The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-11-23


just out of the school-room, inexperi-
enced in the toll and self denial which
win success and entering into this plan
for my Alma Mater with all the ardor
and enthusiasm of that inexperience
Almost twenty seven years have passed
since then and am just beginning to
see the realization of those dreams. That
castle in the Air, Lombard's Boarding
Hall, has at last descended to earth and
is fast taking shape in brick and stone.
The resolutions passed at the meeting
in Elgin were approved by the ladies as
sembled at Mendoza, and constitution
was adopted. The organization was to
be known as the Universalist Woman's
Association OF the State OF Illinois and
it's object, as stated in the constitution,
was "to foster and encourage the cause
of Universalism in the State and to give
special attention to our educational in
stitution." This Association was char
tered and the Constitution was revised
in 1884. By the new Constitution any
person of good moral character may be-
come member on the payment of an
annual fee of s1.00; and the payment of
$500 will constitute a life member; of
500 If paid in one sum, patron. The
officers chosen at the Mendoza meeting
were: Mrs. M. A. Livermore, President;
Mrs. j. V. N. Standish, Recording Score.
tary; Miss Laura Hubbard, Correspond
ing Secretary; Mrs. David Sanborn,
Treasurer.
The plan of work authorized at this
meeting was that the Universalist wom-
en- all over the State should solicit dona-
tions for the building fund, that they
should raise money by means of entertain
ments, dinners, etc, and finally that
series of fairs similar to those held during
the war by the Soldiers Aid Societies
should be undertaken. Two meetings of
the Association were to be held yearly
one in connection with the State Conven-
ton; the other at Galesburg during the
annual Commencement at our Univers-
ity. Since 1884 one meeting has been
held yearly either in connection with
the State Convention or at the May
meeting in Chicago, and in the inter
vening time the affairs of the Associa-
ton are managed by board of nine d.
rectors who meet regularly four times a
year. Oct. 81, 1869. the ladies pledged
themselves to raise 100000 as Centen-
airy offering, $4,000 of this sum to be
used for the proposed Collegiate Hall at
Lombard. The plan, though commend
able, was a stupe ndous one. l regret
that l have not the data before me to
tell how much of this pledge was re
deemed. In June. 1870, the amount in
the treasury was s555.63. June, 1871, it
was $1,08090.
In June, 1878. Mrs. Marsh, of Chicago,
reported that the Northwestern Confer
ence had offered to transfer to the Asso
citation property near the University to
be used temporarily as Boarding Hall.
The committee appointed to inspect the
building reported favorably and the As.
ISOLATION voted to use the money then
in the treasury to put this building in
suitable condition for the purpose
named. This was the beginning of
Lombard's present Boarding Hall. Mrs.
Standish and Mrs. Hale, / believe, COM
posed the committee appointed to over
see the repairs. and when the work was
completed the building made a very
inviting and attractive home. 1t was
opened to receive young lady boarders
in the fall of 1874, with Miss Augusta j.
French, cultured and capable woman,
in charge. One of the chief difficulties
in the way of the success of this under
taking was the solution of the financial
problem. The first year the expendi-
lures exceeded the receipts by $140.
Then this Hall lacked many of the con-
veniences even of that time, and besides
had to contend against a prejudice
toward even the name Ladies' Hall, ex-
listing in the minds of many of our young
women. In the spring OF 1878, it was
closed and the carpets and furniture
we're taken to the University or sold.
In 1874 Mrs. Jas. Gorton, of Oneida,
proposed that the Association should
take charge of the Missionary work Of
the State and from that time this work
has engaged much of their attention
Lombard has, however, never been en-
tirely forgotten. A few years ago they
supplied the chapel and corridors with
mating for the floor, replaced and re-
furnished the Ladies' Parlor. They
purchased and have in part paid for a
$1,000 perpetual scholarship, and few
years ago when the Alumni decided to
reopen the old Boarding Hall they as
sisted in defraying these expenses. In
1888 the receipts for the year amounted
to 81 .691.75 which sum was used in diff
ferent parts of the State chiefly to aid
weak and struggling parishes. l regret
that l am not able to give you fuller
account of the work of the Association
during the last seven years. l have nc
report later than that of 1888. can
only add to what l have already said
| that it is to the Woman's Association
that needy parishes have looked for help
| and announcement and that an appeal