The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1894-11-17
OHIO NEWS LETTER.
THE CONFERENCES.

THE CONFERENCES.
We occupied Sunday, November A. in
careful reading of the reports of the
three church Conferences recently held
in different portions of the country, and
were much gratifed in learning that they
were not only successes in attendance,
but also in the quality of the papers
read and addresses delivered; and while
the reading of the reports did not com
municate the inspiration as fully as
listening to the reader or speaker would
have done, yet we felt that all Univer
salsts who peruse the reports will have
higher regard for the talent and scholar
ship embraced in our church, and will
remember, when we are reproached with
the small size of our church that 1t
proves the truth of the old adage; that
PARTICLES of greatest value are always in
small packages" We sometimes meet
Universalists who act as if they were
ashamed of their denomination, and are
always telling of what good sermons"
they hear in Partialist churches; but
that class of Universalists are not usu-
ally those who read one or more OF the
excellent papers published in the inter
est of the Universalist Church. The di-
vision of the UNCONVENTIONAL territory
into three sections, has worked well; and
we sincerely believe that further in
crease of the number of the districts
would work to greater advantage, and
would secure larger degree OF interest
in behalf of this method of furthering
the welfare of our beloved church, by
securing a greater attendance Of minis
tiers and laymen; many of whom are not
financially able to endure the expense
required in going the distance many
now have to travel, to the places of
meeting.
"SUPERSEDED.''
We are in hearty sympathy with the
article recently appearing in THE UNI
vERsALIsT and Christian Leader CRITICS
ing the suggestion of some official of
the Y. P. G. Union in regard to "super-
seding" or "supplanting" old and tried
officials in our church just because they
do not at once fall in with the notions
of some who have more recently come to
the front. We have been an active
worker as Universalist minister, for al
most third of a century, and when we
remember the chaotic condition of de
nominational affairs then and contrast
the same with the compact organization
we now have, we wonder if those who
talk of "superseding" the men and wo-
men who have through many difficulties,
much antagonism and in many instances
atgreat personal sacrifices brought these
changes about, we can but feel that
those who suggest the wholesale super
seding' of those workers, are either ig-
norant of the real facts, or are devoid of
that gratitude which is partly due to
those who have made it possible for the
Y. p. G. Union to come into existence
and take in so short time such prom
inent and useful position in our church
and the world at large. From the first
suggestion of the organization of the Y.
p. G. Union we have been ardent advo
cate and co-worker with its plans and
methods; and from intimate association
and correspondence with many of the
best workers, we are satisfied, that the
official whom Bro. Metcalf so gently
traps over the knuckles," does not repre-
hi In ha
contrary, we have been pleased with the
modest and loyal spirit everywhere and
at all times, evinced by the young peo
pies organization. By the great major
ity of the older friends and workers of
the church, the organization has been
welcomed as valuable auxiliary to the
Universalist church. Those who have
been fearful that the young people
would take possession of the church,
have not been numerous, and some of
them have been thoroughly converted
to the belief that the movement is one
that in time will be of great advantage
to the church, in enlisting and educat-
ing our young people to love and work
for our church, and in due time, and by
legitimate methods, to "supersede" the
older workers; but not by forcibly rele
eating them to the rear, simply because
they do not accept at once all the sug
gestions born of enthusiasm newly de-
veloped. We have large hope of the
possible and probable advantages to be
derived from the Y. P. c. Union, in fur
nishing to our church mon and women
we'll trained for carrying on the work, so
we'll begun by those who have brought
the church to its present well organized
and useful condition. AS one by one
they complete their task and pass on to
the higher life, then their places will be
filled by wise selection from those who
have shown themselves worthy of pro,
motion. We rejoice in what the Y. p.
G. Union has done; we often speak of
Hartman church as one of their grand
achievements. and as we freely aided all
that we could in promoting that move
ment, and will gladly assist in all sim
liar enterprises, as long as it is our priv
ilege. At the same time, we have no