The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-02-16
COMMUNICATIONS.
WORK AT TACOMA.

DEAR EDIToR:-The cause of Uniyer
salism is beginning to assume very pleas.
ing proportions in Tacoma under the
leadership of our new pastor. Rev. Elmer
j. Felt. The seed is falling into good
ground and clearing an hundred fold"
The hopes and ambitions of our labors
and struggles for the past two or three
years are being realized Our chapel is
rapidly filling up with splendid congrega-
tions morning and evening every Sum-
day. The regular attendance is about
one hundred at each service now, and Is
increasing each week.
The Church Home idea prevails with
u.s. We mover permit person, especial
ly stranger, to leave the service with
out feeling that he has been received
and welcomed among friends. The result
is that involuntarily there springs up in
his mind the thought that Park Univer-
salist Church stands for something more
than theology, something more than
"going to church, something more than
conventional piety; that it stands for
kindly neighborly feeling, for an active
interest in and desire to serve each other,
in word. for friendship. for the home
feeling. With this idea predominant,our
church is becoming very attractive. The
sermons are splendid. 1t is already a
recognized fact throughout the city that
people will hear a good sermon at our
church; and those who come also find that
they have entered hospitable home.
These elements draw people and hold
them. l hope that all Of our churches
are doing the same. Our creed itself
embodies the home idea when it speaks
of "the whole family of mankind" It is
power for good when put into practice.
1t is really wonderful to see how it oper-
ates. A stranger comes in, hears the
sermon (likes it Of course). and when the
benediction is pronounced, starts for the
door,-but he don't get there; some one
OF our members has met him, shaken
hands. introduced himself, introduces
him to two or three others and to the
pastor, makes him feel at home; and di-
lCCtig AO lCCiS tndl 5OnOuOW uo las I'LL
expectedly discovered crowd of his own
friends; so that instead of hurrying
away. he decides to remain to Sunday
school and become better acquainted
with his friends. He comes to the next
service and the next, and brings some
other friend with him ito our church"
as he at once begins to call it. There is
nothing ELUSIVE or gushing about all
this; it is just friendly.
Our relation with the other churches
has been very pleasant. and satisf actory
to US. We make no effort to draw from
them. We merely invite all who wish to
hear Universalism to come to our church,;
and we welcome as cordially those who
come from partialist churches as any
others. Thus far we have not heard
much of any OF that old-fashioned cant
and ranting about Unversaliem from
the other churches. | believe it is be-
cause their people would not stand it.
They are pursuing another course, as
| illustrated by one or two quite notable
cases. One of our new members was APP
preached by his former pastor (Episco-
pail and asked why he had not been
coming to their services OF late. II am
| going to the Universalist church now"
II am sorry to hear that" said the pas
tor, you can be as good Universalist
| in our (Episcopal) church as in your Uni
versalist church" But replied the
member, IL much prefer to attend
church that openly processes to stand for
and to teach Universalism."
Our weekly paper 1.-THE Waterman"
is doing us world of good. 1t is spread
ing the GOSPEL among us. 1t is rolling
away the mists that our partialist friends
seek to envelop us in. 1t is a matter of
surprise to me how little people really
know about Universalism. Well in
formed people l frequently find laboring
under the idea that Universalists do not
believe in Jesus do not believe that sin
will be punished; but that the good, bad
and Indifferent will all go en- masse to
heaven. When they are told just what
Universalism means. it is revelation to
them. They have always looked at our
belief through the parti colored glasses
which the partialists have held before
their eyes. What we most need is home
missionary work. fairly and faithfully to
present to people the true vision of our
faith. This work il it we're earnestly
and persistently carried on, so that the
true conception OF Universalism be-
came general, would produce such re-
suits that our churches could not begin
to hold the multitudes who would gather
to them to learn more OF the love of God
and Of the life of Jesus which have pow
err to save men from their sins. Park
Universalist Church is in a position to see
and appreciate this in a more practical
way than many of the old established
churches in the East. Universalism
never was preached here before. This
is virgin soil. 1t is one OF the opportu-
mites OF our denomination. There is
no reason why the Universalist church
should not number it's tens of thousands
in the State of Washington. il it only
could do more OF the good practical mis-
sonary work such as Bro. Shinn has
done, and follow it up with chapels, and
those with our churches. With the pro-
gress we are making In Tacoma. our
chapel will have to become a church be-
fore long. Bro. Felt will not long be
able to keep his congregation down to
the limits of our chapel. We will posi-
bly, be able to crowd two hundred in. but
it will be close work. We will have
reached the two hundred point before
MANY months.-and then?
New occasions teach new duties"
Truly yours,
HARRIS A. CoRELL.