The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1894-11-17

more earnest and aggressive people.
believe in an aggressive Universalism,
but know Of no way in which it can be
secured except by means Of an earnest,
active ministry deeply in earnest and
bound to win.
The Minister the Key to the Situation.
The minister is the key of the situa-
ton. If he is willing to side track at
every little whim. willing to run off into
remote and valueless regions, then the
life and heart of his church will be gone
and minister and people will shrivel up
and blow away with the first gust of
trouble. Desiccated vegetables have
their place and value. But desicated
church is of all things most vain and
empty.
The church is for religious life and
culture. IL it is not for that, it is not
church. Call it what you will-but do
not call it church.
Revival Needed.
Now here in Chicago we need revival.
First in our preachers. We need more
enthusiasm, more life and vim, more
courage and hope. More hope and
courage that our people may gather zeal
from us, for they expect us to lead.
And if they find that we are no
more hopeful and ambitious and dar-
ing than they, it will be at once their
conclusion that they are foolishly opti-
mistic, and the moral tone of the church
will grow less and lower. And every
body will be the poorer for it,
AS pastors here in Chicago we need to
appreciate the greatness of our demon
national plant and the business it may
do.
Our church is not small and poor and
poor and weak. Do not let anybody
fill your ears with the cry of poverty.
Gentlemen may cry poverty, but there is
no poverty in our church. To every new
enterprise that may be proposed there
will always be encouragement. But any
church that has vitality will go ahead
just the same, and build itself future.
Now having revived the ministers, and
through them the congregations, we are
ready to consider schemes Of church ex-
tension.
Church Extension.
In the way of church extension stands
the clannishness of local organizations.
Not few feel that when they have con-
tributed to their own church organiza-
ton they have done everything they
need to do for the church-a most selfish
and discreditable feeling.
Here in Chicago we need to stir up an
interest in the Universalist Church of
Chicago. 1t has different sections on
the North and South and West Sides
and in the suburbs, but it is all one
church-just as the brothers and sisters
of one family may be scattered from
Maine to California-but still constitute
only sections of the one great family.
Our people here need to broaden out
and take in all the churches in the range
of their broad deep sympathies
This is the warrant of church extern
sion. Plant little family circles of the
great church family because the faith
that has done people good in st. Pauls
an Oak Park will be good for the PEG.
pie of Kenwood and Douglass Park
Now as to the matter of missions. We
have three. Woodlawn, as understand,
has it's debts carried for term of years.
1t will need help in sustaining it's pulpit
ministrations. The North Side can hope
to keep its pulpit alive-but all its obi
cations mature the coming year, and
must be met. S1,400 must be paid by
the first of next April. There is no
other way. La Grange has as yet no
building but will need assistance in
meeting running expenses.
This is not very extensive nor cred
itaole showing for the Universalist
church of Chicago. 1t should dare
greater work.
Something was said at our last meet
ing about an Institutional Church. That
would be noble and gracious under
taking. The church ought not to be
simply thinking machine. 1t should
be an agency for diffusing human hap
piness.
City Missionary.
To extend the church there should be
employed City Missionary. Not neces-
sarily and mainly to establish new
churches, but to carry the hope and
cheer of our blessed faith into the very
slums. He should carry on a rescue
mission. Why should we hold back and
commit to other hands this broad Chris
tian humanitarian work of rescue and
redemption?
A weekly publication should be es-
tablished to circulate our church news
freely in the great districts of which our
different churches are centers. Ten
thousand distributed every week, would
be wonderful help in building up our
church congregations and so increasing
our vital strength.
Two pages could be the same for all
the churches-one page could be de-
voted to each church, and one page to
reputable advertising. which if wisely