The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-11-06
CALIFORNIA.
THE Los ANGELES MOVEMENT

We have been severely criticised anC
even censured with doubtless more o.
less justice for hiding our Los Angelel
light under a bushel," or failing tt
publish the work OF our mission in thil
"City of the Angelo"
Friends coming from the East have
evinced surprise that we have church
here; others have passed US by with
out even call and some who are neal
enough to be neighbors have refused
whole-hearted assistance on the ground
that we face failure. Indeed, because
OF the false premise that pomp and ado
are the sign OF advancement and sue
cess, and since the work has been some.
what handicapped by lack of income
some have reached the conclusion that
the mission in our city is insignificant
the strength and ability of our people is
moderated and there is waiting for a
new regime. We have been Sin strait
betwixt two" desiring to grasp the gold
en- mean between the extremes Of a
Wanting egotism and an undue mod
esty, holding constantly in mind the
Masters seemingly adverse commands
Let not your left hand know what your
right hand doeth" and Let your light
shine" IF, in the past we have too
closely followed the former mandate we
now propose to shine by publishing our
existence with what we have done and
are doing.
We stand today as church parish of
forty mem bere with Sunday school OF
nearly that number, a Y. P. G. u. of
thirty enthusiastic individuals and a
Womans Union comprising eighteen &C.
tive workers. The church and Sunday
school meet every Sunday morning, the
Y. P. G. U. in the evening and the Wo-
mans Union once in two weeks. We do
not hazard our reputation for veracity
when we say that neither of these bodies
have missed meeting save during the
regular summer vacation since their or
ganization. Harmony of purpose and
unison OF action characterize their la
bors. For more than year past the
energies of all have been conferred on
bought cheap for cash and Immediately
decided to the General Convention. This
lot is admirably located in clean and
desirable residence district just outside
the business portion of the city. and &C.
cessible by six different street car lines.
We have also some money as nucleus
of the building to be erected. besides
donations of material and labor, and our
whole force is enthusiastically concen-
trated to the end Of a church home, the
szs and com pleteness of which depends
as much on the confidence and interest
the demon nation takes in us as on our
own efforts.
Are not these the facts by which we
should be judged, and do they not show
that, while we are not given to ostenta
tious display and the blowing of trum-
pets before US, we are very much alive
and merit the confidence of the Univer-
salist public? And do they not demon
strate that church may come into ex-
istence and make progress without
heavy pecuniary support or backing?
Are they not portent Of general re-
form in church finances?
Though this work could be accom-.
plished only by the strictest economy
especially ON the part of the pastor, it
must be ev dent that with little more
generous pouring of oil on the wheels of
our machinery more work would be
done. Surely none can close their eyes
to the Importance of sustaining and fur
thering the interests of church in a
city of 100000 inhabitants. the center of
South California.
We herein desire to thank the General
Convention for what it has been able to
do, which has meant much to us, and
DR.. Shinn for the contribution he raised
toward our lot, and also DR.. Hanson for
the lively interest he has taken in assist
ing the pastor in any work undertaken.
Yours sincerely,
A. A. RICE.