Index: Unitarian Church of Atlanta – Minutes, Book I 1883 to 1909
Index to the Meeting Minutes of the Unitarian Church of Atlanta found in Book I (Archive Box 25/Folders 1 -6).
Archive Box 25 contains folders with copied images of these meeting minutes. The original meeting book is found in Archive Box 103.
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HREF URL | Description | Archive Box | Folder | Page |
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1883.03.27 | Mar 27, 1883 MoM - Church of Our Father. Meeting when small handful of members voted with Rev. Chaney to establish Church of our Father. Meeting held at Kimball House in Atlanta. | 25 | 2 | 106 - 107 |
1883.03.27 | Mar 27, 1883 Document - Church of Our Father. Covenant and Constitution. Initial bylaws for Church of our Father | 25 | 1 | 001 - 005 |
1883.03.27 | Mar 27, 1883 Document - Church of Our Father - Signature book for the Church of Our Father. Signatures of people who joined the church 1883 - 1912 | 25 | 1 | 007 - 019 |
1883.03.27 | Mar 27, 1883 Document - Church of Our Father. List of Deaths 1887 - 1906 | 25 | 1 | 086 |
1883.03.27 | Mar 27, 1883 Document - Church of Our Father. List of Marriages 1884 - 1895 | 25 | 1 | 066 |
1883.03.27 | Mar 27, 1883 Cover - Church of our Father. Image of cover of meeting minutes record book. | 25 | 1 | 000 |
1883.03.27 | Mar 27, 1883 Document - Church of Our Father. List of Baptisms 1883 - 1906 | 25 | 1 | 034 - 039 |
1883.04.17 | Apr 17, 1883 MoM - Church of Our Father. Report by building committee securing funding for new building | 25 | 2 | 108 -109 |
1883.04.24 | Apr 24, 1883 MoM - Church of Our Father. Officers selected | 25 | 2 | 110 |
1883.05.11 | May 11, 1883 MoM - Board of Trustees Church of Our Father. Discussion of reducing rent to Prof. Means to $40 per month | 25 | 2 | 111 |
1883.12.08 | Dec 8, 1883 MoM - Board of Trustees Church of Our Father. Furnishings Committee appointed for new church building. | 25 | 2 | 118 |
1883.12.15 | Dec 15, 1883 MoM - Board of Trustees Church of Our Father. Furnishing Committee report presented and preparation for Christmas Supper noted. Building Committee report was requested, but was not ready. Report deferred to future meeting. | 25 | 2 | 118 - 119 |
1883.12.19 | Dec 19, 1883 MoM - Board of Trustees Church of Our Father. Building Committee report "was called for." "Mr. Lederle reported for the committee, but owning to the absence of other members of the committee possessing important parts of the report, the report was laid on the table." | 25 | 2 | 120 |
1883.12.20 | Dec 20, 1883 MoM - Board of Trustees Church of Our Father. Discussion from the Building Committee on a disputed bill with the contractor amounting to $1,232.00. Approval provided to settle with contract | 25 | 2 | 121 |
1884.01.02 | Jan 2, 1884 MoM - Board of Trustees Church of Our Father. Treasurer report was presented with details of income and expenses provided in minutes. A resolution was approved to "express our appreciation and gratitude for the patient and artistic work of our devoted Architect Mr. G.L Norrman." Standing committee for 1884 was selected. | 25 | 2 | 122 - 123 |
1884.03.17 | Mar 17, 1884 MoM - Board of Trustees Church of Our Father. Discussion and vote on bylaws update regarding decisions on membership. Rev. Chaney indicated a date for the dedication of the new church was set for April 23, 1884. | 25 | 2 | 125 - 126 |
1884.07.23 | July 23, 1884 MoM - Meeting of members of the Church of Our Father. Committee on Incorporation reported (no details in minutes). Officers and trustees elected. Invitation to attend National Unitarian Conference read and delegates to attend appointed. Library to be opened on Sunday from 4 pm until close of church. Rev. Chaney requests that Auxiliary Committee assist the Industrial Home. | 25 | 2 | 127 - 129 |
