.
F lfteen of the twenty-seven Sunday
schools returned their reports to the
secretary. Seven sent in their state
dues of five cents per member on
average attendance. These were:
Brookston, Huntertown, Logansport,
McCordsville, Muncie, Mt. Carmel
and Pendleton.
REPORT OF STATE Y. P. C. U.
The Indiana Y. P. C. U. is composed of
ten Christian Unions. Of this number
four were organized this year: at Indiau
apolis, Galveston. Dublin and Pleasant
Valley. Two other Unions were organized
within the year that did not join the Stale
Union; one of these was the McCordsville
Union (which did very good work for four
months) and the second, the Pincastie
Union which has been merged into the
Sunday-school.
Our ten Unions represent 348 Unioners.
Of this number 160 joined this year.
Our State Union reported the greatest
percent, of increase in membership at the
“Detroit ’97” Convention. In evidence
of this growth we are proud to display our
banner,—presented us at Detroit,—and we
mean to follow the motto it bears: “On
ward.”
The spiritual nature of our young people
have received education and irspiration by
means of the 344 devotional meetings held
within the year. Yet we do not believe
that the influence of these meetings will
admit of any mechanical measurement.
The executive ability of our young peo
ple has been strengthened through the 50
business meetings held. The pleasure
loving side of our young folk's natures
has not been forgotten but has found ex
pression through the 24 socials and 9 en
tertainments reported.
Our Unions have expended, within the
year #276.75; of this amount, by far the
greater part has been expended for “cur
rent church expenses.” Six Unions
have reported as having paid a part of
their pastor's salary. The churches and
ministers that claim that “they cannot
supports Union” may consider the source
of strength our Y. P. C. U.’s have been to
the churches of which they are auxiliaries.
The exact amount spent for “current
church expense” is#181.63 Next in import
ance is the #112. S2 spent for missionary
purposes, (church extension, Post Office
Mission, dues for State and national
work, and much needful work iu the home
churches.) The remainder of our total
sum has been expended for charity and #
other purposes.
Our Unioners have scattered broadcast
7,855 pages of Universalist reading matter;
94 numbers are taken of our Y. P C. U.
journal, “Onward.” More should be
taken!
Greater interest has been manifested
this year than ever before in our National
Christian Union endeavor for church ex
tension,—manifested practically in the 81
subscribers to the 3-cents-a-week en
velopes. 131 of our Unioners are church
members—19 of them having joined this
year.
Three of our Unions have as auxiliaries