The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-04-28

her careful consideration and her help
full sympathy. In all this work, cover
ing nearly ten years of time, the wo-
man has used such rare good judgment,
such wise discretion, that charity has
seldom been misapplied, or generous
impulse been imposed upon.
Perhaps the best work of her life--at
all events, the work that for the last
two years Mrs. TalcOtt has taken the
most interest in-is the establishment
Of Day Nurseries for the care of the
children of poor working women during
the day, while the mothers are out
earning money to support the family.
One Of these institutions is located at
169 Adams street, and another at 581
Austin avenue. All expenses have
been paid by her, and the last bank
check she drew was to provide for the
current expenses of those institutions
for the coming year.
In ell the multitudinous calls upon
this philanthropist for sympathy or aid,
she did not forget the church of her
choice. For her to be a Christian was
natural All the impulses of heart
and mind tended that way. For her to
be sectarian in its narrow So. =, was
impossible. Schooled in theologyn .1der
the Rev. Pitt Morse, of Watertown, N.
Y. ;, she could not well have an unsound
foundation to stand upon. She became
a Uniyersalist as the bud becomes a
blossom. All the elements of charae-
ter seemed to fit the theological and
ethical statements of that church. That
she loved the Universalist Church is
evidenced by hearty acceptance of it's
ordinances, and an active support of
every branch of its work. Her faith
was living faith, and her life exem-
plified every moral and benefcent aspect
of it.
From the very inception of the move
ment to form a Universalist Church on
the West Side, in Chicago, Mrs. Talcott
has been identified with it. She has
been active in nearly every department,
and interested in every scheme for the
advancement of both the material and
spiritual welfare of the same. Always
a liberal giver, her contributions
toward the regular and special expenses
of the church have been large. When
the Church of the Redeemer felt that
it was best to move from the corner of
Washington and Sangamon streets
further west, she purchased and pre-
sented for its use the lot upon which
the new church now stands. She also
placed in the church three beautiful
windows one in memory of
her late husband, Mancel Talcott one
in memory of her grandniece, Mamie
CLARK and one in memory of her grand
nephew, Mancel G. Webster. She also
gave large sum toward increasing the
library Of the Sunday-school. Her con
tributiOns for various denOminational
were continuous aud valua-
BILE. Many Sunday schools in the de-
nomination are enjoying to-day the
privilege of reading library books which
are gift from her liberal hand. She
has recently contributed money to send
a worthy young man to the Theological
school at Tufts College A favorite
way she had Of helping a weak and
struggling church was to hire the ladies
connected with it to make a rag carpet,
or lot of comfOrters, or garments for
women and children, paying them lib
orally for the same. She would then
give the articles thus made, to the de-
serving poor of her acquaintance.
The loss of such a woman few can
measure. 1t touches not only the city
Of Chicago, where the greater share of
her philanthropic wolk has been ex-
pended, but many communities out
side. Far and near the name of Mary
II. Talcott will be cherished by hun
dreds who have been helped by her
timely gifts, and honored by thousands
who have heard of her through her
work. Though her lips are silent and
her heart has ceased to beat, her kind
words and generous impulses have en-
tered into so many channels of helpful
ness, that we can not say she is dead.
The Lord be praised for the gifts of
such souls to the world Let her eX-
ample stimulate us to better endeavors,
and her life and character become our
model as to duty and labor.