The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-11-20
NORTHERN OHIO.
IRON WILLIAM F. oRIsPIN.

L
Editor OF The UNIvERsALIsT.l 1t was an
inadvertence in our last letter that led 10
the omission OF the name Of Rev. @. S
Vincent, Of Springfield, from the list OF
Ohio ministers in attendance upon the
General Convention and who have regu-
lar pastorates. And this we regret to say
completes the list Of Irregular pastorates"
in Ohio. May we not hope-is it too
much to expect-that another year will
find the number of churches having regu-
lar services every Sunday administered by
regular pastor, doubled? Il certainly
is contamination devoutly to be wished
for. And why shall it not be accomplish
ed? 1t seems to me that it can and ought
to be done. Let us see. There is Nor
walk where We believe the friends will
come to see that to have pastor settled in
that well-to-do and thriving little city, to
live among them, to counsel and advise
them, to direct and plan and aid in the
execution of the details of church work
is the one thing needful to make that
church prosperous and happy. believe
also, there is hope of reviving the church
at Gallipolis. And may we not expect
similar good fortune to overtake the
Hamilton church? If, now, in addition to
these, either London or Eaton or Blan
chester or Mason could be enrolled among
those having regular services with pas
tor devoting his entire time to the spir-
itual needs of his people and keeping all
aglow with enthusiasm in the work, what
a splendid record it would be! Who says
it cannot be done? Why, not brethren,
make this the rallying cry? With definite
aim much more can be accomplished
than when no specific object is before us.
But who is to take the work in hand
and give direction to our energies? All!
here is where we are balkedi When the
Convention is endowed with that $4,000
and not till Their, can the work Of church ex-
tension be Systematically carried forward.
But meanwhile we hope that something
will be done to increase the number of
regular pastorates and also of pastoral
circuits, for it is on these lines that both
clergy and laity must give their best
thought and most earnest endeavor if our
churches are to be anything more than
mere undisciplined bodies wasting their
energies instead of utilizing them for the
good Of man. Much more effective work
can be done by regular, systematic efforts.
Regular pastorates and pastoral circuits
secure and tend to perpetuate these. We
believe in them without any mental res
ervation and trust our people will every
where encourage regular services, of the
kind named, as the most economical in the
long run and necessary to the welfare and
success OF the church. Let there be
good sermons always, but if either the
preaching or pastoral work is to be below
the usual high standard required, let it
be the preaching rather than the work
of marshaling the forces into active bat
tie.
Miss Mary E. Stockman, a former
teacher in Buchtel College, and for sew
eral years teacher in the Akron high
schools has been elected Superintendent
of our Sunday-school to succeed Prof. W.
ID. Shipman, who has resigned on account
of pressure of other duties.
The Sunday school Normal class has
just reorganized and the church is MAX
ipn mandy for tba r1;,1kor oo,,oo;on Tho
readers of THE UNIvERsALIsT will be
kept informed OF special meetings and
auxiliary enterprises as soon as decided
upon.
The Y. p. NJ. A., of our Akron church
held meeting at the home of the pastor
recently and decided to edit and publish
missionary paper somewhat similar to
the former "Parish Missionary" but the
new paper is to be under the manage
ment of the Y. P. M. A., and to be edited
by that body. In this connection we shall
be glad TO record the proceedings of the
young people of any of our northern
Ohio churches. Let the good work begin
all along the line. Shall we not hear
from others of our most active churches
whose young people have engaged in the
work?
Recruits for the Ministry.
In DR.. Atwood's address before the
General Convention on "The College
and Theological School" we were forcibly
impressed with the remark: "Our minis.
try must be recruited from the young,
and if not our sons whose sons?" Uni
versalist parents have in this food for
serious reflection. The doctor further
says: "But we cannot expect that they
| (our sons) will persevere without our en-
couragement." We fear that in some in :
stances appreciation is not given, much
less encouragement, and yet, let us re-
member, "if not our sons whose sons?"
Meeting of the Executive and the. Missionary
Committee.
Rev. @. Ellwood Nash goes to North
Lewisburg next Tuesday to attend a
meeting of the State Missionary Com
mittee. This, we understand, is to ena-
BILE members OF this committee who are
also on the Executive Committee of the
Ohio State Convention of Universalists,
to attend both meetings on the same day.
There has been provided program OF re-
hgious services to take place during the
presence OF these committees at the above
named place, under the direction of Rev.