The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-07-18

and bylaws, circulars, stationery.
stamps, etc. And if we would have or
CARNATIONS we must have an organizer.
and when the organizations are formed
they must be held together until mem
bers are adjusted to the new conditions.
In many instances this needed force must
come from outside the local churches; so
missionary was employed. The organ
izer and the missionary must have a
small recompense at least, and it hae
been given.
The office of missionary has created
some unpleasant criticisms among our
people; only few however have been so
short-sighted. or SO ignorant of the work
accomplished by that officer.
Not only has she re-organized. an.
couraged and secured new members
members at large, and life members. but
taught Sunday school classes, talked to
the schools. and organized schools,
talked to the young people, organized
Young Peoples Christian Unions. and
besides giving earnest talks to beget a
larger idea OF our privileges, opportuni.
ties and obligations. She has held
series OF religious meetings enthusing
the people with the higher ideas of life.
and adding to the membership of the
church. Is not this needed work?
Our work is not yet fully understood.
by ministers or people. 1t takes time
to lay track and ballast II for a new
idea to run on smoothly.
There are those who cannot see the
need OF an additional wheel in the church.
and prefer to run it single geared; one
might just as well keep the added
wheels from his machinery and think to
keep abreast of the times. Progress in
metnods OF work, is the order of the
day, everywhere, and that organization
or individual who does not obey is going
10 fall into the rear, or be left alone, ex-
cept for those who are held back by per.
sonal influence.
Organized missionary work was some.
tning entirely new to our women, al.
tnougn such WORK had been done by the,
women OF other denominations for q
nu mber OF years. and we had known of
It's great helpfulness to the spread Of
their faith.
Although our faith is broader, our ef-
forts for humanity have been much,
narrower. We somehow have had the,
impression that if we would take care of
our own home church, the Good Lord
would take care of all the rest, and too
much we have exercised that charity
which begins at home. and ends there,
contrary to the genius of our faith.
Only few. comparatively, saw the one
great need of our church. that il mipbt
increase its influence, and multiply it's
numbers, when we entered upon our
mission work in 1889. Many came
among US through the charm of some-
thing new, because others were going to
Join, because there was no harm in try.
ing the experiment for year. These
dropped out of their own accord; others
who would have remained faithful ba-
came discouraged through the indiffer.
ence or opposition of others. For.
strange as it may seem, not few of the
Alliances were treated as an intruder. as
disturber OF the old time ways of doing
things, as robber taking money that
belonged to the church, and sending il
OF, SO one after another the Alliances
ceased to be. Many of them have been
reorganized. We hope they will remain.
80 long as there are hearts to love. and
hands to work for humanity.
Through the conditions named. our
numbers dropped down to about half of
what we had at first. Those who remain
true and steadfast are the foundation
upon whom the organization is to live
and grow.
We might be discouraged were it not
that we are repeating the history of
similar organizations in other churches.
OF other faiths. A good Methodist sister
said to the writer, $50 you are having
some trouble in getting your missionary
organization started. We did too; we
were even locked out of the church, but
we are all right now."
Every new movement, no matter how
good and profitable, must contend with
conservative element, until with flying
colors it marches by them; not to be
outdone, the opposing force falls into
Ii ne. and glories in all great achieve
ments. So we are not discouraged that
we do not number as many to day as
when but year had passed in the en-
terprise.
There is that which is better than
large numbers. or much money. Nearly
all the six hundred we have enrolled
now, are loyal. earnest, consecrated
souls, who are ready to sacrifice, and do
work in His name; who count the little
they give to carry truth to men as
naught compared with the Joy and
privileges it brings to them, and carries
to others. Every true Alliance woman
knows full we'll the meaning of these
words, 1T is more blessed to give, than
to receive"
The women Of our church have never
before had the haln IN davaIOn a h.;