The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-12-18
Sermon Subjects.
211e 0dlest.

IOWA.-Cedar Rapids.-"At church
meeting held yesterday morning at the
Universalist church at the close of SER
vices, nineteen applications for member
ship in the church we're considered, and
it was voted to receive the applicants on
profession of faith, by baptism and the
right hand of fellowship. Between this
and Christmas they will be received into
full fellowship. This church has in
creased its membership more the last two
years than in all the previous years Of its
history" The above is from our after
noon paper, the Evening Gazette. In
the eighteen months Rev. Mr.. Pratt has
been pastor an increase of eixty-four in
church membership has been made and
others are coming. This, we think, is the
largest gain of any church in the State
Among the nineteen applicants men,
toned above are two of Rev. Henry
Williamson's parishioners from Dundee,
Scotland, who have recently made their
nome In Cedar Rapids.
WISCONSIN. - Whitewater. - Our
friends here have been holding a very
pleasant two.evening fair, with suppers,
the receipts of which, without any gam
bling, was $125 The minister was made
the recipient of very pretty Japanese
silk quilt
MINNESOTA. = Rochester. - The Ia
dies of Grace church held their annual
fair at the Palace Opera House on the
afternoon and evening of Dec 2. 1t was
successful in the highest degree, the net
proceeds being $165. This parish loses
its good pastor, Rev. J. M. Payson, who
goes to La Crosse. 1t will be loss which
can not be made good at present.
TEXAS.-Rev. A. Vancleave, who re-
sides in the drought-stricken region of
Texas-postofice Bibb, Comanche coun-
ty-writes to me that he does not know
how he and his family are to tide over
to another harvest. Our brother has a
small farm for home in his declining
years. But nothing else. All crops fail
ed the last season. This brother is q
worthy minister of our faith, and for
many years has stood firm against all
opposition. We have many ministers and
friends whom know have "bread enough
and to spare" while this good, faithful
brother has spent his life in this new
country, without fee or reward" only a
consciousness OF doing his duty. Breth-
rem, lend helping hand. 1t will be re-
ceived with a grateful heart by Chris
tan brother. JAMES BILLINGS.
Dallas.-Rsv. J. X. Street, of Dallas,
writes: 81 am trying to do some mission
work III Dallas. The Board of Trustees
have appropriated $500 to the work
which has enabled us to fit up neat
hall, with 1915 worth of church property
to furnish it = chairs, organ, pulpit and
other fixtures. I rented the upstairs of
two story building in the central and
business portion of the city and two store
rooms underneath. subrented the two
storerooms, and four bedrooms in the
upstairs for enough to pay the rent, $55
per month, and the board of my family
three in family and besides we have
two bedrooms and the preaching hall
30x40 feet, free of rents. Thus the outlay
on the part OF the Board has enabled us
to plant our cause in Dallas, We trust
permanently, and assured home and
board for the preacher and his family for
at least one year.
1--WE have good congregations, number
ing some of the most intelligent people
in Dallas. The preacher and his family
are we'll received. We have no fears bat
we shall be we'll cared for by them. We
shall organize church and parish in
the near future.
"Services will be held regularly twice
every Sunday. Ihave preached two Sun
days. send copy of the Dallas Neacs
containing an account of our opening and
a synopsis of my sermon, What is Uni
VersallsmT
"The outlook for the growth and pros
perity of our cause in Texas, is most en-
couraging. Three years ago 1 believe
we had three preachers in Texas and two
organizations; now we have nine churches
and seventeen preachers doing more or
less ministerial work"