The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-03-14

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l am forced to conclude from this and
similar experiences that do not look
my profession.
| come to a street crossing in town
in Oregon. An old fellow on the side
walk studied me closely and said:
Good day."
"Good day."
stranger here?"
YES"
How long you been here?"
"Since last evening"
"How long you going to stop?"
Until Monday"
What you doing here?"
II am to preach in your opera house
tomorrow afternoon, and evening, and
want you to come and hear me-"
Huh! thought you was the Teller.
Take a walk with me?'
1t was my turn now and l eyed the
old fellow obviously. He was rough
looking specimen. l said:
"Where?"
"Out here about mile"
What for?"
ITO see how things grow"
Twas doubtful, but as was by far the
larger man of the two l concluded to
venture. l found the home and saw how
the things grew. There was pathos
under the oddly. The old man was a
New Yorker and was at one time a
member of the family of Rev. Nathaniel
Stacy. The wife. who was confined to
the house by sickness, was made very
happy by the two visits that l made
and the UNCONVENTIONAL papers that
left with her.
1t is to the aged particularly that our
mission is a blessing; the faded faces
flush, the eyes snap with the fire of
youth, and the voices ring as they tell
of Bros. Manford, Eaton, Skinner, Bal
lou, and many others, some of whom
were known to me in my youth.
One old lady who came across the
plains in 1S43 and settled in the Villa
mette Valley told me OF the years that
passed ere Universalist minister came
into that part of the country.
1 will not multiply incidents. You
can only understand by putting yourself
by your imagination in the place Of these
people, far away from home, kindred.
and church utilization. If you will do
this you can realize the blessings that
your contributions bring.
Now a word regarding our duties to.
ward Home Missions. You have con-
tributed money generously. trust that
it will bring to you as many blessings as
it is giving to others. But your respon-
sibility has not ended. We need and
have the right to expect something more
from you-your moral support. You
must have our work next your heart all
the time, that we may feel that you are
working and praying with us, as we'll
as sending us money. 1t is too large a
subject to open up now, but the greatest
difficulty that we have to contend
against is disloyalty in our home
churches.
Tourists who are Universalists at
home refuse us the help of their pres
euce and have only words words of scorn
for us. II by chance members from some
of our large Eastern churches locate
in our territory, they too often attend
and contribute to the support of some
other church, saying to US, when you
get strong so that you can have minis
ter like Dr., our old pastor. we will
come in; but until then we prefer to go
where there is nice crowd, and good
music" This is no imaginary case, al
though l will say l never met such a
member from All Souls, but there are
several towns ON this coast where there
are ex Universalists enough to have fine
churches, fine music and DR.. anybody
that they want if they were loyal to
their profession.
Good friends as you send us your dol
send us your influence also, that those
coming to us from among you may
have the conscience and the courage to
work with us for our Master, even if il
is frontier work.
thrust have not wearied you. told
you that know very little of the art OF
letter writing; but have tried to show
you the blessings of our work as they
come to me.
wish that you might devote some
study in your meetings to the needs Of
our home missions. l think it would
profit you and add interest to your meet
ings. We have two women in the north
west whom l think you would enjoy
hearing from and knowing. They are
good and true, working hard each in hel
allotted place. They are Mrs. j. w
Jones, Mt. Tabor, Ore, w. G. A. Vice
President for State of Oregon, and Mrs
Esther Allen Jobes. 2413 I'd Ave-, Spo
kane, Wash. Secretary of the Spokane
Mission Circle of the w. @. A. l think
you could get letters from each of these
and from them you will get another
view of our work that cannot fail to be
helpful both to you and to them. and il
will do them good to know that you are
interested in their progress. 1t viii
bring US closer together.
will close by extending to you my
sincere thanks for your help and sym