The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-09-16
SKETCH OF A SECT
Facts Of Special Interest
About the Universalist
Church Soon to
Convene.
United STATES STATISTICS
Figures That Show a Steady
Increase in Membership
Among the Churches.


In view of the great interest attaching
to the session of the general convention,
to be held in Boston on October 20, Il, Y,
% and "a. the following summary of facts.
about the Uniyersalist Church viii have a
special Interest,"
There are in the United States and
Canada about 1000 organized Uniyersalist
churches or societies. With these are con-
nected somewhat over $4,000 families and
probably as many communicates. 645
Sunday schools report 50 900 teachers and
pupils. OF young Peoples Christian
Unions, 69D report L. 1915 members. There
are 55S Universalist ~clergymen.
or the thousand organized churches, a
aarge proportion OF them are in the north
ern States, and comparatively few south
of the Potomac and Ohio rivers. Nearly
one-haif of the Universalists of the land
live In New England, nearly two-thirds In
New England and New York. nearly
rhree-fourths in New England, New York
and Ohio. four-fifths in those States with
Illinois and Pennsylvania.
The organized parishes are associated
for mutual help and for general work
In State conventions, of which there are
rwenty-three; and these are combined IN
to one general convention. which also mas
Immediate jurisdiction in territory not
covered by the State conventions. These
organized parishes are represented by
delegates In State conventions OF when
the clergy are also members, and the
State convention by delegates In the gen
eral convention. The Universalist
churches are therefore one church with
Republican form OF government.
Outside Of these organized parishes, and
even in h membership of churches,
which ayow doctrines adverse to those
of the Universahst Church, are many
who cherish its distinguished faith, and
thus are Universalists. But the greater
part of the Christian churches of the
Hand, misunderstood the nature and
ground Of that faith, and either actively
or passiyely resist its spread.
The universalist Church is essentially
an American church, though 1t has
branches in Canada and Japan. Outside
of the United States and Canada, there
are. however. few churches which claim
10 be specifically Universalist. and not
one except those mentioned. In organic
rnion with 1t. There are In Europe a
number Of preachers who declare the dis
hinguishing sentiments of the Universalist
Church, but they belong to other
churches. The Unitarians of Great
Britain, generally accept 1t, while there
are some clergymen of special note In the
Church of England who advocate It.
It was not until the year 1866, however,
that the general convention was clothed by
zts constituents with the necessary pow
ers to do the work of a church, though
its sessions were regularly held, its fell
Iowship was priced, and its advisory
privileges were exercised. The Trustees
of the convention were then instructed to
obtain an incorporation. and to set about
the raising and expenditure of funds for
missionary purposes. A charter was OBJ
tanned from the Legislature of the State
OF New York and a v for funds
chiefly In that State was made. resulting
In a very creditable amount. The Trus-
tees. however, had not been instructed
10 make any permanent investment, and
other competitive demands prevented large
additions to their means. They were,
however, experimenting in church work.
They early made appropriations in aid
of theological education, church extension
and missionary labor. In 1869 and 1870,
as a memorial of the advent Of Mr.. Muir
Edy 10 lHl6 [Duif1tys tAS ANAAg
airy Fund was founded. Its amount Is
above slSo, 900, the income of which by the
terms of the foundation is to be used UNI
der the direction of the trustees in the
aid of theological students, the distribu-
tion of Universalist literature. church ex-
tension and the missionary cause. Other
active funds have been contributed for
similar purposes, making with the Murray
Fund a total of such funds amounting 20
over 1926, 900. Besides there are funds OF
prospective income of the value of ri, 800
now subject to annuity. and a small fund
for ministerial relief of 1850 These
permanent funds in October last were re-
ported as amounting to $2sl, 800. The
State conventions and other auxiliary
bodies have accumulated funds from near
1y $4C1. 600; so that the Unfversalist Church
enjoys the income Of over $4,000 as wei
as the current contributions of its con
e~tituency from year to year. mainly fci
Its missionary work, local and general.
There Is in the Universalist Church, as
In others, a woman's missionary society
auxiliary to the General Convention
which was organized at the time OF ti'
Murray Centenary, which has a capita
of $4,000. This body took the title o
1.-THE Woman's Centenary Association
nut adds the specification, The woman'i
National Missionary Society of the Uni
versalist Church. 1t is active In the pro
motion Of missionary enterprise. in HI
publication OF tracts. and in the Did q
local and general church work. Their
is also a strong Young Peoples Christian
Onion, organized locally in districts ant
States, and Nationally.
The Uaiyersalist Church is not devoid
of interest in education, secular ant
religious. Under its auspices are main
tanned Tufts College, in Somerville ant
Medford, Mass, with 80 instructors, So
students, 1000 volumes in library
81, 700se 900 Of assets; Lombard University
Galesburg, H.. 70 instructors. 1e1 students
1000 volumes. $4,000 assets; st. Lawrenc,
University. Canton. N. Y, 1s Instructors
IA students, HOO volumes, assets
$3.50, 900; Buchtel College. Akron, Ohio, /
Instructors, 1872 students, $500 volumes
Hou Tbfe7