1884.11.03 | Nov 3, 1884 MoM - Annual Meeting of the Church of Our Father. Very detailed, almost verbatim, notes taken on Treasurer's and Board of Trustee reports. Discussion on the need to end full reliance on the American Unitarian Association to pay Rev. Chaney $2,000 per year salary. Discussion of church improvements (ornamental fence, matting, library shelves, etc.). Letter sent to the A.U.A. (see Sep 5, 1884 MoM of the Board of Trustees) requesting that Rev. Chaney continue at the Church of Our Father was included in the Annual Meeting minutes. Detailed account of receipts and disbursements also included. Rev. Chaney offered "two beautiful tablets 6 ft. x 13 ft. containing the Ten Commandments and the LordÕs Prayer, formerly occupying a place in his old Boston church, the Hollis street." The offered was declined, with regrets, since such a gift could not be used by such a small church. | 25 | 2 | 130 - 145 |
1885.01.11 | Jan 11, 1895 MoM - Special Meeting of member of the Church of Our Father. Meeting elected two delegates and two alternates to attend the Southern Unitarian Conference in Charleston in September. | 25 | 2 | 146 |
1885.11.09 | Nov 11, 1885 Mom - Annual Meeting of the Church of Our Father. Reports received from Treasurer, Secretary and Rev. Chaney. Note: These reports are not recorded in the actual meeting minutes. Other church business discussed and voted upon. | 25 | 2 | 147 - 149 |
1886.07.18 | Jul 18, 1886 MoM - Meeting of the members of the Church of Our Father. Meeting called to elect delegates to the National Conference of Unitarian and other Christian Churches to be held Sep 21 - 24, 1886 in Saratoga, NY. | 25 | 2 | 150 |
1886.11.15 | Nov 15 1886 MoM - Annual Meeting of the Church of Our Father. Reports read and accepted. New officers elected as well as two librarians. | 25 | 2 | 151 - 153 |
1887.11.07 | Nov 7, 1887 MoM - Fifth Annual Meeting of the Church of Our Father. Reports read and accepted. New officers elected for the year. | 25 | 2 | 153 - 155 |
1888.11.01 | Nov 1, 1888 MoM - Annual Meeting of the Church of Our Father. Rev. Chaney reported he had asked the American Unitarian Association to reduce its support of the Atlanta church by $300.00 for the coming years. Ideas how to raise additional funds discussed. Officers elected. Mrs. Chaney provided report on the Ladies Auxiliary. | 25 | 2 | 156 - 157 |
1889.11.11 | Nov 11, 1889 MoM - Annual Meeting of the Church of Our Father. Officers elected. Efforts started to establish a building fund. | 25 | 2 | 158 - 159 |
1890.11.03 | Nov 3, 1890 MoM - Annual Meeting of the Church of Our Father. Officers, Board members and librarian elected. Rev. Chaney's resignation as pastor accepted. Resolution to Rev. Chaney included in minutes. | 25 | 2 | 160 - 161 |
1890.11.03 | Nov 3, 1890 Document - Church of Our Father. Resolution thanking Rev. Chaney for his service to the church | 25 | 2 | 160 |
1891.07.20 | Jul 20, 1891 MoM - Board of Trustees Church of Our Father. Special meeting of the Board to call Rev. William Roswell Cole as pastor. Established a formal Welcoming Committee. Archivist Note: First time seeing the term "Bro." used rather than "Mr." | 25 | 2 | 162 - 163 |
1891.07.26 | Jul 26, 1891 MoM - Board of Trusts Church of Our Father. Special Meeting of the Board to elect delegates to the Fourteenth Biennial Meeting of the National Conference of the Unitarian and Other Christian Churches to be held at Saratoga Springs, NY, Sept 21 Ð 24, 1891. Caroline I. Chaney, Geo. H. Crafts and Rev. Wm. Roswell Cole elected. | 25 | 2 | 164 |
1891.11.02 | Nov 2, 1891 MoM - Annual Meeting Church of Our Father. Rev. William Cole's acceptance letter to become pastor of the church is read into the meeting minutes. Reports from the Care of Church Property and Music were read into the meeting minutes. New officers were elected. | 25 | 2 | 164 - 168 |
