The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-09-28
eREENvILLE CHURCH DEDICATED.
OAK PARK, ILL

We are enabled this week to lay be-
fore our readers an engraving OF our new
church at Greenville, o.. dedicated Sun
day. September Is.
The founding Of this church and the
completion of the edifice is an illustra-
ton Of what unity, perseverance and
devotion to cause can accomplish. 1t
is proof that any city in our Northern
States can have place of worship. pro
viding the people 80 desire and are will :
ing to follow an active leadership.
No regular services were held in
Greenville until two years ago last May.
DIR. John P. MacLean accepted the call
here at that time for two Sundays a
month. With but nine paying mem
bers, at once this congregation assumed
to pay more than three times as much
as any church within the Montgomery
Association, at the same time aggrega-
ting less wealth than some Of our other
churches. All debts from that day to
this have been promptly met.
Before any work could be iuaugurated
the hard times set in. The plan adopt
sd by the pastor was to hold his
people together, although the surround
ings and the building in which the SER
vices we're held we're very discouraging.
There were removals and some desertion.
One of the foremost members died. and
soon after the most active family moved
to an adjoining city. In the midst Of
all these unfavorable circumstances last
April the pastor said to his people that
the time had come to have church
home. He laid the matter before Bio.
and Sister Emerson who agreed to
purchase lot provided there should be
building put on it. The lot was pur-
chased. and the pastor commenced the
convass. first in Greenville. He delivered
sermons at Hill Grove. Palestine. Fl
Jefferson, New Madison. New Paris,
Eldorado. Arcanum. Pyrmont and
Miami City, in order to present the
cause. He made all contracts and did
all the collecting. In all this his
people allowed him to exercise his own
judgment No stumbling blocks were
thrown in his way. The furniture was
selected by him and all money paid out
through, him. Seldom has the building
of church Leen put so completely into
the hands Of one man.
The church is brick resting upon
seven-foot stone wall. From the water.
table to the comb is a distance of thirty
two feet. The interior presents pleas
ing appearance. The walls are white,
the ceiling arched. the windows Of va
rious cathedral glass, the pews are of
oak, the pulpit chairs cathedral in style;
the carpet ingram, present from
Bro. A. N. Wilson, Of Dayton.
The Greenville friends, expecting
many from abroad. prepared both dinner
and supper where all might be enter
tanned together. In this they were not
disappointed. for the friends we're there
from Union City. Hill Grove. Palestine,
New Madison, Arcanum, Dayton and
Richmond.
The ministers who assisted in the SER
vices were Revs. o. P. Norman. Fran
ces e. Cheney. L. e. Jones, Presbyterian,
and J. w. Weeks. Christian.
The services commenced on Saturday
evening before by discourse from Miss
Cheney on 1.-The Courage OF Convic-
tions." followed at $50 next morning
by devotional meeting. The hour Of
dedication was set for 10:30 just
before the time for the sermon DIR.
Mac Lean gave brief history of his
canvass. to the audience now testing the
church to it's utmost capacity. He then
stated there was deficit of s503.73, and
entered at once upon an appeal. The
pledges amounted to 1910. when the pas
tor assumed the balance with quite
number of others. The hour of twelve
having passed it was voted to adjourn
until 2:30 The audience then repaired
to the dining hall.
At 2:30 the audience again assembled.
The sermon was on 1.-THE True Wor-
ship OF God" from John iv. %. 1t was
an extemporaneous discourse. and the
speaker was at his best. An extended
abstract was published in the Journal.
The prayer of dedication was by Bro.
Norman, and the sentence OF dedica-
ton by DIR. Mac Lean, after which four
ladies were taken in as members. This
was followed by the Lords Supper, Bros.
Mac Lean and Jones at the table. with
Weeks and Norman acting as deacons.
and Miss Cheney giving the address.
At 7:30 a discourse on the Parable of