by Mike Roberts, Church Historian
The following items appeared in the April 5, 1948, church newsletter.
“If you have not as yet sent in your Fair Share to the Universalist Unified Appeal, here is a goodly reason for your attention being brought to it…
A recent survey by the United Stewardship Council lists the per capita denominational benevolence contributions of the 39 leading denominations in the United States. We will not report the whole list but merely give the three leading denominations with the per capita contribution of each. Seventh-Day Adventist: $108.87; Wesleyan Methodist: $108.71; and Friends, Ohio (Damascus): $96.09. The lowest three in order were Unitarian: $2.60; Churches of God in North America: $2.58; and UNIVERSALIST: $0.95.”
The second item seems to better highlight the church’s willingness to reach out to those in need.
“WE HAVE PLAYED A PART IN THE FOLLOWING ACCOMPLISHMENT, BUT HAVE WE PLAYED OUR FULL PART, ACCEPTED OUR FULL RESPONSIBILITY, GIVEN OUR FAIR SHARE?
Used clothing shipments to the New York Warehouse: Warehouse receipts for the months of November and December,1947, and January,1948, show a gradual decline:
Nov. 1947–106 bundles received, totaling 2905 pounds.
Dec. 1947– 77 bundles received, totaling 2455 pounds.
Jan. 1948– 68 bundles received, totaling 2106 pounds.
Overseas shipments:
Nov. 1947– 20 bales of used clothing, men’s and women’s totaling 2374 pounds to Budapest, Hungary. Also, three cases used men’s and women’s shoes totaling 328 pairs.
Dec. 1947– 6 bales of used clothes for children totaling 676 pounds, to Child Care Centers, Germany. Also, one case children’s shoes totaling 135 pairs.
Jan. 1948– 2 cases of used men’s and women’s shoes totaling 234 pairs to Vienna.
LOCAL CHAIRMAN, PLEASE STEP UP YOUR APPEAL.”