1891.12.16 | Dec 16, 1891 MoM - Ordination of Rev. William Roswell Cole as pastor of the Church of Our Father. Archivist Note: The placement of these minutes on pages 100 - 106 in the Book 1 is out of sequence with the meeting minutes of March 27, 1883 which begin on page 106. | 25 | 2 | 100 - 105 |
1892.05.29 | May 29, 1892 MoM - Special Meeting of the congregation Church of Our Father. A set of resolutions were read and referred to a special committee of which Mr. Jno. Y. Dixon was chairman. (No detailed minutes of this meeting were made as the Clerk was absent from town). | 25 | 3 | 169 |
1892.06.05 | Jun 5, 1892 MoM - Adjourned Meeting of the congregation Church of Our Father. Mr. Dixon put forth eight resolutions (no details provided in notes, see MoM Jun 12, 1892). Offer by Dr. Glover to provide lectures referred to Board of Trustees. The decision to call Rev. Cole as pastor for the next year was referred to the Board of Trustees. | 25 | 3 | 169 |
1892.06.12 | Jun 12, 1892 MoM - Adjourned Meeting of the congregation Church of Our Father. Discussion of non-attendance of members, the acceptance of Dr. Glover to give lectures at the church, action to publish Rev. Cole's sermons, motion to establish a mission church at the West End was not carried, Board to move forward with action to call Rev. Cole for the 1892-3. | 25 | 3 | 169 - 170 |
1892.11.07 | Nov 7 1892 MoM - Annual Meeting of the Church of Our Father. Many reports were presented and accepted. This reports, however, do not appear in the meeting minutes. They are placed "on file" but are not included in the church archive. | 25 | 3 | 171 - 172 |
1893.01.08 | Jan 8, 1893 MoM - Special Meeting of the members of the Church of Our Father. Need to raise $750.00 to meet church expenses. Collected subscriptions of $402.00 from those present. A list was referred to the Ways and Means committee to solicit additional subscriptions. | 25 | 3 | 172 |
1893.03.12 | Mar 12, 1893 MoM - Board of Trustees Church of Our Father. Preparation for 10th anniversary of the Church of Our Father. Outlines full "exercise." | 25 | 3 | 173 - 174 |
1893.04.12 | Apr 12, 1893 Report - Church of Our Father. Written report on the Church of Our Father presented at the Southern Conference of Unitarian and Other Christian Churches held in New Orleans April 12 - 13, 1893. Report covers the "auxiliary societies" of the church: Women's Alliance, Sunday School, Fortnightly Club, Liberal Church League. The report also discussed the Library Standing Committee of the League. The Library committee indicated that it has seen 125 visitors to the reading room and 50 regular library patrons. Archivist Note: The library posted its first advertisement in the Atlanta papers announcing the free library and open reading room Jan 1, 1893 | 25 | 3 | 175 |
1893.06.25 | Jun 25, 1893 MoM - Special meeting of the members of Church of Our Father. Vote to retain services or Rev. Cole. Includes salary offer. | 25 | 3 | 176 |
1893.07.09 | Jul 9, 1893 MoM - Board of Trustees Church of Our Father. Rev. Cole letter accepting to continue as minister until November. | 25 | 3 | 177 |
1893.09.21 | Sep 21, 1893 MoM - Special meeting of the members Church of Our Father. Full letter from the American Unitarian Association is read into the record regarding the terms of a $2,000 loan to be offered the church. The letter and resulting resolution provides a very detailed view of the loans previously offered the church and affirms that the A.U.A. owns the deed to the property on which the church is located. | 25 | 3 | 178 - 179 |
1893.11.06 | Nov 6, 1893 MoM - Annual Meeting of the Church of Our Father. Treasurer reports that balance as of Nov 6 was $1.78. Actual minister's report read into meeting minutes. Other reports from Woman's Alliance and Librarian noted, but actual reports are not found in meeting minutes. New officers elected. A motion was made to call Rev. Cole to the pulpit as church pastor. | 25 | 3 | 180 - 183 |
