by Mike Roberts, Church Historian

Fifty years ago [as of 2012], our church, then under the pastorate of Reverend Raymond Baughan, published a brochure to tell visitors and others about The First Universalist Church of Cincinnati. In that brochure were listed ten good reasons for joining this church.

1) Because in times like these, it is important for the forces of good to be organized to make their impact felt in human life.

2) Because it will give you satisfaction to take those vague impulses for the good you feel, and harness them up to a group and program for action and influence.

3) Because the Universalist church stands for that natural and human approach to religion, unclouded by the vagaries of other-worldliness.

4) Because in this church neither children nor adults are afraid to ask questions.

5) Because the early grounding in religion which children receive in our church school is of a kind that will not be challenged and discredited by college and adult experiences.

6) Because our kind of religion respects the integrity and ability of men, and calls upon them not merely to accept a pre-digested faith but to think and fashion a religious faith for themselves.

7) Because unless we are willing to undertake some responsibility for carrying on and enriching the spiritual heritage we have received, we are falling short of our obligations as citizens.

8) Because this spiritual heritage is the most important and valuable thing in life to all of us, and its support and enhancement properly placed is one of the first obligations of human life.

9) Because in church you meet people who care about other people.

10) Because this church has the kind of religion suited to a world in which individuals are growing in intelligence and in competence, and to a world gradually evolving to universal values.

These ten reasons were credited to Tracy Pullman.

by Mike Roberts, Church Historian

It is common practice for ministers to submit end-of-year reports to their board which detailed their activities over the preceding twelve months. Many of those reports still reside in our archives. The Reverend Anthony B. Beresford filed such a report for the year 1917. In it he mentions that when he took the pastorate at First Universalist Church there were active churches with full-time ministers at Dayton, Mt. Carmel, Milford, Blanchester, Cuba, Wilmington and Hamilton. By the end of 1917, none of these churches had ministers and Reverend Beresford was trying to assist in any way he could, especially at Blanchester, where he preached on 17 evenings so they could have services.

In a statement that would raise eyebrows today, he made the following recommendation:

“The one department of our church that has been filled with anxieties is our Sunday School. The country as a whole is most anxious about this phase of education– for only about one fourth of the children of school age are enrolled in Sunday Schools of the nation.

“The indifference of the parents has suggested to some who have the present and future moral status of the American people much at heart the need of some legal action in this matter. Public school attendance is made compulsory–to fit the boys and girls for the exacting duties of American citizenship. How about their moral fitness for the same duties? Would it be practicable or desirable to have attendance at some Sunday School made compulsory?”

The Reverend Beresford also reported the following statistical summary for 1917: 149 sermons, lectures and addresses, 46 social and committee meetings, 12 marriages, 12 funerals, 13 persons baptised, 18 persons received into membership, 3 commemorations of the Lord”s Supper, 544 pastoral calls, 1185 pastoral letters and 2400 communications sent through the mails to members of the church.

by Mike Roberts, Church Historian

During the 1920’s and early 1930’s, the women of our church became active supporters of the Universalist Women’s National Christian Missionary Society. Most of their support was directed toward mission work being done in Japan. Homes had been established in Tokyo and other cities to take in lost and unwanted Japanese children. Teachers were employed and religious activities were a regular part of the routine in these homes.

One story tells of the concerted efforts to save a young girl from her family because the parents were ardently training her to be sold as a geisha. The missionaries ended up buying the girl from her parents and enrolling her in one of the mission houses.

On October 1, 1927, Dr. Harry Cary, head of the Universalist mission in Japan, visited our Essex Street church for a dinner meeting attended by about 50 church members. In his address, Dr. Cary paid high tribute to his predecessor in Japan, the Reverend S. B. Ayers, who had been the minister of our own church between 1901 and 1910.

