The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-07-01
Reception to Rev. Mr.. Eliot. yr.


Reception to Rev. Mr.. Eliot, Jr.
The Ladies' Auxiliary Society of the
Unitarian church gave charming recep-
ton In the church building last Monday
evening In honor Of Rev. ". G.. Eliot, IT.,
their retiring pastor, ana Rev Charles W.
Wsndte. Of Oakland, CAL, secretary of the
Pacific coast branch Of the American Uni
tartan Association. who Is in Seattle in a
representative capacity. The ladies had
displayed their usual exquisite taste in
identifying the room with profusion Of
beautiful flowers Of every variety, placed
in every conceivable corner and arranged
In artistic designs in various places. the
grouping in front OF the railing being
specially noteworthy FOR its Wild beauty.
The members Of the society turned ont in
goodly number to honor the guests of the
evening, the ladies being in rich evening
toilets and the gentlemen in full evening
dress suits, so that the event was a
strictly social affair. The president of
the society. Mr.. Joseph Shipper. assisted
by his charming wife, did the honors OF
the evening TO the incoming guests, and
from 100 TO o o'clock the two reverend
gentlemen we're the center Of sn informal
and very pleasant reception. Young and
49, JeasA(A ~ AAAtAy HStAos an NAC SA21C
was all too short for the many good
things on the lips Of their friends. At 8
o'clock Mr.. Shipper called the assembly
To order and referred feelingly to the OBJ
iect of the gathering, welcoming the COM
ing OF Rev. Mr.. Wendte and speeding the
parting of their beloved pastor, Rev. Mr..
Eliot, ir. He reviewed number of the
many ties that had united the people
Of the church. among them being
'iove," and though there had been
q remarkable number of weddings in the
parish lately. there remained. as he
pointed 10 the many young people in the
audience. plenty Of good material for many
more. and Mr.. Eliot. who had tied so
many knots so graciously. might we'll be
accepted as an exemplar and be congratu-
lated on the fact that be himself was in
dulging the fond anticipation of soon be-
coming "spliced.' The fundamental
basis OF Unitarian fellowship, Mr.. Ship
pen said, was love Of God and man. Mr..
Shipper gave brief sketch Of the noble
work done by Rev. Thomas Starr King,
both In the East and on the Pacinc coast,
his zeal and work for the sick and
wounded during the civil war and 70 his
advocacy OF the cause, California was
saved to the union; and as Rev. Mr..
King served In the very church
TO which Rev. Mr.. Eliot jr.. was
going he could not give him grander
model for his guidance than the life and
work of Rev. Thomas Starr King. Mr..
Shipper then introduced Rev. Mr..
Wendte, whose early life. Mr.. Shippen
said. had been nodded by the sainted
King. and who for twenty years had been
a most effective organizer of religious
institutions and jealous propagan-
dist of the liberal Christian faith.
Rev. Mr.. Wendte is a fluent and pleas
ing speaker and kept his audience in good
humor with rich fund of anecdotes.
He compiimented the ladies On the true
social spirit that be found prevailing, con-
trastlng it with churches where the social
qualities appeared frozen out of them.
Speaking Of the church he said it never
was in better condition than at present,
and ths growth Ia the nunsisaE Of Unitar-
ian churches on the Pacific coast in the
last eight years had exceeded that of fifty
years previous. Nine years ago there were
only four churches, two of those very
small affairs; today there were twenty
eight, full of members. full OF life. energy
and activity, with flourishing Unitarian
organ To disseminate the news. The Uni
tarians had creditable exhibit at the
Midwinter fair in San Francisco, which
contained over 500 books whose authors
were Unitarians, showing how prominent
the church stood In possessing the most
cultured people of the nation. lie SYM
pathiEed with the Seattle Unitarians in
the loss of their pastor. but assured them
that he was going TO field in which he
would be equally useful, and that would
eventually tend to his advancement DR..
stebbins was over 20 years of age and
needed an associate of the mental force of
Mr.. Eliot, and as DR. Stebbins had known
Mr.. Eliot's father and knew the boy as
well, there was a fraternal bond already
existing between them that would make
their companionship most congenial. Sc
attic was the recognized metropolis of the
Northwest and needed good strong man
to succeed Mr.. Eliot and ne would see that
the association assisted the congregation
in securing a man fully worthy TO be a
successor TO so good a man as Mr.. Eliot.
A short musical programme next followed,
in which Miss Ruby Bray, Mrs. w. ii.
Day and Miss Bear took part Mr.. ship
pen then introduced the pastor, Rev. Mr..
Eliot. first asking him, In the name Of the
church, for his photograph before leaving.
Rev. Mr. Eliot. in a voice suppressed with
teep emotion, expressed his deep sense of
gratitude 70 the people Of his church.
whom he loved and whom he never
could or would forget. lie felt that
they had ministered to him much
more than he had minlstered TO
them. During his passionate he had
learned many usefu. practical lessons; had
seen snfIerings such as he feared he could
never have endured patiently. had seen
temptations resisted that had never tried
him and in which he feared his weakness,
and. generally, he had been minIstered
unto much more than he feared he had
been able 20 minister. lie went away
pray ing for the unity of the spirit
The social feature of the evening was
resumed and the refreshments that were
served IN the rear parlors added another
pleasant feature 10 what proved to be one
of the most enjoyable affairs of the season.
Catholic Infon Concert.
IL is always a pleasnrable task to record
n successful entertainment. and particu-
larry so when that entertainment IS given
for a charitable object Last sunday even
ins the church OF oar Lady OF Good
Helm. at the corner Of Yesier and South
Fourth streets. was comfortably filled with
an anpreciAiiye audience, TO hear the
sacred concert given under the auspices Of
the Seattle Catholic Union. The concert
Was under she immediate direction OF
Mrs. J. = Mccormick, who was also The
organist and accompanies Of the evening.