1894.02.11 | Feb 11, 1894 MoM - Special meeting of members of Church of Our Father. Voted to ask the Southern Conference of Unitarian and Other Christian Churches to hold its next meeting in Atlanta. Delegates and alternates elected to upcoming conference. | 25 | 3 | 183 |
1894.05.06 | May 6, 1894 MoM - Special meeting of members of Church of Our Father. Mr. Dixon resigned as Treasurer due to ill health. Frank Lederle elected Treasurer. | 25 | 3 | 184 |
1894.11.05 | Nov 5, 1894 MoM - Annual meeting of members of Church of Our Father. Restructured board positions to have staggered multi-year terms. Board members elected. Many reports read and placed "on file." These "on file" reports do not appear in the meeting minutes. | 25 | 3 | 185 - 186 |
1895.04.07 | Apr 7, 1895 MoM - Special meeting of members of Church of Our Father. Purpose of the meeting to elect two delegates to the Southern Conference to be held in Baltimore, Md., April 30. | 25 | 3 | 187 |
1895.05.26 | May 26, 1895 MoM - Special meeting of members of Church of Our Father. Saturday Night Club requested to find other facilities for their meetings. Committee on Operations of the Church to be guided by "the policy that when a society other than an auxiliary of the church has become permanently organized and self-supporting, it must find other quarters in which to meet." | 25 | 3 | 187 |
1895.07.07 | Jul 7, 1895 MoM - Special Meeting of members of Church of Our Father. Resignation of the Rev. Cole from Church of Our Father | 25 | 3 | 188 |
1895.10.06 | Oct 6, 1895 MoM - Special meeting of members of Church of Our Father. Election of delegates to national conference. | 25 | 3 | 188 |
1895.11.11 | Nov 11, 1895 MoM - Annual Meeting of members of the Church of Our Father. New church officers elected. Mrs. Owen and Mrs. Swift are elected at Trustees. This election is the first time women have been elected to the church board of trustees. | 25 | 3 | 189 - 190 |
1896.03.08 | Mar, 8, 1896 MoM - Special meeting of Church of Our Father. Discussed calling a minister and noted, "After some discussion of the seeming apathy of the Church it was determined to appoint a Committee on Progress, the purpose of which was to stimulate interest and stir up enthusiasm." The clerk was instructed to communicate with Mr. Vail and arrange for a trial visit. | 25 | 3 | 191 |
1896.04.20 | Apr 20, 1896 MoM - Special meeting of Church of Our Father. Recommendation to call of the Rev. Vail to be pastor of Church of Our Father. | 25 | 3 | 192 - 193 |
1896.04.27 | Apr 27, 1896 MoM - Special meeting of Church of Our Father. Called to nominate delegates to the Southern Conference at Louisville. Mrs. Owens, C. Heflall (Archivist: unsure of spelling) and Walter Menken were selected to represent the Church at the conference. | 25 | 3 | 193 |
1896.11.09 | Nov 9, 1896 MoM - Annual meeting of the members of the Church of Our Father. Officers elected and reports presented. Special Sunday School (S.S.) committee was formed. "The duty of which committee would be to advice with and assist the officers of the S.S. Mrs. Bass and Prof. Davidson were appointed on this committee to act with the Supt. of the school." | 25 | 3 | 194 - 195 |
1897.11.01 | Nov 1, 1897 MoM - Annual meeting of the Church of Our Father. No quorum being present, it was resolved to adjourn the meeting until Monday, Nov. 15th at 8 PM and notice to that effect be given by our pastor, Rev. W.S. Vail. Archivist Note: The placement of this 1897 meeting minute is out of date sequence in the meeting minute book. There may have been an error when the meeting minute book was opened and these meeting minutes were recorded. | 25 | 3 | 193 |
1897.11.15 | Nov 15, 1897 MoM - Annual meeting of the Church of Our Father. (see Nov 9, 1897 MoM). These meeting minutes contain complete reports from the minister, treasurer, librarian, etc. Reports provide insight into the conditions of the church at this time. | 25 | 3 | 195 - 202 |
