The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-11-02
CANNOT Be DOWHED
UuiVersaIiSts Cannot Build a
Church at Present
BUT WILL STRIVE ALONE
And viii Erect a Church
Here in Near Future.

Reverend G. A. King OF the Universal
list church has quit preaching in this
city He yesterday FURNISHED a safe
ment to the Eagle. stating some Of the
reasons Why ne did this. There is an
agreement between the two churches
which says that if one church Is atempt-
ing to build a church the other shall
not interfere with them. The state
ment follows:
Under the existing circumstances it
seems necessary for me TO make a state
ment regarding the work that have been
doing here and my present course.
First, about my coming here: Two
years ago or thereabout, several OF the
Unitarian society said 10 some of the
Universalists that they (the Unitarians)
had been working for number OF years
and they felt that it was impossible for
a liberal church to succeed IN the city,
and that If the Universalists had any
idea that they could accomplish any
thing to so ahead, and best wishes &C
company them.
With this encouragement Universalist
Sunday School was organized in the Uni
tartan chapel on William and Market
streets Reverend Geo. 3. Stocking OF
Galesburg, Illinois, came here and organ
lied Universalist parish. When Or.
ReXford came here about one year ago
an effort was made TO unite the two
movements, which was done to the ex-
tent that the most OF those interested in
both movements united in calling DR..
Rexford TO take charge of the work here.
While awaiting the result OF the nego-
tations and the union call TO DR.. Rex
ford, the Sunday School was allowed TO
cease; but the parish stin exists and
has since its organization. Mr. Belden
being sent as a representative 70 the
satte convention in 1900 and DR.. Hutton
in 1901
At the state convention in June. 1901, at
Seneca, it was decided TO employ a state
superintendent of the churches in the
state and I was called TO that work and
in September. by direction Of the state
board 1 came here to make this my
headquarters, because of the movement
here and also ,Aat this is d central point
to reach the other work in this section.
L came and found a large number OF
Universalists ready 10 unite in a purely
Universalist movement. but with no other
and 1 hoped for the early erection of a
Universalist church here.
Second, why 1 do not continue with the
work here: For several years there
have cen negotiations pending between
the Unitarian and Universalist churches.
or between some parties in both of the
churches looking toward a closer afilia>
ton between the two bodies. and in 1893
a joint committee was appointed to for
mulate plans for such closer affliation,
TO report at the next conventions of the
two odies. This committee met several
times and at last agreed on a report 10
submit to the conventions. This report
was in part adopted at Buffalo the
Universaiist general convention October
p. This has not yet been acted upon
by the American Unitarian association
The agreement is in substance that a
joint committee should be appointed BIZ
ennially TO consider conflicting move
ments or missionary efforts, and harmon
ize the two if possible and report at the
next biennial meeting.
AS a complaint has been made here
that my work here is interfering with
that Of the Unitarians. il was thought
est that for the present I should make
no further active effort in this place; so,
while it is against my judgment. I yield
TO the request OF the chairman Of the
Universalist portion OF the joint com
mittee and shall not preach here now.
Third, aout the future Of the Univer-
salist work in Wichita: The parish above
spoken of is still in existence and II
those who compose il wish 20 continue
and through their own efforts develop a
church and erect a building. I shall GER
tainly not say them nay. but viii wish
them God speed and all the good posi-
Bile. G. a KING.