The Kansas herald of freedom., 1856-02-16
The Pirst church b Lawrence.


friendly to the erection of a church, as
sembled at the Free State Hotel, on Sun
day. the Sd inst, to hear a report from
Mr.. E. B. Whitman, respecting aid from
the East. and the prospects for the erec-
ton of church the coming season.
The meeting was called to order by
the Rev. e. Mute, and G. w. Brown was
chosen Chairman, and VIM. Hutchinson
Secretary.
After statement of the object of the
meeting by Mr.. Mute, the report of Mr..
Whitman was called for. Mr.. w. pro-
ceeded to explain. in detail, the origin
and progress of the movement at the East
to furnish aid for religion and education
in Kansas. He stated that he had made
a tour in the Territory last spring. to as
certain, by personal observation, the true
state of affairs here, and had been graft
fed to be able, ON his return East, to re-
port most favorably, both in regard to
the country, the people, and their politi-
cal prospects. But with all these en-
couragements, it was easily seen that the
religious and educational wants of the
people were liable to be overlooked, or to
receive less attention than was due them.
A government was being framed here
under peculiar circumstances with all
the exciting scenes of our border life, IN
addition to the usual pioneer demands, it
was evident that something must be done
outside of our own resources. The mo-
raj and religious wants of those already
here should be supplied. and the induce
ments for a healthy emigration augmen-
ted. No government could be wisely or
permanently founded that had not its ba-
sis in the eternal principles of the Gospel.
The religious community at the East
were alive to these considerations. The
American Unitarian Association had
sent their missionary, Rev. E. Mute, jr.,to
the Territory, and Mr.. w. found, on his
return. not only disposition, but an ear
nest desire to furnish means for religious
and educational purposes. A strong
prejudice existed there, among all denom-
nations. against building churches at the
west In respect to these, it was felt
that there had been much mismanage-
ment, but Kansas seemed to come with
additional claims, and when the Unitari-
an Association proposed to become the
responsible agents for the expenditure o!
| these funds, disposition was manifested
| to furnish them at once.
In order to provide, as far aspossible
against all the damages and uncertaintie:
peculiar to Kansas, the various objections
raised in the minds of prudent and eau
tious men, were met and obviated by al
arrangement, by which the property wa:
for the time being, to be held by the As
sociation. and the funds furnished, to b'
considered as loan, to be repaid by the
Society, when it should become able, tt
be re-ihvested, in the same way, at some
other point in the Territory, and to bt
kept as perpetual fund for such purpo
ses. This money had been asked for re
liigious and educational purposes, ano
thus a twofold chord had been touched
: 1t had been hoped that sufficient funds
would be obtained to erect both church
and school house, but as matters stoot
now, it was probable that the scEoo
room would be embraced in the sam'
walls as the church.
The first appeal was made at Old Con
cord, Mass, and met a generous respons
e of between one and two hundred dollars
The Societies in Boston, Dorchester
Providence, Portsmouth,, Salem, Taun
G ton, Chicopee, Cambridge, Waltham
: and many other PAGES, readily respond
;. ed. Several of the first men in Massa
chusetts lent it their aid and sympathy
Hon. Edward Everett and Hon. s. A
d Elliott, of Boston, were warmly interest
ed in the movement. All classes. hig
b and low, rich and poor, seemed anxlou
{. to share in the work. The result, graft
fying as it was in the furnishing OF tn
U funds, was yet more so as an index OF th
interest felt in the people of Kansas b
. their friends and neighbors, who had rt
(, mained at home. The money pledged
between three and four thousand dollar
= with one thousand raised here-it Wa
70 believed would erect neat and commC
}. dious church. The gift of bell. an
the promise of a clock, rendered towt
% to the church essential, and it was expec
ii ed that additional means would be prt
cured to secure both that and the scho
l. room. The additional fixtures for
5. church had also been provided by ind
yidual munifcence an elegant pulp
ID bible, by the members of Mr.. Nute's 70
a mer parish in Chicopee; The commune
service by Bigelow, Brothers and Rel
d nard, of Boston; hymn books for Il
;e pews by the Rev. Mr.. Wares society,
Cambridge. Hymn books and bibl
s. for the Sunday school had also been gi
l. en-, and an elegant Sunday school libral
by the children of the Sunday school
e, The Unitarian Association had give
7, sixty yolrmns to begin a parish librar,
and an addition had been made to th
e, by Messrs. Little d. Brown, bookseller
: 1t was expected that plans would
adopted in Boston, during the winter, |
i'd which complete and valuable parish
s, brary would be secured. Encourag
#. ment had also been received in regard
to AN organ. The bell-to be cast expires
o. lv Cor the n,Irposa with a suitable i