1898.12.20 | Dec, 12, 1898 MoM - Annual meeting of the Church of Our Father. Reports read, officers elected. Rev. Vail is thanked for his service and requested to serve the following year at a salary of $1,500. Rev. Vail defers and indicates that, "He would agree to stay if the financial arrangements could be made satisfactory." | 25 | 3 | 203 |
1899.09.26 | Sep 26, 1899 MoM - Special Meeting of the members of Church of Our Father. Minutes include the resolutions passed by the church members regarding the sale of the church property and buildings to the Carnegie Free Library. Church sale price is $20,500. Also see newspaper clipping of Sep 24, 1899; article outlines that the Carnegie Free Library purchased two lots for $35,000 of which the church was one of those lots. | 25 | 3 | 204 - 205 |
1899.11.10 | Nov 10, 1899 MoM - Annual Meeting of the members of Church of Our Father. Finalization of sale of property. American Unitarian Association (A.U.A.) agrees to resolutions passed by the church on Sep 26, 1899. Resignation of Rev. Vail read into the meeting minutes. "It was moved that a committee of five be appointed whose duty it shall be to find and report on suitable candidates for the pastorship of this church. It was the sense of the meeting that a young and unmarried man and one of Unitarian birth be preferred." | 25 | 3 | 206 - 207 |
1899.11.10 | Nov 10, 1899 Letter - Resignation of the Rev. Vail from Church of Our Father. Rev. Vail indicated that he has accepted position as pastor of the Unity Church in Sioux City, Iowa. His services at the Church of Our Father to conclude on October 31, 1899. | 25 | 3 | 207 |
1899.11.12 | Nov 12, 1889 Document - Church of Our Father. Resolution thanking Rev. Vail for his services at the Church of Our Father. The resolution comments, "knowing our weakness financially, we consider that Rev. Vail has acted wisely in accepting the call from the Unity ChurchÉ" | 25 | 3 | 208 |
1900.01.08 | Jan 8, 1900 MoM - Annual Meeting of the members of Church of Our Father. Meeting noted that "a lot had been selected, paid for and the title passed" for the building of the second Unitarian church in Atlanta. It was voted to call Rev. Clarence Langston of Boston as the minister. Officers elected. The Real Estate Committee "was then instructed to select a temporary meeting place for the use of this society." Rev. Geo. L. Chaney founder of the church "who was temporarily in the city made a short address." | 25 | 4 | 209 - 210 |
1900.01.21 | Jan 21, 1900 MoM - Special Meeting of the members of Church of Our Father. Meeting called based on letter from Secretary of American Unitarian Association (A.U.A.), Mr. Eliot regarding salary of newly called minister, Rev. Langston. Salary, set in Annual Meeting held Jan 1, 1900, adjusted from $1,200 to $1,400. | 25 | 4 | 210 |
1900.03.25 | Mar 25, 1900 MoM - Special Meeting of the members of Church of Our Father. Resolution passed thanking Mr. C.C. Chillingworth for conducting lay services for five months in the interim between the departure of Rev. Vail and arrival of Rev. Langston. | 25 | 4 | 211 |
1900.04.29 | Apr 29, 1900 MoM - Special Meeting of the members of Church of Our Father. "The resignation of Mr. J.B. Frost as a Trustee of the Church was received and accepted. Upon motion, Mr. C.C. Chillingworth was elected to fill the vacancy." | 25 | 4 | 211 |
1900.11.09 | Nov 9, 1900 MoM - A Special Meeting of the Church of Our Father. First meeting in new church building. "Chairman of the Building Committee reported that the new church building was completed and ready for occupancy." Delegates are elected to attend the Southern Conference. | 25 | 4 | 212 |
1901.01.14 | Jan 14, 1901 MoM - Annual meeting of the Church of Our Father. Legality of meeting questioned and voted upon. Name change (see by-laws in MoM) to the First Unitarian Church in Atlanta was voted down 15 to 10. The by-laws had been typed up prior to the meeting with the new name specified as Unitarian Church of Atlanta. The proposed name is crossed out and Church of Our Father written in. | 25 | 4 | 215 - 219 |
