The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-07-03

convenient lot of land at considerable dis |
lance south of the present location, a church |
which shall seat not less than 700 people, and |
which shall be in all respects adapted to the |
uses of the society: the church and lot to cost !
not less than $4,000; and to present the same
to the society in exchange for the present
church building and land
1t is a fact which has for some time inn
pressed many of the wsrmest friends of st
Paul's Church, that the location of the church
is unfavorable to the most successful work
among the people of the South Side. The ex-
traordinary rapidity with which the city has
grown has pushed the residence portion of
the South Side far beyond what seemed prob
able when the present church was built. To-
day fve-sevenths of the parish live south of
Eighteenth street, and almost every removal
carries some of those remaining near us far
| Their away. The great mass of the American
population is far awsg from the church. And
| while we can in most instances retain our
hold upon those families or persons who are
| identified with our church or denomination,
it is simply impossible to make additions from
those not interested with us, SO long as we are
so remote from their neighborhoods
| On the other hand, the neighborhood of our
present church contains but a small popula-
lation is rapidly growing smaller. Business
interests are fast claiming Michigan avenue,
Wabash avenue is already mostly given up to
trade, and west of that thoroughfare the pop
ulation is SO largely foreign that we can ex-
pect next to no recruits from it.
Now it is the inevitable fate of churches in
great cities that they are compelled to follow
the population. They must plant themselves
near the people with whom they expect to
DEAL or they will not reach them. This has
been the history of Universalist churches in
other cities. The Second Church in Boston
the First Church in Providence. Blocker
Street Church in New York City, all have
been driven from old and historic grounds
into new localities by the movement of the
resident populatons and it would be possible,
to name several other churches, compelled to
remain in unfavorable neighborhoods, whose
languishing-life shows how hard struggle it
is to maintain a church property in a region
from which its constituency has rem owed, or
is removing. This is the prospect which lies
before st. Paul's Church for the next ten
years. if we do not change our location. Tt
will be steady struggle against heavy disad
vantages, with one inevitable result, that
finally we shall be forced to move.
For this is the alternative which is before
us, viz, to move south to day. before we are
absolutely crowded out, taking an early ad-
vantage of the movement of population and
business, and using the next ten years in
strengthening ourselves out of a fresh and
dense population; or to wait few years. see
our people, and the people on whom we can
depend for support, move steadily away from
US. and finally be forced to this step, which
now we can take of our own free will, too late
to derive the advantages from it which will
now accrue to us.
We feel as keenly as any the reasons which
will be urged for remaining in the present spot
old associations, the value of the present
church edifce. the short time since 1t was
built. But it should be borne in mind that we
are bound to look forward as well as backward.
We must provide for future, as well as cherish
past. The church in which we worship is only
means to an end. 1t is the house and not the
family. And it is proposed simply to exchange
the present house for one quite as commodious
convenient, and attractive, and far better
situated to strengthen and perpetuate the
work done in past days for st. Paul's Church.
1t should be noted moreover that it seldom
happens that religious society is enabled to
make such change as is proposed under cir
cumstances so favorable. The plan to be sub
mitted will put the society in new church,
upon a new site, without laying any financial
burden upon it, Ample provision is promised
for completing the transaction without ex-
pense to the society. So that it will be posi-
BILE. if we so elect to better ourselves in the
means for our work without becoming in
volved in debtor tasking the liberality of the
society. 1t is not likely that such opportu
nifty could occur second time.
If there is any doubt about the wisdom of
this proposed step, we have the experience Of
our sister church upon the West Side to in
struct US. The cases are almost precisely par
allel. The Church of the Redeemer has re.
| moved from an unfavorable site to one better
situated, not only with reference to the par
ish. but with relation to the population at
large. The result has been most striking.
Almost at once the church has become pros
porous beyond anything in its past expert
ence. 1t has taken strong hold of the neigh
borhood, the Sunday-school has doubled, nearly
all the pews are rented, the various branches
of the church are in the most fiourishing con-
dition. If the experience of our brethren of
the West Side has any significance at all for
u.s. it is an argument in favor of the proposed
| step.
Realizing the force of these arguments in
favor of a change of location, and feeling that
an offer so advantageous to the society ought
not to be ignored sighted, your trustees
have deemed it proper to ask candid and I'M
biased expression of opinion from the men,
| bers of the parish at the meeting to be held
Tuesday next June 2lst.
| C. B. SAWYER. Chairman.
JAMES H. SWAN,
GEORGE A. SEAvERNs,
A. A. LIBBY,
NOBLE B. JUDAH,
Trustees of the First UnipersaIist Society.
Mr.. G. B. Sawyer, chairman of the
Board of Trustees, called the meeting
to order and presided during the even
ing. In few words he stated the OBJ
ject of the meeting and referred the
members to the above circular letter.
The proposition of the syndicate in
legal form was then read. and the mat
ter was open for discussion. A letter
from Mrs. G. B. Marsh, opposing the
movement, was read; also letter from
Mr.. George Morton, counseling unity of
, action. Mr.. N. b. judah advocated the
acceptance of the offer of the syndicate.
He was decidedly in favor of new To-
cation, and expressed the opinion that
the parish should be grateful to the