The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-02-01

loss OF fifteen members during the past
year, and gain of forty. six. There isl
steady increase.-At the annual meeting
OF the First Lowell parish the Treasurer
reported that the expenses for the year
had been S4,504. There is a small
floating debt. The report of the collec-
tor showed forty eight new pew rentals
since the coming of the new pastor. The
commissioners of the charitable and
missionary fund reported s3,901.78 as
the amount January 1.-The Saugus So
ciety. though small in mum bers, has al
ways been active in church work. The
people are united, enthusiastic and in
dustrious. Best of all they are indepen-
dent in spirit. and are bound to stand
without the aid of the financial crutch
of the State Convention.
Observation-Disclosures This
is what the Reading Herald says: "Since
Rev. DIR. Harris has become pastor of
the First Universalist Church, the at
tendance has increased about $50 per
cent, the audience room being entirely
filed at each service" A correspond
emit of The UNIvERsAL1sT writes:
There has been a great forward move.
ment all along the line of the work in
this old historic church. The Sunday
services have received marked attention
from the city press and attract many
people from the other churches. The
annual meeting of the parish was held
on Tuesday evening" Jan. 6; the attend
ance was very large. The church was
found to be in most fourishipg condi-
ton having no indebtedness whatever.
While the current expenses are very
much larger than ever before, the treas
urer reported all outstanding bills paid.
No deficit to make up, and handsome
surplus in the treasury to begin the
work of the ensuing year,-a condition
of affairs that has not existed in this
church for more that forty years. The
Sunday school has always had a splen-
did record; in its history of GA years
there has not been Sunday but what
the school has been in session. 1t is
now taking on larger growth. Since
November LIST, fifty new scholars have
come into the school and still they come.
We are about to add large number of
books to the library and new singing
books. Bright Light, by Prof. Straub,
will lend an added charm to the fine
Sunday school music we already have.
The Y. P. @. U. is one of the largest
and most enthusiastic Unions l have
ever mingled with. Every Sunday even
ing at $50 the meetings are crowded.
The Reading Y. P. G. U. does much phil
lanthropic work in our city and it never
takes vacation. DR.. Harris started
mid week meeting on Wednesday even
inge, from 7;45 to 8 o'clock; fifteen minu.
ties at the opening are devotional; then
an address upon some live topic, which
is discussed by bright men and women.
These meetings are attracting much at
tention, bringing together an audience
which nearly fills the chapel.
The Ladies' Aid, always the strong
right arm Of this parish, gave their an
nual supper in the chapel on Tuesday
evening Jan. q, which has never been
surpassed in point of attendance and
profit to all. 1t was surprisingly sue
cessful evening for the Church of Our
Father.
One of the most enterprising and in
teresting organizations of the church is
the Industrial School which Mrs. Harris
organized and superintends. 1t meets
in the chapel every Saturday afternoon
at o'clock. Between eighty and ninety
little children are connected with the
school and are taught the art of needle
work in it's various grades. knitting. cro-
cheting. physical culture, and singing.
This church is rapidly coming TO the
front because all the people, young az d
old, have mind to work. and are loyal
to the calls of their minister, secondipg
his efforts everywhere.