The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-07-03

to this paper adequately to de-
scribe.
Pardon the personal character of
this record in beginning the past
of our church in Southern California.
1t is necessary as we two were the
church in seed form, the first seeds
that ever rooted in California soil.
We took steps toward organization
at once, but as there were OBJ
jections to our symbol of faith we
halted, and l read our "Winchester
Profession" at every service in con-
nection with the Scripture Lesson,
with occasional comment, until OBJ
jections vanished, and we adopted
unanimously the articles of organiza-
tion entire. The Profession of Faith
we made part of the closing service
in the Sunday-school, and we worked
on alone in the solitude, hoping often
against hopes for healthy church.
So much space is due Riverside as
the pioneer parish of Southern Cali
fornia.
Bro. Goodenough, whose parents
home was within reach of my Brat
tleboro church in the SOS, and
preached his second sermon in my
pulpit, was the next to enter the
State to commence work and stand
by until it could walk alone. A let
ter from him asked in substance,
what he could do for our church,"
He had bought ranch in San Jose
and no door stood open for his min
istry. l answered in substance:
"Make parish, either where you are,
or at the nearest suitable point avail
able" He made for himself the Oak
land parish, under great disadvan-
tages, and did it we'll.
According to record 1 preached
here in Pomona, by invitation of
friends, Monday evening, May 26th,
1884, my subject being, by request,
"What is Universalism?" and after
the service, organized into a Univer-
salist Society a goodly number of
people who would have stood together
and been a strong parish today had
they been ministered unto by the
proverbial fright man." AS it was,
this parish worked along with Father
Throop as manager, and his pocket
book rs chief fountain of supplies,
until we dedicated this chapel on the
old lot, Sunday, January "a, 1886, l
preaching the sermon, and Rev. D.
M. Reed, of Illinois, taking most of
the other parts of the service.
In the summer of 1886 Miss Kol-
lock visited Father Throop, and did
some missionary work under his di-
rection, organizing parish at Santa
Ana, which died in the process of
weaving; and the parish at Pasadena,
which has been from the first too near
the heart Of Father Throop and Los
Angeles, to fail of nourishment into
vigorous life.
corresponded with Bro. Rounds
of Utica, whose i'll health turned his
thoughts toward California, and he
arrived at Pasadena, on his way to
work in San Bernardino, dying before
reaching his destination. I CORES
ponded with some who were too we'll
to come. Some came of their own
accord, among whom was Rev. j. j.
Austin, of blessed memory; who be-
gan work at San Bernardino, and,
after short struggle for life, passed
away in peace at the home of his
daughter, Mrs. Gregory, in River
side.
On the 26th of January, 1887, came
one to Riverside. surprising us at
night by his arrival, who had come,
we thought, to die; but, working
awhile at San Bernardino, he revived
and took charge at Pasadena, and
today is our strong president, DIR. E.
L. Conger.
Shortly after the birth of the Santa
Paula parish, whose story would be
interesting if time allowed the telling,
appeared on the scene combination
of law and theology, needing to be
well known to be appreciated, who is
now the deeply rooted, stalwart L. NJ.
Andrews, pastor of that successful
parish.
In 1887, we had the constitutional
number required to organize this Cali
fornia Universalist Convention. The
parishes all met by representation, in
person or by proxy, at Riverside, June
l, 1887, with Father Throop at the
head, and began their record in State
Convention life. Our Japan Mission
airy, Clarence Rice, on his way to his far
off field of labor, dropped one of his
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