The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-10-09

months at Kenney. Although moth
ing permanent yet has resulted, this
| field is worthy of more attention in
the future.
Latham was also visited, by re-
quest. Both of these last named
points are near to Mount Pulaski and
would form with it compact cir
cult
The Whitebeath parish was also
visited and regular preaching SER
vices were established in January, as
a part of the Mount Pulaski circuit.
Windsor had been without the SER
vices of a Universalist minister for
about six years. 1t has very beau
tiful church edifice, and knowing it
to be the home of some very devoted
Universalist families, arrangements
were made for some special services.
On visiting the parish, steps were at
once taken to provide for monthly
preaching and this place was added
to the circuit under Miss Cheney's
charge.
Greenup being without a pastor,
was induced to complete the circuit.
Thus four places that but for the
work of the superintendent would
probably be without regular services,
we're formed into self-supporting
circuit. | have also visited several
times, Sangamon-a rural commu-
nifty near Decatur, the seat of another
movement. No convenient place for
services being available, the friends
are devoting their energies to the
building of church. This is now in
process of erection. They have
availed themselves of Miss Cheney's
services on weekday evenings since
January last When the building
is completed we hope to establish
regular Sunday services.-Oakley,
and Bellefiower: For several months
services were held here regularly.
Changes in the families supporting
our movement made a suspension Of
these services advisable.
Urbana: l visited this parish sew
eral times and rendered such assist
ance as was capable of rendering to
its trustees, offering to keep the pull
pit open and to arrange for the hear
ing of candidates. The parish has
been under the preaching of Rev.
E. G. Towne since the beginning of
the year. Mr.. Towne was not in fell
lowship and has since resigned. Ed
THE SOUTHERN SECTION.
All that part of the State below
the thirty ninth parallel embracing
thirty three counties and an area of
over 10000 square miles, had but one
active Universalist church at the date
of last years session. This one be-
ing the Nationwide parish in Jeffer-
son county, and it maintained SER
vices but once month. No minister
of our faith resided within this Sec
| ton. [ have given as much time as
possible to this section, visiting it
monthly until July last. l visited
several of the larger towns, holding
a weeks series of meetings at Car
bondale, monthly services at Mt.
Vernon and at Ashley dormant for
many years. with occasional services
at Ina and elsewhere.
The prejudice against anything
that savors of liberal Christianity,
is very great; and the work of build
ing up Universalist churches is neces-
| sarily slow one. As result of my
visits regular services were estab-
lished at Ashley, in Washington Co.,
and at Mt. Vernon, Jefferson Co. On
the expiration of Rev. j. X. Dillon's
passionate at Nationwide, these three
| places we're united in a circuit and
Rev. E. M. Minor took charge. He
resides atMt. Vernon, and is winning
his way into the confidence and es-
TEEN of the people. He has reorgan-
lied the church at Ashley. which had
long been dormant. Under his leader
ship the people have put their church
into good repair and established a
Sunday-school. At M. Vernon his
congregations are 81 ow;ng;a Sunday
school has been started which is well
attended. The movement here has
always suffered from the disadvan-
tage of meeting in small obscure
hall, the best quarters obtainable at
present. The supporters of the
movement, however, are thoroughly
in earnest and determined to succeed.
The three parishes forming this
circuit are only able to pay Bro.
Minor for three fourths of his time,
which will not afford him a living.
His fourth Sunday he uses in visiting
outlying points. If this Convention
could extend aid to the extent of 500
to this mission circuit, for one year,
l believe by that time it would be