The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-05-29
WESTERN LETTER.
From Gospel Banner.
FRESNO, CAL.

FRESNO, CAL.
In the heart of CALIFORNIA; greatest
valley, San Joaquin, is located this beau
tiful little city, the largest between Los
Angeles and Oakland. 1t has been my
desire to hold services here for several
years. This time l stopped for two
week-night meetings, Mr.. and Mrs. B.
@. Wells having engaged the hall and
given due notice. These people were ex-
cellent workers at Knoxville, Tenn. Now
they are settled on their own farm
two miles out of Fresno. We had better
audiences than l expected. Some hun
cry Universafsts came, and some who
never heard a Universalist sermon be-
fore. Among the Universalists, l will
! name besides Mr.. and Mrs. Wells, Mrs
| s. Gardner, Mrs. Lorenz, formerly of
| Round Pond, Me, and Attorney A. E.
Snow; the latter graduate of Tufts
| College. These and others will never
be satisfied attending partialist churches.
Literature, which l always carry for dis
tribution, was eagerly taken, and was
urged to remain over Sunday, which
could not do. l feel that this little nu-
cleus must be looked after-this mus
tard sesd for future church. While it
is my present purpose to foster the be-
| ginnings already made and start no new
ones, yet it is impossible to keep from
| prospecting little, when no extra ex-
penses are involved and no loss of time.
Then it is hard to persist in resisting
the call which comes from all points of
the compass: Come over and help u.s.,
For this reason l make another stop in
this valley 80 rich and vast.
MERGED. CAL.
Accent the last syllable if you would
pronounce this word correctly. Fifty
three miles from Fresno toward San
Francisco, is located this town of some
three thousand population, a county
seat. Beautiful green fields and vine-
yards and fruit orchards stretch away
toward the snow capped Sierras, and
southwark to the coast range that
stands sentineling the sea. The drive
around MERGED was much enjoyed.
Here. as in other valleys of this State
which abound in wonders, are homes
of refinement empowered in flowers of
perennial bloom. In three of these
homes. to my knowledge. live lovers of
that faith which is more beautiful than
all the glories of this beautiful world
of more value than all the gold of the
golden State. One of these families is
Mr.. w. A. Hills mother and sisters who
used to be such workers in st. Paul's
Sunday. school, Chicago. Another is
Mr.. Hills own. The wife will be remem-
bered as Miss Georgia Cantwell, daugh-
ter of the editor OF THE UNIvERsALIsT.
The two boys. well. they have all the
vigor. curiosity and spirit of adventure
characteristic of California youths.
There is no place like California for ro-
bust, healthy, handsome children. The
invitation of these friends was gladly
accepted and the days stop-over af-
forded me rest and pleasure. The
Northern Methodist church, used now
only for the Kindergarten taught by the
Misses Hill, was granted for the service
which called together the Universalists
named and few others. A delightful
place for such meeting, this room
80 light and cheerful and SO tastefully
adorned with pictures. flowers and grow
ing plants. / was glad to find these
friends standing so boldly as witnesses
OF their faith-a faith opposed and des-
pissed because not understood-a faith
too large for selfish souls and too lofty
for little minds. Every Universalist
should be witness to his faith wher-
ever he is and whatever the conse-
quencss. This is Gods method of spread.
ing the truth.
OAKLAND, CAL.
All the way from Pasadena and even
from your entrance to the desert of
California, which forms the unforbid-
den threshold to CALIFORNIA; Eden, you
look upon mountains robed in white,
and piercing the sky. For six hundred
miles. while riding through the flaming
desert or valleys clothed in all the cor.
geous glories OF perennial spring, you
look up toa wintry cline, your eyes rest
ing on snow.
Now the mountains recede as our
train turns down Sacramento river fol-
lowing it to San Francisco bay. Soon
am welcomed by old friends in Alamo
da, the beautiful little city lying close to
Oakland, separated only by a narrow
bay. Thirty years ago when entered
st. Lawrence University a classmate
who became one of my truest friends,
was Rev. j. F. Gates. In his home |
found sympathy and friendship. His
little three year old daughter called
me "Uncle Shinn" and she does to this
day, as do her two sisters and brother,