In an album maintained by our local society, a troubling note is posted from the national office in Boston dated World Prayer Day, March 3, 1933. Some church leaders were expressing doubt as to the wisdom of continuing support for the effort in Japan because of recent aggression by the Japanese toward their neighbors.

Those Universalists working in Japan insisted that the effort needed to continue more than ever. No further information is available in the album but history would tell us that this effort was certainly abandoned as Japanese aggression continued to mount throughout the 1930’s culminating in Pearl Harbor.

by Mike Roberts, Church Historian

During the Salem Acres years and early in our Heritage existence, Rabbi Victor Reichert was an occasional participant in the life of our congregation. Rabbi Dr. Reichert would occasionally speak as a guest pastor, visit with several of the women’s groups of the church and attend and participate in special programs.

Rabbi Reichert was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. in 1897, the son of a rabbi. He was graduated from Hebrew Union University and in 1927 became rabbi at Rockdale Temple in Cincinnati, a position he held for 35 years. Rockdale is the oldest Jewish congregation west of the Allegheny Mountains. He was active in many facets of life in his adopted city and his influence was great. In celebration of his 91st birthday, a gathering was held at our church. In the introduction he was described as “that delightful Jewish leprechaun and part-time Universalist.” Dr. Reichert passed away in October of 1990.

He delivered the following kiddush at his 50th anniversary celebration as a rabbi.

I am a singer of new things set in an old pattern.
I will recapture my soul from the pain of the years.
I will go questing again with gaunt shepherd seers
Who looked on an ancient world and saw it regenerate.
I will go seeking my God with Gabirol, Halevi, Spinoza…
I will go seeking my people with poor Ibn Ezra…
I will go after the whiteness of Luria, of Baal Shem…
Ah! But I have a double patrimony,
If I have known the sorrow of Israel,
I have exulted in the hope of the prairies…
If I have burned with the fires of Jeremiah,
I have lusted with the lustiness of Whitman –
I, too, have loafed and invited my soul –
If I have wandered with the restlessness of that Jew of Tedela,
I have pioneered with the quiet of that Puritan of Walden.
If I have wistfully dreamed with my dreamers of the Ghetto,
I have serenely lived with my Sage of Concord….
Now I piece the old threads together.
I take the scarlet and the blue and the purple of my ancient heritage…
I take the white and the gold of my Western heritage
And I summon the East and the West to mingle in a better pattern than any has known.
For I am a singer of new things set in an old pattern.
I will recapture my soul from the pain of the years.

by Mike Roberts, Church Historian

One of the books in our archives is the minutes of the Thursday Club, a group of women church members, who met monthly at the homes of its members. The minutes cover a period from 1936 to 1948. Attendance averaged 8 to 10 women.

Typically, the meetings would open with a short devotional message, then the minutes of previous meetings would be read and accepted. A financial report was offered and the balance in their account usually ranged from $20 to $50. When the balance approached the high range, donations were made to a number of worthwhile causes.

Occasionally, music offerings were presented by a member, either on a piano or by song. These offerings were usually from the classical music genre. The group was also involved in charitable activities. On one occasion the group collected jellies and jams to be given to a local nursing home.

The group was also actively involved in book discussions. During the last months of World War II, they were discussing a book by Carl Becker entitled, “How New Will the Better World Be?” It was reported that the discussion of one chapter became quite animated.

They also attended a conference in Cincinnati discussing post-war life which was aimed at arousing support for the meeting in San Francisco and the Dumbarton Oaks proposals. For some time, the group actively read books and attended meetings on Africa. In 1940, the group read about Nehru.

This was a group of women who met regularly for years and appeared to be quite close friends. At the end of the journal are a number of tributes to members who died during the twelve-year period covered by the minutes. These tributes shed some light on the religious beliefs of these women.

One such resolution was offered for Mrs. Cora T. Molloy, “who passed to the higher life June 27, 1942.”

