The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-09-18
CHURCH NOTICES
GENERAL CONVENTION.

i interested in the work and prosperity of
| the Universalist Church:
The General Convention year, 1896 and
| 1897. closes with the present month. Many
| parishes. from which financial aid is
sought, have as yet made no offering,
| either in the way of direct contribution,
| or by the Cent-a-Day method My earnest
word of appeal to such parishes is that
some contribution may at once be ought
| and that the amount obtained may be for
| warded to me as soon as possible, so that II
| maygo to the credit of the parish in the an
nual report for the year ending September
| 80, 1897
Punched for Money.
| 1t should be understood that the Gen
eral Convention lacks the means with
which to prosecute enterprises already
| entered upon, and TO furnish desired aid
to approved UNCONVENTIONAL movements.
| The contri buttons from parishes and in
dividuals received during the present
year are inadequate to provide for the
support and enlargement of these under
| takings, to say nothing of entering upon
new fields, where the opportunity is most
inviting. Even at this late periodif there
| could be a general and hearty response to
the convention appeals for money, the
situation would be vastly improved, and
the forthcoming report would be far more
encouraging than it now seems likely to be.
What we Have a Right to Expect
First:-That all parishes throughout the
! land, which have not contributed during
the current year, will arrange to make
some offering, however SMALL before the
| close of the present month. If every
parish would do the something" which
is in its power, the desired result would
be ensured.
Second That all unpaid Cent-a-Day
pledges be paid as early in September as
possible Some of these pledges are dated
more than one year ago, and if payment
| is made by those who are in arrears
comparatively large sum would be real
lied, and much better showing made for
the productiveness of this method.
Third THAT interested Universalists,
having at heart the progress and prosper
ity of our cause, and the ability to con-
tribute, should make personal Offering
as large as the conditions will justify, to
be applied to the missionary uses of our
church; and to reduce the apparent de-
ticiency for the year to the lowest posi-
BILE amount.
Facts to be Kept in Mind.
F'irst:-All parishes in the Universalist
| Communion are required by the law of
our church. to contribute to the treasury
of the General Convention each year. This
| obligation rests upon each parish in fell
| lowship.
nd.-That many of the parishes
have not contributed, and thus the con-
vention Indebtedness has been incurred
and has grown to its present proportions,
while the missionary work of our church
has been sadly restricted.
Third: That a contribution from each
Universalist family, averaging one cent a
day for the year, would provide for the pay
ment of the convention Indebtedness, and
supply means sufficient for doing important
work 10 which our church at targets COM
mitted. as well as aiding the various state
| conventions in putting forth desired efforts
to promote the growth of our cause in
their respective Jurisdictions.
| Prompt Action Urged.
If any parish has not arranged to meet
| the call of the General Convention by the
| Cent-a-Day method, or if only a few
| pledges have been obtained, insufficient
| to provide for the amount called for during
| the present year, prompt action should be
| taken to gather the desired offering, or
at least so much of it as possible, by some
other method. Get the offering, small or
large, and you will have done your duty.
Personal Matter.
My present call is not altogether to
| parishes, but to individual believers as
| we'll. There is a personal responsibility
and privilege in this matter; it is indi-
viduals who constitute the parish, and
who make up the State Convention
and the General Convention. If these
individuals withhold contributions, par
| ishes and conventions alike are pinched
for money. If there is personal interest
| awakened, the desired offering from the
parish is likely to come; or, if this fails,
there will be found some way in which
| the individual believer will signify zeal
for the cause, and make practical ex-
| preston of his or her purpose to con-
tribute in support of UNCONVENTIONAL in
erests.
The Time is Short
Only one short month remains in which
TO put parishes and individuals upon the
| contributing list. In some way, by some
method, / solicit a contribution from
| parishes; and l also make this additional
appeal to the individual members of our
church, that they shall contribute TO the
cause; so that, marching together in the
| fulillment of a common purpose, and in
the doing of a common work, we may
enter into larger fellowship as Univer-
salists and as Christians, and help to ad-
vance our Lords Kingdom upon earth
Remember the financial year of the
General Convention closes September 80,
1897 Parish and individual contributions
sent 10 this Office previous to that date
will be credited in the report of the pres
ent year. HENRY w. RUGG,