The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-06-06
THE DENVER UNIVERSALIST
CHURCH.


first years work in the First Universal
ist Church of Denver. Although moth.
ing remarkable has been accomplished
yet we feel that some progress has been
made.
At the Joint invitation of the General
Convention and the Denver parish. we
began the work here on the LIST Sunday
in June, 1895. During the preceding
six months the parish was without a
pastor, and the services we're conducted
chiefly by the members of the Y. P. @.
U. Our first impression Of the city was
an exceedingly pleasant one, and years
residence strongly confirms it. The
climate and mountain scenery are de-
lightful, and the city itself has many
features that make it compare favorably
with other cities of which we have a
knowledge.
The first Sunday we we're greeted by
a congregation numbering about hun
bred people, assembled in hall rather
obscure, and none too we'll located. In
this hall we still worship, because we
are unable to secure better place for
the rent we are able to pay. The first
few months we spent in becoming &C.
climated, meeting the people and en-
deavoring to take in the situation, 30 far
as our work was concerned. We soon
reached the conclusion that the growth
and permanency of the movement de-
pended very largely on securing a build
ing site for church, with view to get
ting into structure of our own at the
earliest time possible. Indeed our place
of worship has been, and still is, a barrier
to our growth. 1t is not generally known
that there lisa Universalist parish in the
city. Not few, who by ties of belief
belong with us, have for various reasons
kept aloof, leaving the few faithful to
struggle unaided.
However, the securing of suitable
site presented financial difficulties. The
people of the parish are few in number,
and almost without exception are poor.
There is no wealth in the parish. While
the people are generously disposed and
give literally in proportion to their
means, yet they cannot give what they
do not possess. The financial depression
in this city has been general and very
severe. 1t was not without misgivings,
therefore, that the parish voted to pur-
chase building site and appointed a
committee to secure funds. We have
been most fortunate in securing one OF
the finest sites in the city, located on
corner, in a commanding position. and
having the best car service the city
affords.
A season of financial depression is q
good time to purchase real estate, and
we bought the property for sum less
than half the amount refused for it q
few years previous. 1t is conceded by
reliable real estate men that we have
saved two thousand dollars on the pur'
chase price of our property. At present
there is an incumbrance on the property
of twenty three hundred dollars, nearly
half of which is provided for by sub
SC. options, payable within the next six
months; the balance we shall endeavoI
to secure from our friends during that
time. The General Convention has ap
proved our financial policy. and consider
ing its lack of funds. has generously
seconded our efforts by gift of fifteer
hundred dollars, which has been applied
on the purchase of the building site.
We are assured by men whose judg
ment is entitled to respect, that there
was never in the history OF the city 6
time so favorable for building. Bott
labor and material are cheap. We have
engaged the services of an architect
and plans for church of artistic design
estimated to cost about twenty-tiv
thousand dollars, are nearly completed
The church is so designed, that SHOULD
it be unadyisable to erect the entire
structure at once. we can build only thu
chapel for immediate use.
The chapel by itself would be yer!
pleasing and serviceable building, ant
could be built for modest sum. Dur
ing the year we hope to receive sufficien
encouragement from friends of our caus
in the East, to enable us to erect at leas
part of the permanent structure.
Denver is the most conspicuous ant
important center in the far West. 1t
growth and beauty is phenomenal. Den
YER is Colorado in the same sense tina
Paris is France. 1t is the political. SO
cial, educational and commercial center
of vast section of our great country, a
we'll as great health resort. 1t is there
fore one of the most, if not the most.im
portant missionary points. that is beinl
considered by the Universalist Churcl
today.
Other denominations have considered
it strategic point and have acted &C
cordingly, granting liberal aid toward
the establishment of churches. 1
would be unwise for US to lay out GU
| plans on a smaller scale than we hav,
| adopted. To choose poor location ever
though a building site were given
would be a fatal policy. To erect {
church that would offend good taste
and be a perpetual monument to GU
littleness and lack of missionary enter