“Our Heavenly Father called home to Himself our beloved friend, Mrs. Cora Molloy, who was a devoted member of the Cincinnati Universalist Church for many years. She was a faithful member of the Women’s Universalist Missionary Association, always eager to do anything that was asked of her. She was our very efficient president for several years.

Mrs. Molloy was also deeply interested in the work of the Sunday School and was member of Mrs. Ellerbrock’s Bible Class. Mrs. Molloy was very much devoted to her family. She had an attractive personality and was a good conversationalist, humorous and witty.

To those who have suffered this bereavement, we extend our sincere sympathy.”

by Mike Roberts, Church Historian

The process of selecting a new minister to serve a church is always a difficult one for both sides of the negotiations. The methods utilized for this process have changed greatly over the years due mainly to great changes in communication and transportation. In 1944, our church was courting George Thorburn to be its new minister but confusion and delays resulting from transportation and communication issues, made the process difficult. The following letter was sent by Mr. Thorburn to church officials:

January 17, 1944 ~ Dear Mrs. Hundley,

From a letter we have received from our aunt in Hamilton, I feel I better go more in detail concerning your Air Mail letter. On Friday, after your telegram arrived, I went to the post office and inquired about the letter. The clerk went back and looked it up and came forward to say “We were about to return it as not deliverable.” One of the stamp clerks told me today that if they had shown it to her, she could have told them where to take it. Because of the mushroom growth of Arlington County (It is a county, not a town in organization) we are having many experiences with the mails. Some do not get their mail until supper time and in many instances, high school boys are being used as carriers.

There are many post offices for “Arlington”- a central office at Arlington (Clarendon) village from which mail is redistributed to offices in the many settlements. Mail for Arlington comes from Washington by truck as no railroad goes through here. Our station is Union Station in Washington. Railroads pass either side of the county.

I am sorry the boys at the post office made no attempt to find me as it was received here at 10:30 last Monday morning–it was late Friday when I located it. I am looking forward to hearing from you further and to being among the good folks in the Cincinnati church.

Most cordially yours, George H. Thorburn, Jr.

NOTE: Happily, Reverend Thorburn was hired and served our church with distinction through the end of the 1940’s. His home in Arlington is now a renovated condo which has 532 square feet and rents for $1,350 per month. Times do change.

by Mike Roberts, Church Historian

During the Twenty Questions service of October 23 [2011], the topic of God in our church was discussed. The following was written by Minister Carl Olsen of our congregation for the Christmas service of 1939 and was entitled “The Essence of the Master”.

“Sir, we would see Jesus.” John 12:21. Like these Greeks of old, we too, would see Jesus, catch his essence, understand his teaching.

The ways to “see” Jesus–that is, enter into his very spirit–are historically three: salvation by grace, salvation by faith, salvation by character. Here are the great divisions of Christianity; the liturgical churches, the doctrinal churches, the liberal churches, distinguished by their emphasis on the church and its forms, or the creeds and doctrine or the character and conduct.

We Universalists are among those who subordinate forms and creeds to practical good works after the moral and ethical teachings of Jesus. In his life he said there were two, and only two, essentials in religion–to love God devotedly, and to show unfailing kindness and consideration of man. These two virtues he constantly advocated. These were the only tests he ever made of discipleship.

Why has the Christian world embroidered that simple teaching of Jesus out of all semblance to the original? It is easier to paint Jesus on canvas, or build him in stained glass than it is to become ourselves a likeness of him.

It is easier to profess a religion about Jesus, than a religion that is Jesus incarnate–the going about doing good, loving God with all being, befriending man in his need. We must not lose Christ of the living way!

by Mike Roberts, Church Historian

Last month we looked at an order of service from 1947. Included in the orders of service from this period were “Parish Notes.” These often covered topics that we hear in our own Candles of Community. However, they also reflect the week-to-week issues that were presented to a post-war Universalist congregation.

