The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-11-13
Our Ohio Churches.
FROM ]. W. HENLEY, D. d.
State Secretary.
EVANSVILLE.


among the most delightful we have ever
had in the modest little chapel Al
the close Of the evening service, we OBJ
served the Communion, at which time
ore member was received into the
church. Ard to deepen the eatisfac-
ton of the days services, it was found
that with all expenses paid to date, a
sufficient amount remained in the treas
ury to make payment on the standing
debt. The little band has workers in
il, whom no Encouragement can dis
hearten, and there is needed but the
element of time to measure their sue
cess. God bless them, every one"
THE GENERAL CONVENTION.
We have had letters from the major.
ity of the delegates to the General Con-
vention at Chicago, and we are glad to
know that they have used their best
efforts to inform the people in regard to
the transactions and spirit of that grand
meeting. Rev. U. S. Milburn. of Gin
cinnati, the Sunday following the con-
vention, delivered a sermon on the
work of the convention, which was
fully reported in the Commercial Tri-
bune. Rev. Sara L. Stoner, of Milford,
one of the clerical delegates, says: IL
shall endeavor to make my work more
effective because of the baptism | re-
ceived while gathered with others OF
like faith in the General Convention. 1t
was grand meeting and did me much
good"
DIR. HI. L. Garfield says he has given
reports to the General Convention at
both his churches, and several laymen
have done the same thing. We trust
that every minister who was not pres
emit at the General Convention will
make liberal use Of the reports given in
THE UNIvERsALIsT. So few of our peo-
pie take church papers, that they are
living in ignorance of what the church
is doing. Let us adopt the methods of
politicians, and keep the church and
its work before the people!" Let US labor
in every way to educate them that the
Universalist Church is living reality
worthy Of their earnest support and
hearty liberality.
ELDORADO.
Rev. j. H. Blackford, of Eldorado, in
business letter, says: "We are enter
rry.k
all departments in good shape. The
ladies are arranging for a Thanks
giving Dinner and Tea. The Sunday
School Association held at Eaton, Octo-
Der 3d. was quite successful. Rev. j. A..
Stoner was there; also our young BROTH
er, Louis Robinson, of Mount Carmel"
Bro. Blackboard was a delegate to the
General Convention. at Chicago, for
the first time after his many years Of
pastoral service. He says. Though not
well, l enjoyed the convention very
much. The spirit prevailing was excel
lent all the way through. | am per-
suaded that no action she uld be taken
in any convention. looking to permanent
policies. until it has the approval of
the following convention. | am afraid
the active looking to national super
intendency is premature. Certain it is
the churches have never seriously con-
sidered it."
THE YOUNG MAN CRAZE!
The report of the secretary of the
Universalist General Convention, shows
that there are less ministers in our
fellowship than two years ago. The
attendance at our theological schools is
not so large as few years ago. The
reason for this decrease in both instances
is the young Man Craze,"-a serious
disease which is doing our church much
injury, and unless it is checked it will
result in so reducing the numbers of our
ministers, that in few years many
churches will die, for the want of pastor
al care. In all the correspondence we
have had with churches in regard 10
pastors, we have had only one application
for minister of age and experience"
Our theological schools are raising the
standard of qualification and the major
ity of students have limited meane, and
are compelled to contract debts to Sc
cure their education. When they COM
mence their ministerial labor, they rare
ly receive more salary than is necessary
for an economical living. Then when
they have served the church until they
are forty-ive or fifty years old, they
begin to hear it whispered, ave ought
to have. a young man as pastor" and
then commences the struggle to secure
ministerial work enough to exc out an
existence, until the good Lord calls them
Cup higher!' where physical food and
clothing are not needed: Young men,
with the intellectual ability to become
successful ministers. and who love to
enter he ministry, are driven to engage
in other callings, where "age and ex-
perience" are regarded as valuable
qualifications, and where competency
for old age can be secured. We have
been led TO write the foregoing because
of the following letter just received from
a minister who is little past the "mini-
sterial age limit" Be says:
~ am 80 nearly out Of work. that l am
earning my living almost entirely from