The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-07-21
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that the many friends and well wishers
Of our young society at Woodlawn
Park will be glad to hear of the pros
perity Of this new church.
On Sunday evening, July LIST, the regu-
lar services of the church for the year
closed with concert by the Sunday
school under the direction of their most
efficient and devoted superintendent, Mr.
Fish. No one who was present on that
occasion can question the future of Ryder
Chapel or the success of this movement.
Mr.. Fish and his able assistants are train
ing up a congregation that will insure
bright and useful membership of this
new church. Nor has the present OPP
portunity for building up strong Chris
tian character in the lives OF the church
of to day been neglected. Unaided
by outside ministerial leadership, the
people have held their mid-week con-
ference meetings, and in their thought
and study on these immortal themes of
spiritual interest, have grown daily in the
"grace and knowledge of our Lord and
uld6tol1 Oc6u5 OuIlSb uhb blOll0 AAuhC5
an individual or church strong, helpful
and worthy of the name Christian.
Social Work.
That other essential feat are of church
growth, the social work, has also received
the fostering care of this kindly and zeal
GUS people, and at stated intervals dur
ing the year the friends have come to-
gether in social way and SO learned to
know one another better, which is always
the first step toward trusting further and
loving more.
The Coming Year.
The coming year will have so much
home work for me that cannot in JUS
tice to it continue my evening services
at Woodlawn. But even were this pos
sible it would not be practical for that So
ciety. The time has now come when pas
torgl service is of the utmost Importance
to this church. The work has been carried
about as far as it can go unaided by pas
toral assistance. What the church needs
and mu st have if it keeps pace with its
opportunities is the regular services of
devoted and jealous pastor.
The Past Year.
One years church life and work with
this people has proven to me the real
worth, the Christian zeal, and the noble
self sacrificing character of that little
band of men and women, who. with the
courage OF their convictions, have turned
from the many attractions held out to
them by the orthodox church of their
beautiful village, and bravely launched
their little bark among the stronger and
older ones. Looking to God for his help
and blessing they have gone forward
through the year, brave. hopeful, earn
est devout people, proving themselves
most worthy of the generous and kindly
aid extended them in the erection OF
their church home, and through this
spirit and work proving themselves en-
titled to the fostering care of that noble
organization that SO generously came to
their aid in the erection of their chapel
the Illinois Woman's Missionary Associ-
dblOA3 d6 WOA4 o5 VI uhdp VI phO AiiOhoC "a
the faith, through whose benevolence
it was made possible to plant this church
of our glorious faith in this growing sub
urb.
trust that for another year those who
have so generously aided this mission in
coming into being will continue 80 far as
possible such assistance as will enable
the society to get fairly grounded and
rooted in the community. Then as l
know the people know the future of the
church is secured.
ILLINOIS.-Blue Island.-This pas
torate is now vacant, Br. Small having
closed his work there with the last Sun
day in June. In taking leave Of his peo-
pie Br. Small says: Though at all times
may not have been model pastor, or
they, in all things, model people, yet l
can confidently feel that the same good
feeling and kindly wishes which 1 take
with me for them and theirs, remain be-
hind me for me and mine" The Sunday
school will continue its usual sessionsfor
the present, butthe church will be closed
for the purpose of some long-deferred
and much needed repairs. The Mokena
mission connected with the church is in
hopeful condition. The young people
recently gave japanese festival in be-
half of Br. SmRll's services This is
good field and we trust it will not long
remain vacant.
Morrison. - The Sunday school here
celebrated the Fourth by picnic in the
vicinity. The B division of the Ladies'
Aid Society recently gave a Japanese
supper and realized from it, and from
articles sold. about S35.
INDIANA Fairfield church in
this place sustains a great loss in the
death of a very worthy member of thirty
five years standing, Mrs. Sarah A. Rose.
She was most noble woman.
Mount Carmel.-Children's Day was
appropriately observed by the church
here, and also by the Union church.
OHIO.-LyOns.-The society at Lyons,
one OF the few churches of our faith in
Northwestern Ohio, supports preaching