The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-11-06

1t is expected that Mr.. StOckbridge
viii come to Topeka within few
weeks, prior to Mr.. Wyman's depar-
ture, so that Mr.. WEman may intro
duce his successor TO the work in this
city.
Under the passionate of MI Wyman,
the Unity church in this city has pros
pered. in spite of the fact that about
$50 Unitarian families have moved
away from town in that time. Only
five families which We're members of
the church when Mr.. Wyman came
here are stil connected with the or
ganizatiOn-
Mr.. Wyman has a strong influence
among the boys and young men of his
congregation. and has proven very
popular with all with whom he has
come i'm contact. His reason for IeaV-
ing Topeka is his belief that no clergy
man should stay i'm one locality for
more than ten years Mr.. Wyman has
been in Topeka since 1893. and has been
talking seriously of changing his loca-
ton for some time.
The passionate which Mr.. Wyman Will
accept in the east IFS only q little more
lucrative, from a financial standpoint,
than the one in Topeka. but Mr.. Wy
man believes that it is his duty to ac-
ceDt the call.
The selection of a pastor for the
Topeka church was practically left in
the hands of DR.. Samuel A. Eliot of
Boston, son of President Eliot of
Harvard, and president of the Uni
tartan conference. and DR.. Backus of
Chicago, head of the western branch
of the work. While, nominally, each
congregation of the Unitarian deuOmi-
nation is free to elect its own pastor
in its own way, the Topeka people felt
that economy demanded that they
leave the matter Of selection in the
hands of President Eliot
Sketch of BIr. Wyman's Work
Mr.. Wyman was born in Scowhegan,
Maine, May %, 1865. Graduated at
Colby college, Maine, in class of 50.
Taught school a year and then took
three years course in the Harvard di-
vinity school, graduating in 1898. In
September of that year he was set
tied as the minister of the First Uni
tartan church of this city. where he
mas remained continuously and has
for some years been the oldest settled
minister in the city, excepting the
Rev. c.. NJ. Sheldon
He is the fourth minister of this
church, the first being the Rev. e.
Powell. who remained about six years:
then came the Rev. w. G. Todd, who
remained a little over two years. the
Rev Mr. Powell returned for year.
and was followed by Rev. James
Black. and then came Mr.. Wyman. He
was president of the Foster Humane
society for a number of years. resign
ing about a year ago, on account of
not having time to devote to this inn
Dortant work. He has been several
years secretary of the local Florence
Crittendon mission, secretary of the
Golf club and president of the Satur-
day Night club, of which he has been a
constant member ever since the first
vacancy occurred after his coming to
this city
The church of which he has been
pastor for so many years has suffered
very much by removals and deaths.
During his pastorate. more than $50
families connected with it have moved
away. There are now only five fami-
lies connected with it who were mem
bers when he came here. These are
the families of Robert Pierce. J. T.
Barley, Theodore Willie. Mrs SiIas
Rain and Frank Foster. NotWith-
standing this phenomenal and almost
unheard of drain the church is very
much stronger in numbers than when
he came.