1/26/47: Pastor Martin Neimoeller, famous German resistance leader will speak Friday evening in Music Hall. This meeting is being sponsored by the Council of Churches of Greater Cincinnati. No admittance charge but an offering will go to overseas relief.

2/9/47: The Sunday after Easter, Universalist ministers in Ohio will cooperate in a general exchange of pulpits. Mr. Thorburn will preach in Columbus and the Reverend Harriett E. Druley of Springfield will occupy our pulpit.

3/9/47: At long last the big furnace has refused to work. It is possible to use the chapel for our services since it has an auxiliary heater. To repair the furnace will cost several hundred dollars. (Ed. A special fundraising drive was held.)

4/20/47: It is a long way from Cincinnati to Richmond, New Hampshire. Back from the road in an almost abandoned cemetery is a large granite marker. Upon that marker is the name Ballou. It is the family lot of Hosea Ballou. On that same lot is a head stone with the name Garfield. How many know that the sister of Hosea Ballou (a famous early Universalist leader) was the mother of James A. Garfield, a president of the United States?

5/11/47: PTA’s, churches and civic organizations will meet with Mr. Munz of the Juvenile Delinquency Department to consider the serious condition that exists in Walnut Hills. Conditions in the immediate neighborhood of the church are growing worse. The intention of this meeting is to organize neighborhood councils to deal with this vexing problem. Aside from the Basin Area, Walnut Hills is number one on the list in juvenile delinquency.

9/21/47: The reply of Mr. Charles P. Taft to the inquiry of Dr. Robert Cummins relative to the matter of membership in the Federal Council of Churches of Christ in America, was indeed weak and showed a desire to dodge the issue. Mr. Taft merely stated “If we let the Universalists in we let the Lutherans out.” Be thankful fellow Universalists that our philosophy of religion is bigger than creed or system. Truthfully we affirm our belief in “The supreme worth of every religion.”

11/4/47: We express appreciation to those who have asked for labels to ship clothing to the homeless and parentless children in displaced children’s camps in Europe. Keep the clothing going to Europe through the Universalist Service Commission. There will be a carton in the Narthex next Sunday for the convenience of those who have only one or two articles.

1/4/48: Mr. Thorburn will be on WCKY next Sunday morning at 8 o’clock. This is the religious hour of the station which has a Jewish and Catholic as well as Protestant section.

1/25/48: Members of the Clara Barton Guild are busily engaged in making towels for the Clara Barton Diabetic Camp in North Oxford, Massachusetts.

2/15/48: (Ed. This passage was posted in the order of service with no comment.) “Every Protestant who deliberately abstains from attendance or support of the church of his choice is voting for the dominance of either Atheism or Roman Catholicism in the United States of America. And if you want to know what that means, look to Russia on one hand or to Spain on the other. Then think of the “Faith of our Fathers” and what that gave the world.”- Reverend Walter H. MacPherson

4/11/48: May 23 will be Anniversary Day being the nearest to May 25th when our church was incorporated in 1827. Incidentally, 1948 is the 50th anniversary of the building of our present edifice.

6/20/48: We express our sincere sympathy to Mrs. Powel Crosley and Mr. Powel Crosley, Jr. in their hour of sorrow in the death of their grandson and son, Powel Crosley, III. Private services were held in Spring Grove chapel.

6/27/48: From the State Convention in Columbus– A resolution supporting the organic merger of the Universalist and Unitarian denominations was unanimously passed.

11/7/48: I’ve paid my dues to the D.A.R., Colonial Dames and the Eastern Star, The P.T.A. and the V.D.C., American Legion Auxiliary, College alumni, that check’s been made, Country Club statement is due and paid. verything’s settled–a clean wiped slate, my church pledge will just have to wait.

11/14/48: Your attention is called to the Palestinian exhibit at the art museum. It is being sponsored in the interest of the Children of Palestine Movement. It is a Christian effort, we understand, started by Unitarians and Universalists in Boston in the interest of displaced Jewish children from Europe. The movement is soliciting funds for food and medical care to help these children get a new start in life in Palestine.

