The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1894-11-17
DIR. Prices Cream Baking Powder
Forty Years the Standard.
"UNIVERSALISM IN CHICAGO

Ministers Meeting for October.-The Flu
ture Considered-Plans and Sugges-
lions.
This was the general topic of the pa
per of Rev. L. J. Dinsmore, read at the
Ministers Meeting at the rooms of the
Western Branch, on Monday, Oct. Is
This report has been in type for three
weeks, but could not be used, owing to
the crowded condition OF our columns
EDITOR
There was large attendance-16-
including the visitors Rev. Messrs. Dot
ter, Gorton and SCHNEIDER. All the city
and suburban pastors were present.
The paper discussed the plant of the
Universalist Church in Chicago. There
are eight churches actively at work,
three in the south division-St. Paul's,
Englewood and Woodlawn; one on the
West Side and one north of the river;
with one each in Oak Park, Blue Island
and LaGrange. OF these churches five
are unusually strong in every way and
ranking on our UNCONVENTIONAL records
as among the very best. Three are con-
sidered as missionary enterprises, with
their future to be hereafter determined.
These churches embrace at least 1900
families, with Sunday school constitu-
ency of 1900 Connected with the par
ishes are several active and efficient Y.
P. @. US. and other interesting organi-
cations of young people. Taken alto
gether Universalism in Chicago is we'll
organized, amply equipped. with abun-
dant wealth and church machinery, and
is quite ready for work. The Universal
list Church in Chicago is wealthy and fl
nancially able to do anything it under
takes.
This is the plant as detailed by the
speaker, emitting some statistics which
need verifcation. On the second part of
the theme, viz: What are those enter
prises that we may wisely undertake
with the hope and expectation Of secur-
ing for the church of our love larger
and more fruitful life? Mr.. Dinsmore
said:
l. First of all, we need to consider
what we are here for. Evidently to build
up the religious life and broaden the
range of the spiritual activities of man.
Evidently to build up that broader
phase of Christianity which we call Uni
versalsm. TheUniversalist Church is a
Christian church, and our work must be
along the great lines of historic Christi.
anity. And yet always with due recog.
milton Of our own religious individuality.
Because anything has proved good for
the Methodists or Baptists it does not
follow necessarily that it must be good
for us.
A Christian people. and working for
the highest religious good of the world,
we must work in our own way, according
to the genius of our own body, and the
moving of our own spiritual nature.
What then is necessary to larger &C
tivity of our church in this city? In one
sense what is true anywhere,-a greater
appreciation of the value of the church in
the social life of today. The people need
stirring up to more vivid realization of
the good the church can personally do
them.
To many people it is an abstract. bar
rem ideality, far away from the range of
their daily thought, only dimlY seen and
felt when on Sunday they go to church
and hear the parson preach and pray. 1t
was DIR. Garfield who said at Joliet, 1--WE
need revivall' and l am glad to say
amen to that. A more serious and ear.
nest preaching. full Of the divine urgen
cy of Christian faith. pressing more
heavily upon the great springs Of thought
and character. will surely result in a