The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-10-23
FROM WILLIAM F. CRIsPIN.

Akron, o., Oct. IA, 1886. = ITO the
Editor of The UNIvERsALIsT. = We
learn from Rev. j. F. Rice that his home
is in Olmsted township and that his
postoffice is Coe Ridge, o. He may be
reached by telegraph to Olmsted Falls,
o. He is dividing his Sundays between
Olmsted and Norwalk churches. The
Olmsted church and Sunday school are
reported in prosperous condition
There have been added to the church
during the past year seventeen mem
bers, and to the Sunday school thirty
five members. The church has had two
auxiliary organizations. "The Ladies'
Sewing Society" may be mentioned as one
of the most industrious bodies of woman
workers known to our denomination
With their earnings the past year they
have placed elegant stone steps at the
front entrance to the church, stone car
riage steps at suitable points and stone
walks between the entrance steps and
carriage steps, and they have left quite q
goodly sum in the treasury. The Young
Peoples Association during the past year
has accumulated sufficient money to pur.
chase forty copies of "Church Harmon
les" for the use of the choir and congre-
cation; and have in view additional en-.
terprises for the furtherance of church
and denominational interests. These good
works indicate that the Olmsted church
is one of the most faithful and substan-
tial. Convenient Sunday sickness and
going to church because they have no.
where else to go, however much they may
apply to other points, do not afflict the
cause at Olmsted. They love Their
cause and are ready of heart and hand in
the performance of their duty to the
church.
Norwalk.
Br. Rice has been preaching at Nor
walk one-half the time since last Decem-
Der, and thinks that service half the time
is not what is required by church in a
city like that. In the main the work
there is Of an encouraging nature, be-
cause there is no disposition to run after
what some regard as "star" preachers.
To the friends at Norwalk the church is
of more vital consequence than any in
dividual preacher. They and their fami-
lies need the church for their moral and
spiritual elevation, and to the work of
sustaining it they will devotedly and
unitedly work. The congregations sell
dom number more than eighty, but there
is steady, healthful gain in interest and
devotion. The pastor finds great reason
for encouragement in his work because of
the genuine Christian type of adherents
to this church, and the personal friend
ship and good will of the people to whom
he ministers. Patience and perseverance
will make of this one of the strongest
churches in this State.
Clyde.
This church, once numbered with the
dormant, if not the dead, we are glad to
learn, has still remaining few devoted
Universalists who are determined to
maintain services even if a week day
evening must be utilized for this pur-
pose. They have employed Br. Rice to
preach on each alternate Monday even.
ing. Br. Rice has been with them fol-
four evenings and finds the audiences
surprisingly large. He attributes this
partly to the attractions of the choir
which, under the leadership of Br. Ames,
is not inferior to the best choirs in our
large cities. The above is a good show
ing for a minister who is seldom heard
from through our church papers. We
are glad to record these matters for the
encouragement of others. Let the good
work go on.
Mr.. Edwards has just forwarded tothe
writer some bound volumes of "The Star
in the West" together with two volumes
of his own work: "The Bible and Reason
Against Atheism" to be presented to
Buchtel College.
Whether the General Convention will
prove as largely attended as at first sup
posed is a question, but all agree that we
will have all the elements present for one
of the most successful meetings ever held
by that body.
Rev. O. Ellwood Nash returned from
the State Sunday-schoOl Convention at
Columbus, and on last Sunday morning
preached on "What is it to be a Chris
tian," and in the evening, "The Gospel
for the Learned and the Ignorant"
The Buchtel College Oratorical AS
ISOLATION elected Gary Jones, W. t. Saw
yer, G. B. Emerson and E. J. Felix as
contestants for the honofaisspresenting
this college in the State Oratorical Con-
test.