The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-05-22

There is not thoughtful Unlver-
salist in the land who would be COM
placent under probability that the
Conventions obligations we're to be
actually defaulted, but half suspect
that in some minds there exists
kind of semi-conscious hope that the
Trustees have solved the problem
how to live without food.
l expect that the Trustees will so
far protect the good name of the
Universalist Church, by extraordinary
effort and personal sacrifice if need
be, as to see that all existing obliga-
tions are paid, but, as to the future,
they will not, and ought not to be ex-
pected to, renew any obligations with
out satisfactory assurances of sup
port, nor will responsible persons be
willing to take their places.
Who is the Convention2 Every
minister and layman in the Univer-
salist Church, all acting under laws of
their own creation, providing how
and by whom their wishes shall be
expressed and their plans executed.
The Convention is, in the best sense,
a mutual association of pastors and
parishes to promote common pur-
poses.
Who are the Board of Trustees?
Men and women selected by the Con-
vention because of their fitness, and
their willingness to perform, without
pay, the onerous duties imposed upon
them,
1t would not be correct to assume
that present embarrassments are due
solely to the recent shrinkage of
revenues of individual members of
our parishes, because symptoms of
the prevalent disease were clearly
evident prior to the present period of
business depression. Nor is the am
cunt needed so large that, even under
impaired incomes, it could not be
readily raised if each section of our
UNCONVENTIONAL forces would supply
its own equitable share to the COM
mon need, for on that basis adequate
individual contributions might be so
small that very few would find them
burdensome, even in these times of
depression.
NV personal experience has salts
fed me that those of our lay breth-
rem and sisters who are kept we'll in
formed as to the Conventions work
are not backward in contributing to
the support thereof, but it is with
measure of sadness that l recognize
the fact that large number of our
parishes are not thus informed, and
among these are not few of those of
largest ability. | cannot escape the
conviction that for the chief reason
for this condition of affairs we must
look to the pastors, on whom we de-
pend for leadership.
The record of the Universalist
Church will show the. Honor in which
it holds it's ministers. 1t wants them
to lead, it wants to be led. 1t is, of
course, superfuous, at this stage of
our history, to say that a good deal
more than good sermons is expected
and needed from pastors if they are
to attain any considerable success in
their life-work Among the execu-
tive duties of the Universalist pastor
of the day none is more important
than that his parishioners shall be
kept fully informed as to all worthy
work being performed in the name of
the Universalist Church, as to which
the pastor is Cor ought to be) fully
posted.
| have never known Universalist
parish that was led in such a spirit
that needed to be begged" for rea-
sonable contributions to denomina-
tional work. The history of a good
many important parishes is available
to us, as is the character of their lead
ership and their record of achieve
ment. Let me refer to only one as
an illustration, viz, the Second So
ciety in Boston during the period
when it had no revenue other than
pewtaxes, pew rentals and voluntary
contributions, and when it had very
few members who, even in those
days, could have been called rich
men. The public spirit of that par
ish never faltered, because its great
leader never faltered in his broad
loyalty to the cause he so we'll served.
His people knew what was being
done in behalf of Universalism,
and knew too, what their leader
thought ought to be done, and they
responded accordingly. l would by
no means doubt that there have been
few others among our great leaders
who were not second even to DIR. Miner
in the qualities to which | have re-
ferred, and their accomplishment