The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-09-05
Ibe West.
THE KANSAS CITY MOVEMENT.
History.


trading points on the Missouri River,
Universalists began to populate this
territory. They became acquainted with
each other, after while. and in 1881,
were numerous to ask the General Con-
vention to assist them in establishing
Universalist Mission, and subsequently
building a church. Failing to effect an
organization at this time the work was
dropped. Owing to the presence in the
city of Rev. Stephen Hill. retired min
lister Of our faith, and faithful members,
Universalism preserved its personality
until Bro. @. HI. Shinn appeared upon
the scene.
Ladies' Aid Society. In 1890 DR..
Shinn organized Ladies' Aid Society
for the purpose of raising funds to build
q church, In 1898 bank failure lost
over $4,000 of the money they had
striven and sacrificed to earn. Numer-
GUS other discouraging factors have re-
tarded the growth of the building fund.
But brave as the bravest in trying times,
the ladies have persevered, and today
are one of the main factors in the
strength of the church.
The Y. P. G. U. and the Sunday
School.-Soon after the organization of
the ladies, a Y. PC. U. and Sunday
school was formed, and between the two
no devotional service was missed for
over four years.
The Pastor.-With the arrival of the
pastor. Rev. Charles r. East, on Decem-
Der 1, 1895, matters assumed an aspect
of permanency they never wore before.
May the future show that the three
hopes of the Kansas City Parish; name
ly:-First, an organization; second, a
pastor; third, church home, were not
in vain.
The Field
The situation.-The two Kansas Cities
practically one city have a population
of 206. 900 people. Standing twenty -four
in point Of population in the United
States; commercially it ranks tenth. 1t
is the grain and stock market and chief
distributing point of the whole south
west territory. Immense wholesale and
warehouse, elevators, stock yards, pack
ing houses, and railroad shifting yards
cover an area miles in extent.
1t is the commercial key to the whole
southwest territory by virtue of its ample
railway facilities. 1t has more trunk
lines and railway systems than any other
city in the United States. except Chi
cago, and at the rate new lines are now
building in the city, it will be no longer
than two years, and Kansas City will be
the greatest railway center in the
country.
Importance.-As Kansas City is the
commercial key to the southwest, SO also
it must be the religious key to this vast
and rapidly populating territory. AL
ready the Catholics and Christians and
Salvation Army have their southwestern
headquarters here. The Methodists, Pres
byterians and Baptists are here likewise.
The Upiversalists must follow suit, 4. e.,
travel in the highways opened by com
MERGE. Many Universalists are yearly
going into this new country with the
tide OF emigration. and unless we follow
them with churches we will lose them
to the cause. Kansas City by virtue of
it's position, must be the source and stay
OF these new churches; or, in other
words, it must be the headquarters of
Universalism in the southwest territory.
1t is one of the most, if not the most i'm
portant strategic point in the present
missionary operations Of our church.
Reasons.
No. l. The influence of a strong
church in this city on the cause of
Universalism in Southern Nebraska, all
of Kansas, and the Oklahoma Ter
ritory, Eastern Colorado and parts of
Arkansas and Texas. will be repeti-
ton of the history of Universalism in
Boston, New York and Chicago. We are
strong in Massachusetts,. because we
are strong in Boston. We have many
and furnishing churches in New York
State because we have solid founda-
ton for them in the city churches of that
State. We are as strong as we are in
Illinois because the parishes of Illinois
have the churches of Chicago to initiate
and emulate. On the other hand, OBJ
serve the weakness of the cause in the
State where our country churches have
to fight their battles without any of the
moral support and influence that comes
from cities. Wherever we are strong
in the city we are strong in the country.
No. 2. A church, like every moral in
stitution, must begin in the country;
but it must not remain there. AS soon
as it is strong enough it must hasten to
the city, there to prove it's strength in
battling with the gigantic evils, for the
destruction of which it is organized.
Every fourishing church denomination
has mastered this secret, and have, there
fore. lost no time in planting themselves
firmly in the large cities.
No. 3. Religion must always emanate
from the centers of commerce, and if we
do not occupy them with strong church.
%. we must finally pass away as church.
IT hahooVaa ua tharefora In huild atrono