The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-10-23
MICHIGAN.
Report of the Executive Committee, Read at
the State Convention in Bay City,
Wednesday, Oct. y.
Frost, 0.


the State Convention in Bay City,
Wednesday, Oct. y.
To the Michigan UnirerSalist Convention:
Your Executive Committee herewith submit
their annual report. The Convention, at its
annual session in 1885, voted to put the Ex-
ecutive Committee in charge of its mission
airy interests, with full power to act at their
discretion. The Committee met before the
session of the Convention closed and voted
that subcommittee, consisting of the Pres
ident, the Secretary and A. @. Raymond
should assume control of the missionary
work, with power to appropriate the funds
raised for that purpose; while the President
and Secretary were authorized to look after
church property in dormant parishes, with
view to making it secure to UNCONVENTIONAL
purposes. The missionary committee en-
tered at once upon their work. The funds
placed at their disposal were deemed INSULT
cient to secure first class missionary for the
field, and it was judged to be much more ad-
vantageous and economic to pursue the poll
cy of previous year. The plan of opera
ton, therefore, has been to make appropria-
tions to struggling parishes where financial
aid, added to what the local parishes can
raise, would secure the settlement of pas
tor; or where in promising places it would
secure the formation of new parishes.
In accordance with this plan, it was agreed
to continue aid to the parish at Charlotte,
where such splendid work has been done by
our devoted and self-sacrifcing brother Cor
ton-the church not having been completed
until recent date. The sum of $500 was
therefore appropriated for the benefit of
Charlotte, and we believe the expenditure a
most satisfactory investment.
Very early in the year the President and
Secretary set to work to ascertain by CORE
spondence the condition of parishes with va
cant pulpits to the end that services might
be resumed or pastors supplied. We are
happy to report that this correspondence has
resulted in securing ministers for the Port
land and Hillsdale parishes. The former has
resumed regular services under consecrated
PASTOR Rev. R. D. Towne. For Hillsdale,
your Committee have made an appropria-
ton of $500, of which $50 has already been
paid, and Rev. w. F. Dickerman, a recent
accession from the Methodist church and
clear gain to our ministry, is under engage
ment for year.
At Clifford a missionary movement has
been inaugurated by Rev. S. HI. Robin, our
pastor at Bay City, who has organized a
fiourishing society and Sunday-school. De-
ferring to the Judgment of Br. Robin, your
Committee have consented to the appropria-
ton for that enterprise of the amount pledged
the missionary fund of the Bay City parish
and Sunday school. The sum of $65 has al
ready been so applied, and assistance will be
needed during the coming year.
Our pastor at Detroit has had in charge the
movement at Port Huron. This has devel-
oped exceedingly promising features; soci-
ETY. and Sunday-school have been organized,
lot costing $500 has been purchased with
the intention of erecting chapel in the near
future. This undertaking has been without
any expense to the Convention, but an appro-
priation of $500 was secured from the Gen
eral Convention, which we believe has not
been called for. We recommend an appro-
priation of $500 for Port Huron during the
ensuing year.
Your Committee also have made an appro-
priation of $50 to the parishes in Decatur
and Dowagiac, which amount has been paid.
There are still other fields that invite mis-
sionary work. At Adrian and Kalamazoo
there are elements which, it is believed, could
be organized into creditable parishes; and in
raising the annual missionary fund these,
and places like Lapeer, Cairo. Marshall and
Muskegon, where there are inactive parishes,
should not be forgotten. Circumstances
may require the extension of aid to all of
these places, and perhaps to others. Besides,
therefore, the appropriations already speci-
fed, an amount nearly or quite equal should
be raised and held in reserve for use as may
be needed.
Your Committee therefore recommend
that sum, not less than 81 600, be raised
at this meeting for carrying on our mission
airy work during the coming year.
Besides this We would also urge the early
gathering of a permanent missionary fund,
the interest on which shall be expended in
aid of our cause. There are men and women
of wealth in our parishes who could easily
make handsome gifts for this purpose, and
throughout the State there are others, un-
connected with parishes, who can make no
better disposition of their money than to
place it in such fund, which will be a per-