From the Archives …

Excerpts from a fund-raising letter dated September 13, 1908

“Dear Fellow-Worker – A bigger and better Universalist Church! 

That’s the slogan for the coming year. We feel that all the circumstances are propitious. Our people are united, enthusiastic, loyal and we have strong and competent leadership in the person of our present pastor. [Rev. Frank D. Adams]

We need $2000.00 to enable us to fully carry out our plans. A cheap minister means a cheap church, so we have had to materially increase our pastor’s salary to retain him.

Now we know you are going to help us get this money. Many of our more liberal supporters are doubling their subscriptions this year, and nearly all are increasing them as much as they feel able.

Yours for a Bigger and Better Church! (Signed) L.H. Smith, Charles Roughton, and H.M. Russell, the Finance Committee of the First Universalist Church of Urbana.”

The Urbana Universalist Church Finance Committee chose Mrs. Emma Russell as Solicitor and Collector for 1909. She had “entire charge of soliciting and collecting all Church funds.”

On March 10, 1909, Mrs. Russell wrote to Finance Chair Louis Smith to ask his opinion on the advisability of sending out “reminder” slips to parishioners who had fallen behind in their pledged payments. 

She tells Mr. Smith that some subscribers have asked how they stand with their payments. Those are mostly folks who are pretty well paid up. But, on the other hand, there are quite a number who haven’t even made their first quarterly payment.

She asks, “Will it be wise to send out statements? Will those who are behind consider it a ‘dun’ and take offense? I fear that some might.”

Though she is entirely in charge of collecting the pledges, she defers to Mr. Smith, saying “Of course I cannot take this matter into my own hands but will await your reply if you will be so kind.’