The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-11-20
OPENING OF THE MISSION IN
NORTH CHICAGO.

NORTH CHICAGO.
The opening service in the new mis-
sion church in the north division of
Chicago, on Sunday afternoon, Nov. IA,
was an occasion of signal interest to the
Universalists of this city. The church
is called the "Church of our Father"
and arrangements have been made for
regular services for the next six months.
The building was formerly the Grant
Place NJ. E. Church and is situated on
the corner of Grant Place and Larrabee
street, in very excellent neighborhood,
where the population may be expected
to make up a considerable congregation.
1t is frame building, holding about
$50, with Sunday school room capable
of accommodating $50. The Sunday
school room was occupied at the first
service, and the congregation was large
enough to. completely fll it; some
twenty or more standing during the
exercises.
During the week the room had been
neatly papered and decorated, the
Church of the Redeemer furnishing
willing helpers, and on Sunday it pre-
sented quite an attractive appearance.
The west side congregation and St.
Paul's, were well represented at the
opening service, with an attendance
from the north side of about 125 per-
sons. Some sixteen or eighteen fami-
lies pledged themselves to sustain the
new movement and from week to week
other families will be received. The
opening was highly encouraging and
the movement begins amid the brightest
hopes of success.
Rev. Charles Collklin, the Editor of
THE UNIyERsALIsT, and Rev. T. H.
Tabor conducted the services, Rev.
Mr.. Conklin preaching the sermon.
The subject of the discourse was,
"What may be expected of Universe
list Church ?" We do not come to you,
the preacher, with a chal-
lenge, but with message of peace.
There are many whose longings for the
truth Universalist church will satisfy,
and who wish for the broader and more
generous plan Of religious life it will
meet. Some of the people may be told
that the Universalist church made the
road of life far too easy for the wicked,
but if they would look into the doc
trines and teachings of the Universe
list church they would find that sinners
had no easy refuge within their circle,
for we preach certain and swift punish
ment of sin too vigorously to make our
church a comfortable place for wrong
doors who were unrepentant. We have
every reason to believe that the estab-
lishmeDt of our church in this goodly
and important neighborhood will re-
suit in blessing. Nor had the Univer-
salists come in any sense as a piratical
church, or to interfere in any way with
the proper work of others. They SIM
ply desire to advance the good work
Of Christ, and to do the work for him
which was to be done by every branch
Of his church throughout the world.
They had come to induce many to en-
roll under the banner Of the Redeemer.
Again, the people might in short time,
be told that the Universalist church
was not truly Christian, but it was
church of Christ for all that. 1t did
not assert itself to be the only church
IN the world or in any sense an infalli-
ole church. There were other churches
to God and doing the Mas
5er's work in faith and good teaching,
and to all such churches the Universal
list said: "God bless you; go forward
md prosper" But the Universalist
church had its place in the world, and
was doing its work for Christ in its own
1ay-modestly, reverently, but full of
and ever aggressive for
rood. 1t has lasted for a hundred
years in this country, and was prepared
% do good. The establishment of the
church in this part of the city will
need energetic work, and all helpers
both old and young-will be well
come.
The discourse was listened to with
marked interest, and at the close there
we're many handshakings and mutual
at the success of the
service.
Rev. j. Coleman Adams breaches in
,he "Church of Our Father" next Sun
lay afternoon at o'clock. The good
work so successfully begun will be Wig.
,rously prosecuted until the mission be-
comes a self-supporting church. That
s the policy of those instrumental in
his new foundation.
The Rev. DIR. Lorimer. the wall