The weekly tribune., 1894-02-16
{ PLUR|BUS UNUM
| The Fist Liberal Church of Great
Falls Organized Monday
Night.
A Large Attendance--Declara Of
Principles and Bond of
Union.

The meeting in the court room on
Monday night for the purpose of organic
ing liberal religious society in Great
Falls was largely attended. Hon. Paris
Gibson was chosen president of the
meeting, and F. c. Park secretary.
After statement as to the object of
the meeting, the following declara-
tion of religious principles WAS read, and
after being discussed was unanimously
adopted
"Belie wing that religion is natural, that
progress is necessity. that true relig-
ion is matter of life and not of dogma,
of character and not of creed, that it is a
duty we owe to God and to humanity to
promote as far as in us lies that univer-
sal religion o. mankind which teaches
the unity of work and the unity of in
terests of all in the universal paternity
of God and the universal fraternity of
man which accords to each man the
right to preach his gospel as he under
stands it, to confess and teach his re-
ligion as he conceives 1t and to do what
he considers his religious duty as long AS
by SO doing he remains within the
bounds of eternal moral law with plat
form broad enough to hold all sincere
seekers after truth and right. all lovers
OF humanity, irrespective of their indi-
vldual creed or race, in spirit of good
will. and that seeks revival of the re-
ligon of human endeavor and to teach
men of God in manner that will an
swer their deepest needs.
"Resolved That the better to carry
out these principles we organize our
selves into religious society which
shall have for its object religious wor-
ship and religious work; and we hereby
| pledge ourselves to carry out the objects
of fhis society, it being distinctly under
stood and agreed that all persons shall
be eligible for membership who will
unite with us on the basis of these prin-
ciples, and pledge themselves to carry
out the objects of this society. and that
no applicant shall be committed to any
philosophy of faith and that religious
spirit and moral character shall be the
only requisite of membership"
The next order of business was the Sc
lection of name for the new organiza-
ton. The following were suggested:
The Independent Church of Great
Falls" "Independent Religious Society
| VI biCdl diiS, hc l. GOplt CDuTCD.
'Ihe Liberal Union Church" Church
of Universal Brotherhood "The Elec-
trical Church. 1.-The Unity Church."
The First Liberal Church. Each
name suggested was voted upon and the
name of "The First Liberal Church of
Great Falls was adopted
The following bond of union was then
read and unanimously adopted:
"In the freedom cf truth and the
spirit OF love, we, whose names are here
unto subscribed, associate ourselves to-
gether as the First Liberal church of
Great Falls, Montana. for the worship of
God and the service of man"
After the signing of the bond of union
by between forty and fifty persons. and
the appointment of several committees,
and speeches from several of the citizens
on the favorable auspices under which
The First Liberal Church of Great
Falls enters upon its career of useful
ness, the meeting adjourned to meet on
Monday evening, Feb. 10, at the court
room.
| The following are the names of the
persons appointed on the three commit
| tees:
Committee on observation-disclosures
Gibson. W. f. Parker. \. NJ. Scott. H. o.
Chowen.
Finance Committee-W. d. Dickinson,
| :. S. Hawkins, G.. II. Goodrich
Membership Committee DR.. J. A.
Sweat +. G. Park, w. II. Hambleton,
Mrs. w. d, Dickinson, Mrs. Amos Desi-
let's, Mrs. :. $. Hawkins.