1901.04.08 | Apr 8, 1901 MoM - Quarterly meeting of the Church of Our Father. Rev. Langston made frank assessment of the church. "The most noticeable failing of members was in want of cordiality to strangers and it was requested that each one consider himself a member of the receiving committee." Rev. Langston also noted that the Sunday School " was the most unsatisfactory part of the Church." Action taken to address observations. "An informal discussion was held upon the need of some form of admission to the church." A committee of three was appointed to look into the question. Information on death of Thomas Kennedy. | 25 | 4 | 220 - 221 |
1901.07.08 | Jul 8, 1901 MoM - Quarterly meeting of the Church of Our Father. Discussion continued on adopting "some form of admission to membership in the church." Other discussion on the format of the service. | 25 | 4 | 221 - 222 |
1902.01.13 | Jan 13, 1902 MoM - Annual Meeting of the members of Church of Our Father. Various reports read (none found in archive). One report not seen before was from the Young People's Religious Union. Officers elected. More discuss on new service book for worship service. Archivist Note: There is scant mention of the Unitarian Young People's Religious Union (Y.P.R.U.) in the records of the Unitarian church archive. The Unitarian Young People's Religious Union was founded in 1896. In the archive records of Atlanta Universalists, there is extensive information on the Universalist's Young People's Christian Union (Y.P.C.U.). | 25 | 4 | 223 - 224 |
1902.04.21 | Apr 21, 1902 MoM - Quarterly meeting of the Church of Our Father. Continued discussion on form of worship service. Information on Sunday attendance provided for Feb 16 to Apr 20, 1902. Average attendance was 54. Treasurer's report included. | 25 | 4 | 224 - 225 |
1902.09.09 | Sep 9, 1902 MoM - Special Meeting of the members of Church of Our Father. "Mrs. Langston was called upon to explain the condition of the library." Also discussion on the quorum needed to conduct business. Informal meeting held. "..the meeting resolved to declare itself an informal session and requested the library committee to get a report together and hand in to a later called meeting of the Church, to decide upon the library conditions, whereupon the meeting adjourned." | 25 | 4 | 226 |
1902.10.13 | Oct 13, 1901 MoM - Quarterly meeting of the Church of Our Father. Treasurer's report, report on library and change to church constitution on members needed in quorum to conduct business. | 25 | 4 | 227 |
1903.01.12 | Jan 12, 1903 MoM - Annual Meeting of the members of Church of Our Father. Detailed financial report with list of subscriptions. Officers elected. Encouraging news reported on Sunday school. Proposal made and accepted to support a Unitarian room at the Home of Incurables. Discussion of visit of Rev. Thomas R. Slicer from New York. | 25 | 4 | 229 - 231 |
1903.04.13 | Apr 13, 1903 MoM - Quarterly meeting of the Church of Our Father. Change to by-laws regarding election of Sunday School officers. Detailed financial report. | 25 | 4 | 232 - 234 |
1903.10.12 | Oct 12, 1903 MoM - Quarterly meeting of the Church of Our Father. Rev. C.A. Langston tenders his resignation as pastor of the church. "...Mr. Langston spoke with feeling of the loyalty of the members of the parish, giving his reason for tendering his resignation as pastor, was owing to the fact that living in Atlanta was very expensive, that it was necessary for him to retrench, which he thought could be better done in a new field, than could be done in Atlanta." A committee of three is assembled to ask Rev. Langston to re-consider. Full financial report included in minutes. | 25 | 4 | 235 - 238 |
