The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-02-16
THE UNIvERsALIST CLUB.

To the Editor of THE UNIvERsALIsT:
We are not perhaps the proper person
to speak of what the Universalst Club
ought to be. or howit ought to be organ
lied. Indeed we have no very definite
convictions; but we have some thoughts
or Impressions which might be added to
the general expression that should help
the committee to know the thoughts and
feelings of the general Universalist pub
lic,-men and women.
The first meeting of the Club was cer-
tainly a success. 1t was delightful and
profitable. 1t is possible that future
meetings might be even more so. and re-
dound in still greater measure to the in
crease of the organic, numerical, spirit
ual and social power of our church in
this city.
There is no more important utterance
than that of DIR. Garfield, that the Uni.
versalist people in the various churches
Of this city and vicinity, need to come
together, to get acquainted, to exchange
views and feelings, to get into intellect
ual, social and religious touch with each
other, and thus be enabled to enter into
common welfare-for the advancement
and Strengthening of our church in every
part OF the city.
Every church ought to do every thing
in IFS power to help every other church
to be success in every regard. and to be
a commanding power among the people
for our larger thought. and for nobler
life.
The individual church is not merely
to look after its own success. It ought
to consider that it's own success is not
fully achieved till every other Universal
list church in the city is planted on the
rock of solid prosperity. of assured
strength and wide and deep influence
and usefulness.
Especially the strong churches of the
city. as far as possible, ought to see to it
that no church is permitted or COM
PEELED to do. or to fail to do, any thing
that shall imperil it's success, or Grip
Pile it's strength. or make weakness and
failure inevitable.
Every strong and successful church is
a help and an honor to every other
church even to the other strong
churches,
A great city like this should have. not
merely one or two. but considerable
number of. strong Universalist churches.
We can have them if we will.
An efficient club may help us more
than anything else to accomplish this
result.
The one thing we set out to say, or to
ask, is, should this club be men's club,
or should it be mems and women's
club? That depends. We may here move
carefully; but we may safely take the
united judgment of men and women as
to which is best. and to this end we
should have the opinions of women as
we'll as of men, in The UNIvERsALIsr
and given in other ways.
Our own preiudices are in favor of
mems and women's club. 1t is cleaner,
it is pleasanter every way, it is more
home.like, there will be. it seems to US,
more of the nobIest type of wisdom and
inspiration in it.
But there is another side to the case.
Why should church clubs have only
man membership At least two reasons
are assigned. First, some one has said
that the main reason is in order tt at
men may freely smoke after the supper,
and while the post prandial exercises
are proceeding. But this, it seems to US
is one of the main reasons why church
club ought not to be composed exclus.
lively OF men. We ought TO eliminate
this barbarism.
The smoking is quite as offensive to a
considerable number of men as it is 10
the most refined women.
But there is another reason for mans
club which is of more weight. Our
churches are composed chiefly of women.
The men are not as numerous or as in.
teresied and active us they ought to be.
The mems club is for the purpose of en-
phasizing the man element in our
clurches; for the purpose Of attracting a
larger number Of men, and making them
more interested. earnest and active in
that can promote the growth and power
OF the church. This is certainly import
ant. In some Congregational churches
at least, in the west, mems leagues are
organized on the basis of this thought.