The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-06-06
OUR MISSIONARY PROBLEM IN ILLINOIS.
Work Outside of the Cities
BY REV. JOHN 8. {
State Superintendent.

the village and rural population,
offer field whose cultivation shall bring
rich results for our labors. l believe
that in these communities the streams
arise that flow toward and into our
large cities. In all the large city church
es very considerable part of the active
working membership came originally
from the churches in our smaller cities
and villages. The source of the energy
that has started many city church was
in the remote village. And because this
field has not been cultivated by us to
to the same extent as it has been by
other churches, we have not had the
same source to draw from in the build
ing up of our church in the cities.
This view is being emphasized in
other communities. find the pastor of
a Unitarian church, reported as saying:
"Some Of our best helpers come from a
village in our county where there has
been maintained Universalist church"
From other villages there comes to us
naturally some of our best members"
1t is we'll known that some of the con-
servative churches very carefully culti-
vate this field of the smaller towns and
rural communities. They are richly re-
paid for it, in the stream of members
that flows from these remote sources to
their churches in the larger towns and
cities. Nor are these country churches
to be despised on other accounts; the ad-
ditions they make to the financial re-
sources Of the churches are by no means
inconsiderable. have seen missionary
collection of over fifty dollars taken in a
church whose pastor was receiving S400
| year salary. From them come in very
large proportion the students for the
theological schools. think it could be
shown that by far the greater number
of those who enter the ministry, are
from the rural communities. From this
field again must come very largely the
students for our colleges. These con-
ditions are recognized by other church
es, and they are bending their energies
our own work so different that we can
afford to neglect this field? Or is it
held that it will not yield to us the same
returns as to others?
would urge the cultivation of this
field, not on the selfish ground that it of.
fers prospect of UNCONVENTIONAL ag-
grandizement, but rather because in
these fields more than anywhere, it
seems to me, our gospel is needed. In
very many of these communities it has
had no voice. To announce service by
a Universalist minister is to call forth a
storm Of opposition. Yet in all these
communities there are many who have
outgrown the theologies that they hear
constantly reiterated from the orthodox
pulpit, with little or none of that liberal
gloss which obtains in the larger cities.
There are many who are outside the
churches, not because they are irrever-
ent, but because they have outgrown the
teaching that is within their reach To
these people our gospel comes as a new
message of faith and hope and righteous
ness. have had not few tell me: 81
never knew what was before. That is
the first sermon ever heard and it is
what | believe. | am a Universalist."
These people can be gathered into our
fellowship, not by polemical preaching
but by the preaching of a reverent and
rational Universalism. They have not
lost the desire for worship; they have
large capacity for service and make good
workers in our churches. In almost
every community there is need of a lib
eral church, for those who cannot find a
home with the orthodox churches; they
need church with large sympathies and
a more humanitarian spirit-and have
never yet found that the name "Univer-
salist" is any barrier to gathering these
unchurched ones into an organization;
on the contrary, so far in my work as
missionary 1 have had the hearty CO.
peration in organizing Universalist So
cieties or working toward that end, of
many who had previously called them
selves Unitarians, Liberals, &c.
First we must carry our gospel to
those who need it. We need not fear
lack of appreciation. Our gospel is for all
men; to imagine otherwise is to belittle
it. The people in the country places are
thirsting for just such preaching as our
church can give, and which they do not
receive from the ordinary orthodox pull
pit. l have been struck by the number
of men who attend our missionary SER
vices, proportion much larger am sat-
is6ed, than is found in the average con.
gregation, These men, and women too,
want the best of modern thought, a re.
ligion with its face to the future, and
the church that shall go to them in a
spirit of love and service, bearing the
simple gospel of the Universal Father
hood of God, the Universal Brotherhood
of Man, the Final Victory of Truth and
Righteousness will be gladly heard.
Our message to these communities
must be carried in broad and generous
spirit. We must SOW the seed and await
the harvest with patience. Those who
are moved by our gospel will not rush
intO falloWshiD unOn a wave of amofion