1903.10.13 | Oct 13, 1903 Letter - Church of Our Father to Rev. Langston. Based on a committee formed on October 12, 1903 asking Rev. Langston to reconsider his resignation and indicating that " that they could not in the future pay any more money on account of salary because of inability to raise same from the present Congregation." at letter is sent to Rev. Langston. The letter stated in part, "We were further directed to tell you of the undivided love and affection in which you are held by our entire Church and to express the hope that you might reconsider your action and remain with us in your present relation as pastor." Archivist Note: Rev. Langston will later resign on May 15, 1905 with an effective date of July 1, 1905. This final resignation is not treated with the same sense of "undivided love and affection." See MoM May 15, 1905. | 25 | 4 | 239 |
1903.10.15 | Oct 15, 1903. Letter - Rev. Langston to Church of Our Father. Letter is addressed to Chairman of committee, Hamilton Douglas, tasked to ask Rev. Langston to reconsider his resignation at pastor of the Church of Our Father. Rev. Langston reconsiders and withdraws his resignation. Original resignation was over salary. Rev. Langston indicating the cost of living in Atlanta. | 25 | 4 | 241 |
1903.10.16 | Oct 16, 1903 Letter - Hamilton Douglas to Church of Our Father. Letter from Chairman of committee, Hamilton Douglas, tasked to ask Rev. Langston to reconsider resignation to Board of Trustees Chairman, John L. Moore. Letter indicating that Rev. Langston has reconsidered his resignation. | 25 | 4 | 240 |
1903.10.26 | Oct 26, 1906 MoM - Adjourned meeting (Oct 10, 1903) of the Church of Our Father. Rev. Langston's reconsideration of his resignation as pastor of the church "was ratified unanimously by members present and was indicated by a rising vote." | 25 | 4 | 242 |
1903.12.27 | Dec 27, 1903 MoM - Special meeting of the Church of Our Father. "...for the purpose of electing a committee on nominations to fill vacancies in the Board of Trustees, whose terms expire with the close of business for the year 1903." | 25 | 4 | 243 |
1904.01.11 | Jan 11, 1904 MoM - Annual Meeting of the members of Church of Our Father. Complete set of detailed reports from the treasurer, clerk, minister, woman's alliance and Sunday school are included. | 25 | 4 | 244 - 252 |
1904.02.14 | Feb 14, 1904 MoM - Meeting after service of the Church of Our Father. New service book voted to be purchased. "it was further voted that the service books now in use be forwarded to the Chattanooga Church by express, charges prepaid, with the compliments of the Atlanta church." | 25 | 4 | 253 |
1904.04.11 | Apr 11, 1904 MoM - Quarterly meeting Church of Our Father. There were proposals and counter proposals on changing the name of the church. Two names "Church of Our Father, Unitarian" or "The Unitarian Church of Atlanta" were considered. Mr. Behre also offered that "Church of Our Father, Atlanta" be considered. That name when put to a vote, lost. "Mr. Behre suggested as the attendance at the meeting was small, that the matter of selecting a name he postponed till Sunday April 17th, when the church as a whole might express their wish - Carried." The motivation for changing the name at this time (efforts were attempted in 1900) was that the charter for the church with Fulton County was about to expire on June 20, 1904. What name would be placed on the renewed charter document. | 25 | 4 | 254 - 255 |
1904.04.17 | Apr 17, 1904 MoM - Adjourned meeting of Church of Our Father. Discussion and acceptance of changing the name of the church from Church of Our Father to The Unitarian Church of Atlanta. The voted on the name change which required a 2/3 majority of the 27 members present initially failed by one vote (17 yea / 10 nay). An alternate name offered by Mr. Behre, "Church of Our Father Unitarian" was also voted down. Mr. Behre then asked to change his vote to "aye" on the original name vote. "Mr. Behre then stated that as a majority seemed to be in favor of adopting the name 'The Unitarian Church of Atlanta', and as the question had to he acted upon now, in order that steps be taken before the present charter expired, he moved the adoption of the name 'The Unitarian Church of Atlanta'." | 25 | 4 | 256 - 257 |
