The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-05-04

new ITl0nuS Oh Lno mOVemouI UcSdu w
come to the front and soon regular
services were begun. The Rev. Miss
| Crossman from Maine, tarried with
the people for some months, Then
Rev. A. G. Grier was settled as pastor
as the result of visit made in COM
pany with Mrs. S. L. Crum, who was
at the time engaged in State work.
The congregation then worshiped in
hall; it gradually increased in
numbers, the pastor laboring with
great earnestness for the upbuilding
of the church. After Mr.. Grier's re-
tirement to assume Wisconsin pas
torate, the parish called Rev. Mr..
Mulholland formerly Congregation
al clergyman, a young man who had
grown into the larger faith and who
had pursued special studies in the
Meadville Theological School in pre-
paration for coming usefulness in
the ministry. When the movement
for the new church began we are not
definitely informed, but it has been
pushed with great vigor and enter
prise since Rev. Mr.. Mulholland's
settlement, in October 1898, and on
Sunday, April %, it was dedicated to
the worship of God and the service
of humanity under peculiarly inter
esting conditions.
The new church, of which we present
an engraving made expressly for The
UN1vERsAL1sT, is we'll located on one of
the chief corners of the city. 1t is
beautiful little edifce, and is the most
attractive church in the city. 1t is of
frame, with stone basement, in which
there are apartments for social purposes,
commodious and we'll arranged. The in
terror is finished in light woods; the
pews are of oak, and the platform, is built
from recess. On the right of the
pulpit there is space for an organ, and
on the left the pastors room. There are
three large windows Of stained glass,
the one in front contributed by the chill
dren of the Sunday school and those at
the sides SO arranged that they may
be made, in after-years, memorials. A
large and handsome chandelier is sus-
pended from the ceiling for the electric
light. The front portion is divided from
the main audience room by sliding doors,
and this apartment will be used for the
Sunday school and social meetings.
The seating capacity is, with this room
thrown open, about $50 The floor and
pulpit platform is covered with a red
carpet which is in good contrast with
the light shades of the woodwork. TAX
en- all together the church is very
pretty and tasty edifice and reflects
credit on the town and the people. 1t
is similar in general style Of architect
ure to the Waterloo church; indeed that
church served as a working model for
this one, and no architect was called
into service.
The church lot cost 1000; the build
ing and furnishings $4,000. Total cost
$500.
The week previous to the dedication
was busy one for the Universalists OF
Charles City. The ladies held bazaar
during two days and realized 5000 tow
ard the pastors salary. The placing OF
the pews and carpets and general ar
rangements for the occasion continued
until late Saturday afternoon. In the
evening the members came together in
the church to hear the report of the
Building Committee. Then was devel-
oped the fact that the church had been
built and lot purchased on subscrip.
ton of less than $1,000! Nothing short
of $1,000 would relieve the parish Of the
debt incurred by the building enter
prise. 1t was at first thought best to
only raise one-half of this amount, or at
the utmost $1,000. and to allow a mort
gage to remain for $500. This was
the understanding when the Editor Of
The UNIvERsALIsT was summoned to
Charles City to assist in the movement.
But strange courage took possession
of all at the Saturday night meeting and
it was agreed that an effort should be
made to secure pledges the next day
covering the entire amount. 1t is
needless to say that the amount seemed
formidable. While it was the unani-
nous expression that there should be an
effort made to extinguish the entire in
debtedness, there were many who felt
that it was not possible thing to SO.
cure pledges for such large amount.
Sunday morning came and beautiful
day it was-real "Universalist weather"
Iowa needs rain; Charles City needed
heavy down pour to lay the dust and to
fill it's springs and hasten vegetation.
But notwithstanding the need Of the
State and city, every one connected with
All Souls Church rejoiced that the
morning dawned cloudless and that the
weather was propitious for the exercises
Of the day.
Al IN O'clock the cOnOFaOation fillad