OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS 1903-1904 President Rev. SAMUEL A. ELIOT, D.D., of Cambridge, Mass. Vice-Presidents Hon. JOSEPH W. SYMONDS, LL.D., of Portland, Me. JOHN HARSEN RHOADES, New York, N.Y. Hon. GEORGE E. ADAMS, of Chicago, Ill. Hon. HORACE DAVIS, LL.D., of San Francisco, Cal. Secretary CHARLES E ST. JOHN, Brookline, Mass. Assistant Secretary GEORGE W. Fox, Esq., of Boston, Mass. Treasurer FRANCIS H. LINCOLN, Esq, of Hingham, Mass. ADDRESS OF THE PRESIDENT I wish to make record in this annual address of certain events and happenings which find no natural place in the detailed reports of the committees of the Board of Directors which are about to be presented to you. I mention first the losses of our fellowship during the year ending May first. It is, I think, an unprecedented fact that no Unitarian minister in active charge of a church has died during the year. We have suffered no loss in our working force of settled ministers. We have, however, been called upon to mourn the departure of nine veterans of our ministerial order,-men who gave a good service in the days of vigor and fruitfulness, and whose names are held in affectionate remembrance in the churches they have served and by their comrades in the good fight. We honor to-day the names and achievements of Chester Covell, Eugene De Normandie, Henry D. Dix, Francis B. Hornbrooke, Thomas Kerr, Henry Powers, Thomas Weston, Joshua Young, and, I venture to add because of our undying gratitude to him for his long and inspiring service in our churches and in the Board of Directors of this Association, the loved and honored name of Brooke Herford. It will recall happy memories to many of you if I mention next the names of seven of the widows of ministers honored in our fellowship who have died during the year. The minister's wife is a very large element in his success; and we hold in grateful remembrance to-day the labors and sacrifices of Mrs. Stephen G. Bulfinch, Mrs. Frederick T. Gray, Mrs. Leonard Whitney, Mrs. Christopher C. Hussey, Mrs. Nahor A. Staples, Mrs. Sylvan S. Hunting, and Mrs. William F. Bridge. If any one is curious to know the reason for the remarkable influence exerted by our little band of Unitarians in the national life,, it is only necessary to consider the character and accomplishments of the leading laymen who acknowledge allegiance to the Unitarian cause. I record here the names of certain laymen of our order whose earthly record has been completed during this year. I may speak only of those with whom I have enjoyed the privilege of personal acquaintance. Samuel Hoar of Concord, Vice-President of our Association, and a tower of strength in town, church, college, and Commonwealth; George S. Morison of Peterboro, a man of original genius and executive force, the leading American civil engineer; Frederick Law Olmsted of Brookline, founder of the art of landscape architecture in America; J. Peter Lesley of Philadelphia, scholar of deep and varied learning, director of the Pennsylvania Geological Survey, president of the American Association for the Advancement of Science; William E. Parmenter of Arlington, upright judge; Samuel Wells of Boston, much-trusted administrator and counsellor; Frederick W. Guiteau of Tarrytown, wise and generous trustee of well-earned wealth; Nathaniel T. Allen of Newton, teacher and exemplar of youth; David B. Flint of Boston, a man of the Beautitudes, founder of the Channing Chapel at Winter Harbor; Edward W. Clark of Philadelphia, public-spirited citizen, formerly director of this Association; Ellis Peterson of Boston, judicious and reliable administrator of great educational responsibilities; Harvey A. Whiting of Wilton, successful man of business, genial friend, leader in good works; Abraham H. Tower of Cohasset, type of New England integrity and public spirit; Thorvaldur Thorvaldsson of Manitoba, youth of brave achievement and winsome promise, secretary of the Icelandic Unitarian Association. Fortunate is the fellowship that has the right to mourn for leaders such as these. The long list of devoted women that I might read to you bears still further testimony to the power of these liberal Christian churches to promote a sweet and happy family life and a genuine public serviceableness. Our churches have been indeed happy in the loyal support and unfailing interest of much-beloved women like Mrs. Charles H. Bell of Exeter, Mrs. John Lowell of Brookline, Mrs. George F. Hoar of Worcester, Mrs. Susan I. Lesley of Philadelphia, Mrs. Charles Choate of Woburn, Mrs. Rufus Sheldon of New York, Mrs. Edward Pierson of Salem, Mrs. Dexter N. Richards of Brookline, Mrs. Sarah H. Blossom of Brooklyn, Mrs. E. C. Bixby of Hubbardston, Miss Amy L. Bradley of Wilmington, and many others, all of whom represented that choisest |