Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-10-12
4 NEW CHURCH.

Last Sunday occurred the first annivers-
airy Of the First Unitarian society Of this
city. The organization Of the society
sprung from a suggestion Of DR.. W. \.
Stephens concerning the need of 3 liberal
church in this city, made to Rev. Young,
OF Boston Unitarian church, while the
doctor was on visit to the city named.
little over year ago. Through the instru-
mentality Of Rev. Young, the American
Unitarian association az once took steps
TO organize the Wichita association.
Rev. Enoch Powell, of Topeka, Kansas,
the Western agent of the national associa-
ton, was sent TO this city to look over the
field and if practicable establish local
church.
Rev. Powell delivered the first Unitarian
sermon to few friends of the liberal
faith in Sons OF Herman hall Sept. 4, 1855.
From the above date this little band
pioneers OF Unitarianisrn in Wichita-held
regular Sunday meetings for some weeks
in private houses. The exercises consist
ing of song services and the reading Of
sermons, by some one of the members,
from the pens Of Rev. Brooks Herford,
Rev. Edward E. Hale, Rev. J. NJ. Savage
and other distinguished leaders and teach
ers OF Unitarian principles. During these
parlor meetings Rev. J. r. Efinger, of
Chicago, secretary of the Western Uni
tartan conference, made a visit to this
city on the special mission of assisting IN
the organization of a permanent associa-
ton with definite plans a purposes. A
meeting was held in the Sons of Herman
hall, October ?, 1887 at which the follow
ing preamble and resolutions were adop-
ted.
Preamble-Feeling the need of coming
together for mutual edification in the hope
of permanently establishing a church
which shall be 10 US and our children a
perpetual reminder of the things of the
spirit, be it resolved,
First. That the name of this organiza-
ton shall be the Unity Sunday Circle, of
Wichita, Kansas.
Second. That its object shall be the pro-
motion of nobler views OF God, of life, and
a more practical religion
The task of securing a regular pastor
was assumed by the American Unitarian
association and on the 4th of the following
December the congregation, now very con-
siderably increased, had the qualification
of listening to the first sermon of the reg
ular pastor, Rev Napoleon Hoyeland.
who, during the two and half years
preceding, had been in charge of the
Unitarian church at Greedy, Colorado, on
Dec. 18th, the name of Unity Sunday cir
Gle was changed to First Unitarian society
of Wichita (which latter name was held
during the remainder of the first year Of
its existence.
at the anniversary meeting held last
Sunday, a committee, which had been
previously appointed to revise and amend
the articles of association so as to form a
church organization permanent in charac
ter and sufficiently catholic in spirit to in
clude all earnest and conscientious seekers
of the truth, reported in pursuance of such
the following bond of fellow
ship: Recognizing the Faherhood Of
God, the brotherhood of mankind /
Jesus as teacher, seeking
the Spirit of Truth as the guide
Of our lives and in the hope of immortal
life, we associate ourselves together to
public worship of God and pro- |
mote the welfare of humanity; imposing
no creed upon the conscience of any; ask
ing only an earnest effort TO find and fol- !
low the truth, we cordially welcome all TO /
a place among Us who sympathiZe with US
IN these, our aims.
\ series OF by laws were adopted aud |
1.-The First Unitarian Church of Wichita, !
Kansas, was chosen as the associations I
name. The following named /
officers were elected: President, VIM E. /
A. Sankey; secretary, VIM. L. Chitty; treas. /
urer, Dr. J. ". Welch.
An executive committee was elected 4
in addition to the above named /
officers, OF the following persons; Mrs /
NJ. Brown, DR.. \. \. Stephens and Mrs. L. I
5. Carter.
The church commences les second years /
existence with most propituo1s prospects. /
It's members and friends are looking for
ward with much anticipated pleasure to 1
the meeting of the Kansas and Missouri |
Valley Unitarian conference to De held in
this city, commencing Nov. 18th.