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

dance from these parishes alone would
have made the event a success; while
Woodlawn, Blue Island and other neigh.
boring parishes contributed their full
quota.
The dinner was served in courses, nine
in number, and was in all respects salts
factory and up to the standard of the
Grand Pacific, which is sufficient praise.
1t took about an hour and a half to dis
cuss the viands of the table.
Hon. HI. N. Brooks, OF the Church of
the Redeemer, presided and acted as
toast master, his first duty being to re-
mind the guests before they were seated
that according to a good New England
custom, blessing would be asked by
Rev. DIR. Harris. After the dinner Mr..
Brooks called the company to order ard
made brief and very happy address in
which he expressed his qualification at
the elegant company and proceeded TO
introduce the first speaker Of the even
ing, Prof. A. w. Small of the University
of Chicago, whose topic was announced
as duty of the Church toward Social
Questions" The Professor made CAPT
tai speech, outlining his conception of
the obligation which rested upon
churches at the present time to reach
out and influence those who are at pres.
ent unfriendly toward the church and to
break down the wall of partition be-
tween the classes. The UNIvERsALIsT
is promised full outline of this address
and we hope to soon have the pleasure
of laying it before our readers. Rev. w.
w. Fem, of the Church of the Messiah,
(Unitarian) followed in very accepta
BILE and thoughtful speech on "Religion
and Business" Rev r. A. White, of En-
glewood, spoke to the question of the
"Universalists Opportunity" which he
interpreted as the local opportunity of
the church and not that of the general
body. Two things he thought ought to
be done by the Universalists Of Chica-
go. First, establish Sunday evening
meetings in the Auditorium or Central
Music Hall, and second build church
down town, which would be of the in
stitutional order.
The first he estimated, would cost
$1,000, and the second, to fully equip
and endow. 100000. He spoke with en-
thusiasm in behalf of both these pro-
jects. DR.. Garfield and Hon. Samuel
Kerr made brief addresses on the ques-
ton of 1.-The Universalist Club" and
warmly endorsed the formation of such
club, at an early date. Cards we're
distributed among the company for the
names of those who would favor such an
institution and the responses were quite
general Mr.. Roberts, of Oak Park, the
chairman of the committee on reception
and banquet, also made few remarks
in which he stated that the committee
desired to learn as soon as possible how
many were in favor of such club and
would support it.
At about 1920 the company separated,
all delighted with the success of the
evening. The speeches were of very
high order, interspersed with many
dashes of wit and humor and were bright
and interesting all the way through
Mr.. Brooks as toast master, proved once
again the right man in the right place.
and was very happy in announcing the
toasts and introducing the several speak
ers. Taken all together the after-dinner
speeches will stand as models of their
kind and they had one commendable
characterstic-they were brief-no
speaker exceeding reasonable length
of time.
The success of the evening will l
doubt lead to the early formation of a
Universalist Club for Chicago, but
whether it shall be Laymen's Club, or
one composed of men and women, re-
mains to be seen. If the verdict of the
assembly of last week was taken, no
doubt the vote would be for club of
the latter order. The grace, beauty and
brilliapcy of the ladies on the occasion
and the pleasure of the gentlemen in
their society was the convincing argu-
ment of Wednesday evening in favor of
such an organization.
We must add that the committee al Q
entitled to great credit for the success Of
the occasion. The UNIvERsALIsT con-
graduates them very heartily. and es-
pecially Mr.. Roberts, on the favorable
issue of their endeavors.