May we be blessed by whatever we do.

by Mike Roberts, Church Historian

Serving on the Board of Trustees is a difficult job. Ask anyone who has held that position. While scanning the Board of Trustees meeting reports during the American Civil War period, I came across this report from September 4, 1863. It was issued to the congregation by the board at a special congregational meeting.

“To the members of the First Universalist Society:

We your trustees who by a resolution adopted June 10th were authorized to sell the Plum Street church leaving same without incumbrance, beg leave to report that they have used all reasonable means in their judgment to carry out the instructions of said resolutions but as yet have not been able to find a purchaser willing to pay a price which in their judgment justified a sale, therefore no sale has been made consequently no purchase.

Your trustees would further state that they have made an estimate of the expenditures of the church for the ensuing year which will amount to $2,500.

Owing to the very small number of pews rented and a lack of promptness on the part of many in paying their rent the income has been reduced to $1,200 to $1,300 leaving a deficit of at least $1,200 to be supplied either by subscription or the renting of pews.

Your trustees would also state that they have exercised their ability to the fullest extent in the management of the financial affairs of this church and it is exceedingly mortifying to them to report that in one of the largest and wealthiest cities of the Union where there are hundreds of professed believers in our faith that they are unable to keep one Society in a financial condition to justify them in continuing the services of a pastor when the expenses all told do not exceed $2,500.

The trustees would also state that in their opinion the main cause of the present condition of this Society is attributable to the want of cooperation on the part of the members of this Society with the Trustees.

And in closing this report the trustees would take the liberty to recommend that unless a sufficient amount of funds be promptly raised and deposited in the treasury to defray the expenses of the church for one year so as to prevent any increase of debt that on and after next Sunday night this church be closed and so remain until a sufficient fund be raised to justify it being re-opened.

Signed:

A . W. Churchill, W. Chidsey, R. Wooley, J. Butterfield

by Mike Roberts, Church Historian

As we celebrate our nation’s 235th birthday [editor’s note: this was published in the Heirloom in July 2011], it would be interesting to see how it was celebrated by our congregation on July 6, 1947.

From the order of service of that date:

DEVOTIONAL: “Prelude” – Handel.  Mrs. Kathryn Walsh, organist

SONG OF EXULTATION: “America” verse 4 only

CALL TO WORSHIP: Rev. George Thorburn

PRAYER OF INVOCATION AND OUR LORD’S

PRAYER

OUR AVOWAL OF FAITH – Minister & congregation

THE GLORIA PATRI:

SOLO: “Shepherd Take My Hand,” sung by Mrs. Lydia Dozier Ketcham

PULPIT READINGS: “Liberty Knows No Boundaries” from Louis Kossuth’s April 29, 1852 Faneiul Hall Address.

“The Dignity of Self-Government” from Thomas Paine’s “Rights of Man”.

“Of All, By All, For All” from Theodore Parker’s “The Dangers Which Threaten the Rights of Man in America.”

ASCRIPTION: Minister and Choir

THE FELLOWSHIP OF PRAYER

Choral Response

YOUTH CHOIR: “Let All Things Now Living”

Welsh Melody

OFFERTORY: “Cantabile”

CONGREGATIONAL HYMN: (Specified only by hymnal number)

SERMON: “The Living Jefferson,” Rev. Thorburn

CONGREGATIONAL HYMN: (Specified only by hymnal number)

BENEDICTION: Choral Response

POSTLUDE: “Allegro” – Handel

A GREETING AFTER THE SERVICE

On the order of service is posted the “Statement of Faith” ~ We avow our faith in: God as eternal and all-conquering love; The spiritual leadership of Jesus; The supreme worth of every human personality; The authority of truth known or to be known; The power of men of good will and sacrificial spirit to overcome all evil and progressively establish the Kingdom of God.