The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-03-20
A FRIENDLY LETTER FROM
TEXAS.
HICO, TEXAS.

March l. spring is here Under her
soft footsteps grass is green, while gent
Ter airs are tanning her Frightening
presence. Garden vegetables are coyly
starting up from their beds. throwing
off their brown coverlets, and peeping
about with fair promise of doing their
best to furnish delectable food at an
early date. Late vegetables in this re-
gion are apt to be failures, in conse
quence of hot winds, and still hotter
sunshine.
Rose. bushes at the Hico parsonage are
deliberately putting on their dress of
green, preparatory to their coming mag
nificent floral adornment. Thus the short
"winter of our discomfort" is past. This
was really severe for our southern CHM
ate. in this locality, and reports from
other semi-tropical States show that
Texas was not the only one 80 visited.
News from various quarters of this
missionary field is rather encouraging
than otherwise. Bro. G. H. Rogers is
doing a noble work in Cleburne, where he
is now employed two Sundays in each
month. Good congregations attend his
meetings. Each month has witnessed
several new accessions to the church,
which now numbers 33 members.
The Y. P. G. Union has lately been es-
tablished there, with Is members. The
prospect now is that this will be one of
our strongest churches in numbers and
influence, in the State.
The little new chapel at Bowie is with
out regular pastor. 1t will be dedicat-
cd in May. when it is hoped the services
of minister may be secured.
There is no debt on this church, which
is better than can be said of some more
expensive church edit ces.
Bro. A. G. Strain is ministering to
several parish organizations. With his
usual energy and self-sacrifcing efforts,
he is preaching Sundays, and filling
week-evening appointments. Besides be-
tween these trips he is helping his two
boys on the farm, which he has rente d,
thus cultivating in two fields of labor,
both of which. we trust will yield salts
| factory harvests.
Bro. j. M. Wright. our good. faithful
worker, is still full of the missionary
spirit-not only preaching, but always
ready to aid in substantial way the
cause of our precious faith. There is
| ~ nly1 MI hoc
more generous with his means, though
he is net wealthy-nor one more ready
to work, wherever he can do so, for the
advancement of Universalism. Himself
and his estimable family are common
dable examples of loyalty to the truths
OF our religion and of faithful work in it's
behalf.
Our young Bro j. d. Barker is max
ing a good record. He too. is imbued
with the missionary spirit, and is doing
good service in the field. His sermons
are considered strong and logical. Hav-
ing come out from the Baptist commun-
ion. he has had opportunity to test the
strength of his Rrmor in numerous en-
counters with his former brethren, who
have not been backward in assailing his
departure from their ranks.
From Williamson county the STAMP
ing ground" Ito use Texas phrase) of
Bros. Lawhorn. Dunbar and Arnold, we
have recent report. Though far from
central Texas. they are continuing their
labors. where Father Marmaduke
Gardner many years ago founded the
first Universalist church in Texas. A
large number Of descendants of that dear
old saint live in this region, all loyal
Universalists. These ministering breth-
rem having married into the family
they prefer laboring there and are not
only preaching the Gospel of grace in
all that region round about. but. in apos-
tolic fashion. are laboring with their
hands to assist in earning their daily
bread. This is what the most of our
preachers have to do, as there is not yet
sufficient means among our Texas Uni
versalists to entirely support their min
listers. Even Bro. Rogers is teaching an
evening school in stenography in Gle
burne to assist 10 the support of his
family.
Brother Billings is still holding his
own remarkably well, considering the
serious experience he has had for the
last ten weeks.
As Superintendent of the State Mis-
sion he has sufficient to employ his mind
and time even while not travelling as
heretofore. AS yet, he has not been able
to bear the light upon the eye that was
treated; but. with the aid of dark glasses,
manages to attend to necessary work.
with the help of the writer, who as AS
sociate Missionary furnishes eyes for
him upon occasion. He is now prepar-
ing leaflets for distribution. which are of
good service in the work here.
1t is a long time since we have had
the privilege Of sending any message to
The UNIvERsALIsT. An accumulation