The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-01-21
Special Contributors.
TO THE UNIvERSALISTS OF OHIO.

DEAR BRETHREN:-Throug the CO.
operation of the editor and the Pub
fishing House, we are permitted to
to make this number of the paper one
Of special interest to Ohio readers, by
reason of the large space devoted to the
aims and work of our own State Conven-
tion, as well as to matters that are of both
general and special concern to our
churches, and to all the friends of Uni
versalism in the State. We sincerely
hope that not only the regular Ohio
readers of THE UNIvERsALIsT, but all
persons to whom this number may come,
will peruse with care the columns devo-
ted to Ohio interests, and find in them
needful instruction, interesting facts,
helpful suggestions, sound advice, and
strong incentives to duty.
We have a purpose in thus appear
ing before you. We wish to show you
the opportunities and needs of the Uni
versalist church in Ohio; to explain its
organization, its aims and its methods;
to show you what we have done, and
what we propose to do, to enlist your
sympathy, and invite your co-opera-
tion.
Our ultimate aim is the salvation of
men from ignorance, error and sin,
and the promotion of their growth in
wisdom, truth and righteousness. We
seek these ends through the proper
moral and religious care and culture of
the young, and the conversion of those
who have, through whatever cause or
influence, fallen into the ways of sin
and evil. We look upon the Christian
church not merely as safe shelter and
fold for those who in good faith seek its
fellowship and help, but as a living
force, organized for aggressive work,
and boldly claiming and demanding the
world for truth and righteousness, for
Christ and God.
While we recognize the fact that there
are other churches and other instrument
talities, operating, in part at least, along
the same lines and toward the same
ends, yet believing sincerely in the
doctrines and motives which Universal
ism presents and urges, as the highest
and the best in their adaptation to hui
man needs and to the ends we seek,
we feel that we ought to work as though,
under God, the victory depended upon
ourselves alone. But if our work is to
be successful, it must be done with our
united strength, and by such methods
as will best utilize our means and our
forces. To this end we only need to
vitalize and make operative and eff
cient what we already have in the way
of organization.
WE ARE ORGANIZED
into churches, associations, and State
Convention. OF the church as the
unit of organization, it is not necessary
to write at length, nor of the associa-
tion, which have no legislative nor
ecclesiastical functions, but are main-
tanned as districts whose churches may
conveniently o-operate in their relig-
ious work, and are of good use where
the churches unite heartily and zeal
ously in their organization and support.
Our chief object just now is to bring
the State Convention, its organization,
purpose and work, home to the people;
that it may no longer seem thing so
strange, so foreign, so far away as many
seem to regard it.
The following we copy in part from
the Constitution of the Convention:
THE STATE CONVENTION is our leg
islative body, and is composed,-
l. OF all ordained Universalist cler-
gymen in the State, duly admitted to
fellowship and actively engaged, unless
disabled by years or sickness, in the
work of the ministry.
2. OF the officers Of the Convention.
8. OF lay delegates each church
within the fellowship of the Convention
being entitled to two delegates, and
churches having one hundred or more
members being entitled to an additional
delegate.
The officers of the Convention are
President, Vice. president, Secretary,
Treasurer, and five trustees. The Pres
ident and Viee-president are trustees,
er- -O6ieiO, the other three trustees are
elected, one retiring each year, and a
new one being chosen in his stead.