The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-08-08
ILLINOIS CHURCHES.
State superintendent Letter.

NV regular letter has not appeared Tor
two months, as 30 many Of the items
that would have appeared in it had been
separately reported in your columns.
Among those that have not appeared l
NAV report visit to the parish at
Nationwide,
Jefferson county. This is the southern.
most narish in the State and owns
neat church building that will seat
about 300 people. 1t was organized by
Rev. John Hughes about year ago.
MANY of its members having been con-
nected with the Knob Prairie church.
that was ministered to by Bro. harris
+wentv wears since. Rev. j. K. Dillon
has faithfully served them as pastor
during the past year, and at the parish
meeting held on June Goth, he was
unanimously called to minister 10 the"
for another year at an increased salary
Wolf Prairie.
Wolf Prairie was also visited. Here
our people have one-fourth interest IN
a church building. and there was once
an organization. Most OF it's members
are now connected with the WaltonViiie
nar;sh. Some. however, live at a distance
of many miles from that point ana IL
was thought best to ask the Nationwide
pastor to hold occasional services mere.
or regular services if the interest snoula
warrant
Mt. Vernon,
Jefferson Co., was next visited Inis
ia an important city of seven to eight
thousand inhabitants. The largest city
in the southern third of the State ex-
cent;no Cairo. I preached here on the
5th of July. There were many causes
operating to make the attendance smaii,
hut an audience of over 100 assembled
at3P. M. on one of the hottest days OF
the year to hear your missionary l
visited several families. and met otners
willing to cooperate in the establish
ment of regular services. This Is an I'M
.portant field, and every effort should oe
made to occupy it for our church. In
the surrounding country are to be founo
very MANY Universalsts. working from
Mt. Vernon as centre; many OF these
OUTLYING points could be organized Tor
active work.
Peeatonica.
NJ. :: .uor RI on nruent request,
| visited, Pecatonica and assisted at
grove meeting on Sunday. July Eth.
Reys. III. Slade and III. Dinsmore were
also present. This parish was withouta
pastor and feeli ng discouraged as to the
future. A few of the good ladies we're
determined to go on with the work II
possible, and on Monday and Tuesday
| assisted in an active canvass OF the
parish. The results were OF such
nature as to assure the continuance OF
the work.
BelIehower.
A grove meeting had been planned for
July 10Th. at this POINT. But the day
was one of incessant rain. Even the
churches having buildings held no SER
vices. So our services were postponed
until the Goth, at which time a fairly
successful meeting was held. Our
friends here. since last wrote concern
ing them, have had preaching by Rev.
Frances Cheney and a Y. P. q. U. has
been organized that meets at private
houses. The interest in the teachings
of our church continues to grow.
whiteheath.
| also paid visit to Whiteheath.
July %, %; this point has had preaching
each Sunday this summer by Miss
Edna Mcdonald, student from the
Ryder Divinity school. The Y. P. Q.
U. and Sunday-school meet regularly.
The church will continue to hold
monthly preaching services after Miss
McDonald's return to Galesburg They
have been protited and strengthened by
her stay with them.
At the date of this writing, July 81,
am at Sangamon, Macon Co. Our peo-
pie here are endeavoring to secure funds
for their church building. They have
substantial sum subscribed, and but for
the financial stringency would ere this
have completed it. A grove meeting
was held on Sunday, August 2, of which
more may be said in my next letter.
My appointments for next month are:
August 9th. grove meeting, at Clinton.
August 10th, Mt. Pulaski.
August 23rd, Jacksonville, Lower
Wabash Association)
August Both, Nationwide. grove meet
ing.
September 9th, Mt. Vernon.
We hope to meet many of the friends
of Uniyersalism at these appointments.
JOHN S. Cook.