The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-05-16
OUR IOWA CHURCHES.
From Correspondents.

May 6, evening, occurred the annual
meeting of the Universaist parish at
Cedar Rapids. 1t proved. says the re-
porter of the Gazette. most pleasant
one for all concerned. The congregation
of this church is not as large as some
others, but it has a business way of
doing it's business that proves very sat-
factory to the officers and members. 1t
is in effect. pay cash aud keep out of
debt. For several years this policy has
been in force and the congregation could
not now be induced to accept any hap
hazard way of conducting its affairs.
At the meeting reports were made by
the officers of the parish, the Ladies'
Aid Society, the Sunday-school, the
senior and junior Kings Daughters and
the Peoples club, the latter being an or
ganization formed during the winter
and one which has added much to the
social interests of the church. Mr.. Jen-
kins. the clerk. reported that all &C.
counts against the church were paid in
full and that there was small balance
in the treasury. About 800 had been
paid on the paving. interest had been
paid on the small debts which the
church owes, so that at the close Of the
year the indebtedness has been reduced
to total of $3.50.
The Ladies' Aid society, through Mrs.
G. d. Van Vechten, reported total col
lection of over $500 for the year. The
expenses allotted to them have been
paid and they hold balance in the
treasury.
The Kings Daughters report a total
collection of $50 besides a considerable
amount of work done and money col.
lected for various charitable purposes.
The Peoples club realized a net sum
of about 800 during the winter. The
Sunday school has increased in numbers
and also has balance on hand.
The choir is voluntary one and is
under the direction of Mr.. Jenkins. The
members work without pay, except the
organist. Mr.. Palmer. the pastor, spoke
OF the work of the choir and COM
mended it heartily. A vote of thanks
was extended to the choir, to the COM
mittee representing the Peoples club,
to the Ladies' Aid society. and to the
treasurer, Mr.. Mumford. for efficient
work during the past two years. The
following officers were then elected:
Moderator. j. F. ALI son.
Clerk, G. N. Jenkins.
Ire asurer. Geo. F. Goodnow.
Executive committee, C. r. Munger A. w.
Thompson. j. G. Cherry. C. D. Van Yechten.
Peoples club committee, Messrs. and Mes
danes j. r. Baker, j. w. Bowdish. A. T.
Cooper, w. H. Dunshee. C. Fl. Chandler.
At the close of the business meeting
the ladies served lunch and an hour was
spent socially.
IOWA MINISTERIAL ASSOCIATION.
The ministers of Iowa are invited to
hold their May Quarterly Meeting, at
Usage. May 10. 10 and 81. Let every
Universalist minister spare no pains to
be present. The harvest is great but the
reapers are few. Every ones voice and
presence is an inspiration. A concerted.
systematic effort for Christ and his
church will win many victories for the
summer campaign.
Write the pastor, Rev. j. L. Everton,
Usage, that you will be present the first
day and remain until the last. His
church will do the "best they cam to
entertain you.
Sermons, papers and discussions of
special and practical interest will occupy
the time not given to conference.
HENRY GILLESPIE. Secretary.
KANSAS. = Junction City. = The
Ladies' Social Circle gave waffle sup
per. Fearful night but success fnan-
cially. The Y.P. G. U. have given two
photograph concerts. both upon unseas-
enable nights. The Union expects to
send large delegation to Seneca '96
overland. II will take two days to make
the trip each way. All are planning for
jolly time. The Union has purchased
"Praise and Thanks" for their devotion
al meetings. At each meeting son
ward" is read and the discussion fol-
lows the outline as Onward suggests. We
find Onward great help.
Frontier Lodge. No. %, l. o. o. F. at
tended church in body. Sunday morn
ing, April 26.
Our Sunday. school has an enrolment
of one hundred and forty.-not hun.
dred as recently reported in The UNI
vERsALIsT. The interest is good and the
school credit to the denomination.
Through removal and calamity the
contributions to the church have fallen
off to aggregate seven dollars per Sun
day. If it we're not for devotion that is
heroic, especially on the part of the
Ladies' Social Circle we could not keep
the church open. Part of this loss has
been made up by the addition of num-
Der of small subscribers.
In the House a resolution was adopted
providing clerks for members the year
| round instead of for the session of Con-