The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-10-28
TWENTY-FIVE YEARS OLD
The First Universalist Church
Celebrates It's Silver Ami
versary-Dr. Pull
mans Address.

The First Uniyersalist Church, which
is located at Ivy place and Cornelison ave
nue., celebrated its twenty-ffth anniver-
sary last night in a fitting manner The
celebration was to AVE taken place last
week, but was postponed on account of
the death of George M. Pullman, brother
of the Rev. James Pullman, whose preach
ing in Bergen Hall resulted in the for
nation of the church. DIR. Pullman Off
ciated at his brothers funeral, and could
not be present until last evening. He was
the principal speaker, and reviewed the
| early history of the church. His friend,
the late Major d. L. Holden, invited him
to preach in Jersey City, where at that
time there were few U~niversalists. For
seven months he held services every Sun
day in Bergen Hall. AT that time the
Emory Methodist Church was moving in
to its new home on Belmont avenue, and
the little band of Universalists were able
to secure their old building, their pres
ent church home.
DR.. Pullman made a touching allusion
to Major Holden, whom he eulogized in
the highest terms for his faitfulness, both
as a church member and a friend. The
speaker then alluded to the fact that when
the church was planted in Jersey City
twenty-five years ago it was unrecog-
nlzed by all other Protestant churches.
He then traced the growth OF Universal
ism and the UniversaliSt spirit, and de-
clared that a quarter OF a century has
wrought so great a change that nearly
all denominations have swallowed Uni
versaliSm and become UniverSaliSt in
their teachings. He concluded by dwell
ing at length upon the need OF a greater
spirituality among Christians. What is
needed in the church is not SO much edu-
cation as Divine inspiration.
The Revs. [. IL. Pease and A. S. Yam
It's, of Brooklyn, made short addresses,
in which they congratulated the church
upon its successful history. City Comp
troller George r. Hough, who is president
of the Board of Trustees, spoke of the
financial condition of the organization.
He said
1T is exceedingly pleasant for me to
appear before you this evening, as l feel
that the members of this congregation are
not saying to themselves, 1 wonder what
scheme he is going to present now for
the purpose of raising money AL the
close of our fiscal year as a church, April
30 last, we found that our floating debt
amounted to $3.50. The debt had been ac-
cumulating for one cause or another for
the last ten years. When it was decided
to celebrate the twenty-fifth anniversary
of our coming into this building, it was
suggested that a good way to help to
celebrate would be to pay off the float
ing Indebtedness; and means We're ait once
set on foot to do so. It is very crafty
ing to me as President of the Board of
Trustees to be able this evening to state
that we have accomplished the task.
~We have paid the $3.50, together with
interest on same. amounting to $20.17, a
total of $S70.17. That you have done well
is certainly stating it in too mild a form
you lave lone a noble work. To many of
YOU, while it has been a pleasure to as
sist in the accomplishment of the task,
it k-now-personal sacrifice. l
take the opportunity on behalf of the
trustees TO thank all of the friends who,
through individual and united efforts lave
made it possible to liquidate this debt
Our future success as a church largely
depends upon ourselves. The same enthu-
siasm and work on the part of each of
one of us, that has been so manifest
during the past few months, must con-
tinue and every branch of our church
work be pushed to its utmost. If within
less than six months (Which includes the
summer vacation) it has been possible to
accomplish what we have, 1 am certain
that with the burden out of the way the
financial future of the church is ASSURED"
AT the conclusion of the exercises the
ladies served refreshments.