The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-02-27


their salaries paid promptly?
8. Have you ever felt or said, There
is no personal responsibility resting on
me; some other one of the National ex-
ecutive officers will surely see that our
church's honor is maintained?
8. Have you never thought. my sister,
it is your church you are asked to CO.
operate with and for, and it should be
your greatest pleasure to serve it, as it
is selfevidept truth that church is
strong only as it serves and its members
share in the service?
A prompt response from each parish
member who shall receive an appeal
from his pastor in behalf of the mission
airy enterprises of his church will enable
the leaders and officers of State and
National organizations to meet all obi
cations promptly. Here lies the secret
of lack of funds in our treasures: We
shirk the personal responsibility.
Let US say and feel, It is our church!
1t is my church! and then carry all that
it stands for or undertakes in our hearts
in love; zealously work and sacrifice for
it's advancement.
The executive officers of the Woman's
National Missionary Society are often
embarrassed to know how to meet such
expenses as our Pacific Coast Mission.
ary's salary, because as much has rot
been received this year for that special
purpose as last, the first year of his
engagement. He has been faithful ard
done good work in go far as he has been
able.
Judging from results, we now believe
the pledge" system would have been
more efficient. We would therefore rec
ommend that this year, in your annual
meetings, your State conventions, that
you vote to raise specified sum for this
purpose. Even if the limit should not
be reached, there will have been defin-
lite aim. and more will have been gained
than if you do not aim at all.
We trust you have made the earnest
effort to enroll every UniversaIist wo-
man in your parish as a member of the
Circle, whether she is liable to pay her
dollar of not, for the good to be gained
through it's teachings. Give an enter
tainment for missionary work, or in
some helpful way let the strong be a
staff to the weak.
The Mission Circle should be a part
of every parish's working force as much
as the Young Peoples Christian Union,
the Ladies' Aids, or even the weekly
prayer meeting.
We would recommend that payment
OF dues be made once month at the
regular meetings at the rate of ten cents
month for ten months of the year.
This is such an easy way, almost any
body can compass it. This is in line
with methods adopted by the General
Convention, which asks for one cent a
day for missions from every family
The Young Peoples Christian Union
asks lis members for two cents week
for missions, and the Woman's Centen-
airy Association asks its loyal members
for only ten cents month.
There is hardly woman in all our
churches. in good health. who could not,
if she would. not only plan to but actual
ly give ten cents month for missionary
work without ever feeling one bit poorer
or depriving herself Of a single neces-
sary. to say nothing of luxuries.
Many of the most devoted members
known to us personally have but limited
incomes, and yet they find way to con-
tribute as promptly for missions as for
other church expenses. 1t is the old
story OF Where there is a will there is
a way"
The appeals that reach the Executive
Board from the West and South, and
even nearer home, from our Northern
and isolated parishes East, touch our
hearts; but we are forced to reply ave
can do nothing for lack of means not al
ready appropriated, and not always
enough for those must-be. paid obliga-
tions.
This condition of affairs ought not to
be. with over twenty-four thousand
Universalist women enrolled on our
church records.
Now. if each woman of you all will
cheerfully give your ten cents per
month or your dollar year. we shall be
able to do all the work in hand and to
give warm and cheering response to
these appeals which comes to us for help
1t is your individual dollar-your cen.
slant feeling of personal responsibility
it is your own work you are helping us
to do in His Name. We cherish a pa.
tient hope and rest in confident faith
that in Gods own good time we shall
see the travail of our soul and be salts
fed" but to that end we must all work
as we'll as pray.
CoRDELIA A. QUINBY,
President.
EMILY L. SHERWOOD,
<yso,<.