The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-07-04
THE CHICAGO DISTRICT UNION.
Review of the Meetings of the Year
Good Results Anticipated.

JQ6 purpose Vi oAtouuihs oho 49, 1850
tance of the members, and enlarging the
work of the societies by bringing the
members together in devotional and So
cial meetings. Before it's organization,
the members of the various Unions we're
acquainted to very limited extent and
members of one Union seldom cooper
ated with those of another in any devo-
tional or social matter. There had been
a custom of inviting a member OF one
Union to lead at one of the home devo-
tional meetings occasionally, but this
practice was not continued to any great
extent and was not effectual in bringing
any large number of the members from
different Unions together. Reasoning
that the same advantages arising TO
members of the local Unions from coop
Grafton in devotional and social meetings
would accrue to the members, though
in increased degree, by larger gather
ing composed of Unions instead of indi-
viduals, the idea gradually took form OF
the permanent organizations OF the So
cieties in and around Chicago into
Union which should hold occasional
meetings to bring the members together
to compare their ideas and unite in any
efforts 10 behalf of their common cause.
Accordingly an informal meeting was
held at ST. Paul's church which was at
tended by members from the societies OF
the Chicago churches and also by dele
cations from Joliet. There were over
a hundred in attendance and after fully
considering the advis ability and object
of such an organization, constitution
was drafted and officers we're elected for
the first year. Provision was made for
six meetings each year, three OF the
meetings to be held on Sunday evening
while three of the meetings were to be
social gatherings. Besides the usual Of
ficers, President, Vice-president, Secre-
tary and Treasurer, a board of directors
was provided consisting of the above
officers, and, in addition, member to be
elected from each society, this board to
be the governing body of the organiza-
ton.
The first meeting was held at the
Church of the Redeemer the first Sunday,
in May and was a devotional meeting,
the subject being Go operation" About
one hundred members we're present and
papers on the subject we're first presen-
ted by different members, one chosen
from each Union, after which an interest
ing and spirited discussion took plac
the consideration of the subject being
intersperced with singing by the congre-
cation and by vocal selections by several
members.
The success of this, the first meeting.
was highly encouraging to those who
had labored to make the Union success,
and the meeting augured a bright future
for the organization, which has in every
sense been realized. as each of the meet
ings during the first year have had in at
tendance in the neighborhood Of one
hundred members, while the devotional
meetings have always been marked for
the interest taken 10 the remarks, and
the social meetings have been bright
spots in the memories of those in at
tendance
The next meeting was in the form of
social and banquet and was held at the
Ryder Memorial church in the early
part of June. The ladies of the church
prepared an inviting dinner, and after
the repast, toasts were responded to by
the members and then an opportunity
was had for the members to become ac
quainted. This was the beginning of
those social evenings which have brought
the members into contact in a manner
TO permit them to become well ac-
quainted, aud the members of the var
ious Unions are beginning to feel almost
as we'll acquainted with one another
as with the members of their local
Unions.
The next devotional meeting WAS
held at ST. Paul's church, the subject
being, II ought, l can" the meeting
being held in November.
The second social meeting was held at
Oak Park in February and the last
social meeting at Englewood in May of
this year.
Devotional meetings have also been
held at the Church of our Father on the
North side, subject, christian Citizen
ship aud at st. Paufs church, subject,
Character"
1t is felt that the Chicago District
Union has filled long felt want, as no
organization existed previously, which
could serve to bring the younger mem
bers of the various churches together
1t is true that at the annual meetings of
various organizations. as the Sunday
school Union and the like, the members
come into contact to limited extent,
but such meetings have been attended
more largely by the older members and
little opportunity has been given the
younger members to become acquainted
thereby. At present the District Union
serves not only to bring the members
together on the regular occasions, but
on special occasions also, as, when Rev.
Elmer j. Felt. the National President
was in the city, when the District Union
met at the Church of the Rsdeemer to