The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-03-07
OHIO NEWS LETTER.
CLEVELAND.

Things are looking up some" The
Men" were to give an entertainment
and supper, Friday, February %, which
was expected to be the greatest event
of the season." Proceeds for the bene-
fit of the Y. P. G. U. The little girls
gave concert on February. Receipts
were donated to the poor.
A HALF CENTURY.
When we were small boy, we heard
much talk of "Universalians," and judg
ing from remarks made one would sup
pose that they were very wicked people.
just fifty years ago next August. the
little church at Ridgeville, Warren
County, near our childhood home, was
dedicated. That event was the occasion
of increased opposition to the doctrine
that God twas good to all and his ten
der mercies are over all his works." but
as we became acquainted with DR.. M.
HI. Keever and other prominent leaders
in the Universalist church, we reached
the conclusion that though the doc
ner of wickednese," the men and women
who were believers were the best citi.
zens in the community. And as the
tree is to be known by its fruits" our
opinion was, that much as Universalist
doctrines we're maligned, there was some
thing much better in them than their
opponents asserted. And our faith in
this view has steadily increased in all
the years. The church at Ridgeville
passed through all the experiences COM
mon to such organizations in the earlier
history of the Church, and at one time
it seemed that, as an organized move
ment, it was at an end. The church
building was neglected and became I'M
suited to public services. But the day
for resurrection came. A prominent
citizen died, and the funeral services
we're held in the dilapidated building.
While the friends were bidding adieu to
the lifeless form proposition to repair
and remodel the church, so that it would
be at least decent to held funerals was
made by some who were standing with
out. 1t was cordially endorsed, and the
work was begun at once, and in short
time the old building was made new
and transformed into beautiful temple.
Then the desire for preaching services
came up, and DR.. j. S. Cantwell. then
preacher at Sprihgboro, was engaged to
preach twice month, Sunday after
Moons. The writer followed DR.. Cant
we'll, and there has scarcely been any
interruption of services since the re-
vival under the circumstances already
given.
Rev. John Richardson is the present
pastor, and recently held pleasant Sc
ries of meetings, although unpleasant
weather interfered with attendance.
Nearly all the original members of the
church have "gone up higher" yet some
of their children remain, and are faith
full to the faith of their fathers. We
suggest to our Ridgeville friends that
they make arrangements for suitable
commemoration of the fiftieth anniver-
sary of the first dedication of the church.
Properly managed it could be made an
occasion of much interest, and would
attract renewed attention to the Uni
versalist Church and its doctrines.
DUDLEY.
We spent February 21-23 with our
church at Dudley, Noble County. The
services we're we'll attended throughout.
and on Sunday evening the house was
we'll filled. On that evening we gave an
expository sermon on Psalms tx, II, "The
wicked shall be turned into hell" etc.
Many of other churches were present.
Two ministers Of the United Brethren
whom, after services, proposed in a
friendly way, number of what he be-
lieved to be "puzzling" questions; but he
did not dispute the answers Universalist
interpretations suggested. Before morn.
ing services, we held an informal though
interesting meeting Of the Y. P. G. U.
We also explained our plans for organic
ing a circuit with First Belpre Church
as headquarters. The plan was ap-
proved by the officers of the church and
the secretary was authorized to inform
the officials of First Belpre Church that
they would take one Sunday of each
month. We arranged to return during
April, at which time Bro. j. r. Carpenter
will be present. He will be the pastor
of the circuit. During our April visit
we expect to re-organize the Sunday
School, and Y. P. G. u. and we conf
IDENTIFY expect that under faithful lead
ership of Bro. Carpenter, Dudley church
will again become prosperous and infu-
entail for good in the large territory
which is tributary to the church. We
hope soon to have another church enter
into the circuit, when it will be conf
pleted. In addition to the principal
churches in the circuit, our plan is for
Bro. Carpenter to give what attention
he can on fifth Sundays and week days,
to some other churches in the territory.
FLINT.
From the report of Miss Emily Potter,
clerk of our church at Flint, Franklin
county, we learn that affairs there are in