The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-05-09

tne Work, and TO direct It's energies.
The necessity, information, is secured
through reports from the local Mis-
sions. Yearly reports only are required,
but it is we'll for the Chairman Of the
Local Post Office Mission Committee to
keep in correspondence with the libra
rian of the Central Mission, and then to
obtain from her such suggestions as to
methods as she receives from other sue
cessful locals.
Money, the second need, is quite as i'm
portant as the first. We can do nothing
unless we have money enough to at least
buy postage stamps. The extent of the
work that the central mission can do,
depends as much upon the supply of
money it receives as upon any other con-
dition. Nor should we hesitate to say
that we need money. If we are earnest
there will be an earnest response.
Now we will suppose that the local
Unions have Loyalty fallen into line. and
that the Central Office receives it's just
supply of funds. How will the work be
done? What are the methods? With
our obiect,-to make Universalist Chris
tians,-clearly in mind, we must first
find the people; second, we must give
them our message; third, we must in
terest them and make them feel that
they are one with US.
To find the people, le,-advertise. How
does business house find it's custom
ers? By advertising. Therefore we,
wishing to use up-to date methods, will
advertise also. Where? In the daily
papers in those sections of our country
where our doctrines are littls known,
that is to say, in the South and West.
This advertising should be under the
immediate direction of some local Union
in that region. l do not doubt but that
in the East we could reach many people
in this way, but just now we can reach
more in the West. and must put what
money we have into the field that will
yield the largest return. AS to the form
of the advertisement, there are several
methods. The following is the stand.
ard: "Universalist literature sent free.
Address, National Post Office Mission
Commission, 30 West street, Boston,
Mass" II an article on the doctrines
Of Universalism, or the report of a Uni
versalist sermon, can be placed in the
reading columns, it will have wide in
fuence. These methods are no untried
experiment We have done some ad-
sertising already, and it has proved
entirely pfa6sfcal.
To the people whose names are thus
obtained, we send our free leaflets, and
letters expressing our interest and will
ingness to answer all questions. The
leaflets are read; some points are not
entirely clear, perhaps, and an explana-
tion is asked. 1t is sent, and we tell
them that in certain book of our Loan
Library is fuller statement. and we
advise themjto borrow it. The terms of
borrowing books are, that the return
postage be paid by the borrower. Thus
we interest and enlist the inquirer in
our work. Such a person is often ap-
pointed Local Agent, if there is no
Union in his vicinity. and so he does his
share in spreading the good tidings.
There are many cases reported that
are in themselves unique. For these
we must and do have special methods.
Ole which has proved very successful,
is sending. in unsealed envelopes, which
require but one cent postage, our printed
sermons and addresses, to those who
cannot afford to pay the return postage
on the books. A miner in the West has
b,en receiving literature in this way
for some time, and every Sunday he
reads Universalist sermon to his COM
panions.
Then we have special opportunities
for carrying on our work. The Atlanta
Exposition was grand one, and to the
honors of our young people be it said,
that the opportunity was seized and
made the most Of. Our Literature
Booth in the Liberal Arts Building did
more for the diffusion of Universalism
than many sermons. What is more. it
reached class of people who would not
have been reached in any other way.
The Booth was arranged by our South
ern Missionary. Rev. w. H. McGlauflin,
and was under the supervision of one OF
the Hartman young people during the
first two weeks. and of Mrs. Mary G.
Garfield during the last two. Many
we're the inquiries and as many the an.
swers. One hundred and eighty seven
names were added to our Post Office
Mission list, and that is something
worth while. Through the Booth, half
a dozen Universalist families were dis
covered in the city of Atlanta itself, who
had not heard of the establishment Of
our mission church there. This alone is
surely worth the cost of the Booth, for
half dozen families make great diff
ference in the starting of church. An
other of the results OF this effort at
Atlanta is worthy of mention, though it
did not take place in that city. l mean
the strength and unity secured by the
Unions themselves, by their earnest an
swer to the appeal made on Post Office
Mission Sunday.