The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-06-19
THE RIVERSIDE JUBILEE.
From Our Special Correspondent.

The Riverside people and the
State Convention Trustees felt that
the deliverance and redemption of,the
Riverside parish from the incubus Of
debt, ought to have public recogni-
ton, and it was accordingly ar
ranged that meetings should be held
on Saturday and Sunday, June 9Th
and 9th, under the auspices of the
State Convention. The beautiful
church never looked so lovely. 1t
seemed as if every "stone cried out
of the wall and the beam out of the
timber answered it" with rejoicing.
The red tiles of the roof glowed with
new light. The soft brown of the
walls never wore 80 fine tint. The
| light of heaven streamed into the in
terror through the painted glass as
though it was glad to spread every
tone in the palette of color on altar,
pew and pointed arch. The edifce
was always thing of beauty, but a
cloud had rested on it; sometimes it
almost seemed as though a pail hung
over it. "The eye sees what the
heart brings the means of seeing,"
and now all hearts saw Gall Souls
Church TRANSPORTED, inside and out
side, as they realized that it had been
secured to the sacred purposes to
which it had been consecrated; that
never again could it be in peril. And
80 all were glad when, on Saturday
evening, the the hour came on which
the people were assembled. DIR.
Deere made few feeling and elo-
quent remarks, and introduced E. S.
Conger. DID,, President of the Cali
fornia Convention, as president of
the meeting. DR.. Conger gave an
earnest address, and introduced the
different speakers.
tbs impossible here to more than
| characterize the addresses made.
Rev. E. F. Golf, of the Congrega-
tional church spoke for the other
churches, and more genial, catholic
speech could not have been made.
He voiced the qualification felt by the
different churches of the city at the
deliverance of the parish from debt,
and paid eloquent tribute to the high
esteem and tender regard that six
teen years of consecrated service had
won for DR.. and Mrs. Deere from the
people of all churches and the entire
community. The address was tender,
witty, eloquent, and gave great de-
light to all.
Major Geo. F. Robinson of Po-
mona, gave the sympathy of the Cali
fornia churches in a manly earnest
speech, characteristic of the man; and
E. E. Spaulding, of Pasadena, spoke
for his home church. The address
was a model layman's speech. At
this point the popular landlord of
the "Glenwood Tavern" known and
loved of all tourists, Frank A. Miller,
made the telling hit of the evening
when, in the enforced absence of
Judge Noyes, who was to have voiced
the feelings of the people at large, he
rose and said he must bear witness to
the tender feelings of the entire pub
lie to the character and influence of
DIR. Deere, whose noble life, gentle
spirit and genuine goodness had been
an inspiration to him, as to many,
many others.
The last speaker was DIR. Hanson,
who represented the General Conven
ton, and Mr.. Dennis. He paid trib-
ute to the General Convention which,
through it's trustees, had given so
large a sum out of its meagre reven-
ues, and Notwithstanding the many
calls upon its means, and counseled
the loyalty of the parish that it
might assist the General Convention
to similar benefactions hereafter He
described the arduous labors and
great sacrifices of Mr.. Dennis, who,
in spite of his advanced years-al-
most four score-had, for an entire
year devoted his energies success
fully to the task of securing the sum
that saved the church from aliena-
ton. His labors and generosity were
stated to be the grandest example of
self-sacrifce in our UNCONVENTIONAL
history, and should be an inspiration,
and will be an example that must
produce results for our church, far
beyond the benefit to our cause in
Riverside and California. The au IL