The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-04-25

lie had not been educated in the higher
schools of learning. but like the fisher
man OF old he had studied the sublime
truths announced to waiting world by
Him who spake as never man spake and
believed that these truths we're what
the world most needed So believing he
entered upon his labors with a single
ness OF purpose and untiring energy
which never failed until the work he had
undertaken was accomplished.
Under his direction church and Sun.
day school were organized and weekly
devotional meetings held. FREQUENT
meetings were also held to devise ways
and. means for increasing the building
fund. The Ladies' Union was formed
and proved to be grand financial sue
cess, all working energetcally and har
moniously for one common purpose. At
length the time came when it was de.
cided to commence building.
Permit me here to relate an incident
which we'll illustrates the character of
our pastor. After the close of morning
service, he announced that the work on
the church was about to be commenced
and invited the congregation to meet
MIN on the grounds in the afternoon.
Ihey met as requested and after the
singing OF an appropriate hymn. a fer
vent prayer was offered by Mr.. Hussy
that the ground and the building which
was to be erected thereon might ever
be held sacred and devoted to the pur-
poses for which it was to be erected and
forever remain in the possession of the
First Universalist Church of Menasha
and Neenah. And who shall say that
that prayer has so far not been answered.
that the temptation which has come
to some OF US at times to dispose of the
property has somehow been resisted?
The work slowly progressed and in
March 1868 the church was dedicated
and Mr.. Hussy installed as pastor for
lie. 1t was an occasion of glad re-
Ioicing and mutual congratulations; the
long battle had been fought and victory
won. Able and impressive sermons
were delivered by Rev. Messrs. Summer
Ellis. A. G. Barry, M. G. Todd, G. w.
Lawrence and B. F. Rogers. Amid this
rejoicing came great sorrow. Our be.
loved pastor was stricken with mortal
disease, and only once was permitted
from this platform to speak to the people
he SO dearly loved, his death occurring
soon after.
The names of the several pastors who
have successfully ministered to the So
ciety since, are Revs. Eliza Tupper, j.
M. II. Smith, j. S. Fall, T. @. Druley, /.
A. Eberhart, H. D. L. Webster, G. B.
Lombard, Richard Eddy during sum-.
mer vacation), S. w. Sutton, Mary j.,
DeLong, and H. j. Orelup.
At the Annual meeting of the parish,
Jan. Goth, 1889, it was voted to retain
the services of Mr.. Orelup another year
and this substantially closes our re-
view.
From this time find only blank in
the records. undisturbed by a single
stroke OF the pen until the re-opening of
March 10, 1895.
But why this blank in the records of
our history? Why were the fires which
had so brightly burned upon our altar
for nearly quarter of century per-
mitted to go out in darkness? The ans
wtr comes in the old, old story.-deaths,
removals and other causes which
seemed equally beyond our control.
These will not now stop to consider,
only suggesting that some of these were
such as might, possibly. have been re-
moved or overcome had we not have al
lowed ourselves to become weary in we'll
doing. or had not yielded to that fatal
delusion that we might close the church
for a season. waiting for more prosper
GUS times or more favorable opportuni.
ties before resuming our work.
This experience, though costly, / trust
will be valuable to US in the future.
would be glad to refer more in detail
to many interesting events, and to the
individual characters who have con-
spicuously figured in the records and to
whose faithful services and generous
support we are so much indebted, but
time will not permit.
The Ladies' Union from its fret organ
ization has been an efficient and indes-
pensable aid and has contributed be-
yond the utmost expectations of the
most sanguine to the upbuilding of our
cause. Much that might be said as to
the grand work they have done must be
omitted.
1t only remains for me to refer briefly
to our Sunday 1t was in success.
full operation for twenty three years.
During all that time an unfagging inter
est was maintained. And we have good
reason to believe that much and lasting
good was accomplished that an in
fiuence was extended which is felt even
to this day, an influence which has con-
tributed much to the results which we
have so successfully accomplished.
We have here noble band of young
people on whom we may naturally con-
clude will be the future workers in our
field and for our cause. May God spare
them and bless them for the coming
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