The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1894-11-03
Annual Report of the Secretary of the
Missouri Universalist Convention
For the year Ending Oct.
IL, 1894.

DEAR FRIENDs:-I wish to preface my re-
port by reminding you that we are working I'M
der the Plan of Work adopted at the Lacrosse
Convention in 1892. which in brief consists in
raising specific sum of money each year ito be
used under the direction of the Executive Com
mittee to aid and foster the most promising par
ish that is. or shall be organized, to plant a
church in its locality; and that 1t be the policy
of the Convention In the future to aid such par
ish until church edifice is erected and dedi-
Gated, and decided to this Convention and thei E.
after to foster in like manner the next field that
offers the greatest opportunity and material for
self supporting church.
1t was voted at the Kansas City Convention
last fall to raise $500 for this work, and Brother
Shinn secured pledges at the close of he Sun.
day services for S2SS of the amount. leaving the
balance for the Secretary to raise by means of
correspondence, or otherwise.
l adopted the same means used in 1892. that
of sending circular and personal letters to those
thought most able to help the cause. Only this
year sent about 200 more circulars than last,
and wrote many more letters. ~sin owe a
debt of gratitude to THE UNIvFRsALIsT and
Manford's Magazine, who addressed and for
warded several hundred letters to Universalists
in our State.
regret to state the result has been far from
what wished for and expected, the replies and
pledges have been few compared with the labor
and money expended. am MINDFUL of the fact
that it has been year of financial depression.
and doubtless our friends have felt the strjn-
gency of the times. We must try and makathe
best of what we have and trust to receive more
generous response with an improvement of Il e
financial condition Of our country. Last year we
raised 500 in response to our appeal by letter.
this year only $50. Furthermore the pledges
maze at the Convention have been very slowly
coming in. and there had not been enough paid.
up to the first of October, to warrant an assign
ment being made to any needy parish.
There have been Two new church org; MIA
tiOns formed during the year. from whom we
hear the most encouraging reports. and to whom
we heartily extend the hand of fellowship and
welcome to our tile family of UniversaliSts in
Missouri. The first church to he organized was
at LaMonta. Pettis county, for whose existence
we are much indebted to Rev. l.. j. Spencer.
who has preached there each month since its or
ganization. and to General Missionary Shinn
who was Il ere in May and assisted in a series
of enthusiastic meetings.
The most recent church to be organized was at
Elmer. Macon county, on August q. by Rev C.
l.. Ball. pastor of the Lacrosse and LaPlata cir
cult. The first movement here was made about
year ago by General Missionary ShiDn. who
secured the promise of lot from the town com
pany at reduced price, and now they have the
plan for building well advanced. All of this
would have been impossible but for the encour-
agement and assistance of the members of Muir
ray Church at Lacrosse. who are the mpersona-
tion of the missionary spirit. and whose lnfu-