The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1894-10-27
TEXAS LETTER.

Dro' DilllnSs is out IN the held again.
This time visiting Sunset, Alvord, Bowie.
Montague Springs, and other points.
counselling the good brethren, preach
ing the Word and strengthening the
churches. When we say churches" of
our faith here in Texas, we use the
term in the apostolic sense For, as the
early Christians organized churches long
before they had temples of worship, so
we here in this far southwest have
numbers Of Universalist church organi-
cations without having church edifces.
These will materialize in time,-we have
not doubt of that So soon as bands
OF believers get strong enough fnanci
ally they will build houses dedicated to
the service of the one great God and
Father of us all.
word from Bastrop and William
son county. Bro. Dunbar, writing lately
from Paige, says of his work: II baptized
ten persons on the second Sunday in
August; we also captured Methodist
minister. At our IL A. M. service we
pAOuShOA liOll ItoFoIdblOuS XIV. 4, d, 4.
and after meeting he sailed into u.s.
But think we convinced him and some
others, that none but Universalists
could sing with the spirit and under
standing the Song of Moses and the
Lamb At all events, after an hours
talk, he united with us at the waters
edge"
He also writes: BRO. &c. Lawhorn is
to discuss the parable of The rich man
and Lazarus with Methodist preach
err So Bro. Dunbar is going fifteen
miles to hear it What could our par
tialistic brethren do without that rich
man? How often when every other
plank is knocked away from under their
feet, they clutch at that parable, and
haul the rich man over the Goals, hon.
estly believing (no doubt), that with this
parable to hang to,-their belief in hell
torments, without any other support is
impregnable.
Going fifteen miles to religious dis
cussion! How this naturally awakens
in our elder ministers, memories of past
experiences in the Northwest; when our
cause was comparatively new there. Be-
hold the result today in the spread of
Universalism throughout that country!
Viewing this as the result of the noble,
persevering labors of our clergy under
countless difficulties and bitter opposi-
ton, it gives us courage to work cheer
fully in this field of Texas, though the
process here naturally must be slow
from the impoverished condition of the
people and the difference in the history
of this formerly foreign State.
THE BROTHERS STRAIN.
They are actively engaged at present
uniting their efforts in holding meetings
through the week and Sundays in Cole
man, Erath, Comanche and Eastland
counties. Both brothers are fired with
the missionary spirit and willing to sac
ritice for the good of the cause. Bro. A.
G. Strain writes that when preaching in
Coleman county the house was filled to
overlooking, and that a church organi
cation would be effected there.
MERIDIAN
Our friends there have engaged the
services of Bro. K. Strain for portion
of the time after his present campaign is
over. He will move his family there in
October, then we shall look for that long
expected chapel to be built. 1t is pc
culiar feature here that however enthu-
siastic the people may be about building
a church edifce year of drouth and
hard times paralyzes effort and it is use
less to attempt to push the work until
there is change for the better.
THE OUTLOOK.
This fall crops are fairly good in CEN
trail Texas, and the outlook for our cause
is more encouraging. The interest on
notes given to the Permanent Fund is
long since due with most of the holders,
from the fact that there was no money
to be gotten since crops failed.
THE HICO CHURCH.
We still hold services here every Sun
day night. We need a younger preacher
must have one, if it is possible to OBJ
tain sufficient salary to sustain one. So
far Bro. Billings and the writer have
officiated here without financial pay.
All Souls being considered mission
church, our very moderate living has de-
pended upon the small stipend and few
gifts received from outside. Travelling
and other mission expenses coming also
from other directions. By death and re-
moval our number is depleted. Opposi-
ton is still strong and congregations
fuctuating. New members lately re-
ceived-like many of the old ones-live
long distances away from us. Thus we
have but few to depend upon for the
support of a resident minister. We lack
$500 with all we can raise here for the
very moderate salary of a pastor. Brs.-
E. NJ Clark will come If this can be re
allied. Who will help us and thus be
our present salvation?
MARY @. BILLINGS.
HIco, TEN.