1904.06.19 | Jun 19, 1904 Document - Unitarian Church of Atlanta. Legal document filed with the Superior Court of Fulton County, Ga., to register the church charter. The document indicates that the name of church is now The Unitarian Church of Atlanta. Charter is for 20 years (1904 - 1924) | 25 | 4 | 257 - 260 |
1904.07.11 | Jul 11, 1904 MoM - MoM Quarterly meeting of the Unitarian Church of Atlanta. Treasurer reports having $6.96 in hand. "Mr. Behre made some suggestions looking toward getting the young men of the Technological School interested in our church service and to that end moved that a committee of three be appointed to confer with Dr. Jackson and President Hall." | 25 | 4 | 261 |
1904.11.13 | Nov 13, 1904 MoM - Unitarian Church of Atlanta meeting called after service. Elect delegate to Southern Conference to be held in Charleston, S.C. | 25 | 4 | 262 |
1904.12.25 | Dec 25, 1904 MoM - Meeting of members Unitarian Church of Atlanta. Meeting called after service to elect a nominating committee "to nominate candidates to be voted for at the annual meeting of the church to be held on the second Monday in January 1905." | 25 | 4 | 262 |
1905.01.09 | Jan 9, 1905 MoM - Annual Meeting of the members of The Unitarian Church of Atlanta. Full reports from the Clerk, Sunday School (with financial statement), Woman's Alliance (with financial statement). Detailed financial report with list of subscriptions. Treasurer included extended comments covering how he became engaged in the church. Also included an eight year summary of amounts of subscriptions raised and financial support from the American Unitarian Association from 1897 - 1904. In his minister's report, Rev. Langston noted, "The numerical strength of this church has been increased by two, the smallest gain in four years." The report continues that average attendance has been 55 or less. Rev. Langston offers, "we ought to have average attendance of at least one hundred." | 25 | 4 | 263 - 271 |
1905.05.15 | May 15, 1905 Letter - Unitarian Church of Atlanta. Letter from Rev. Langston to Julius Watts, Chairman of the Board resigning his pastorate effective July 1, 1905. | 25 | 5 | 273 |
1905.05.21 | May 21, 1905 MoM - Meeting of members of Unitarian Church of Atlanta. Special meeting called after service to accept resignation of Rev. C. A. Langston as pastor of the church. A committee of five was appointed to communicate with the American Unitarian Association through Rev. Samuel A. Eliot, President, for the purpose of securing "a suitable man to fill" the place as pastor made vacant by the resignation of Rev. C.A. Langston. | 25 | 4 | 273 |
1905.10.10 | Oct 10, 1905 Letter - Unitarian Church of Atlanta. Letter from Pulpit Supply committee to church members recommending that Rev. Moore Sanborn be called as pastor. Minutes indicate that between May and Oct lay services have been conducted. It also notes that Rev. Sanborn has "conducted services in our church for the last three Sundays." Letter recommends that Mr. Sanborn be called as minister from Oct 1905 to Dec 31, 1906. | 25 | 5 | 273 |
1905.10.11 | Oct 11, 1905 MoM - Unitarian Church of Atlanta. Quarterly meeting. Rev. Sanborn was unanimously called as pastor of the church. Treasurer's report show that $101.35 was in the hands of the Treasurer. | 25 | 5 | 274 - 276 |
1905.10.15 | Oct 15, 1905 MoM - Meeting of members of Unitarian Church of Atlanta. A meeting was held after service to hear the decision of Rev.Sanborn if he will accept the pastorate as voted upon on Oct 11, 1905. Despite inclement weather, 115 members remained after service with "eager hearts." Rev. Sanborn accepted the call to be pastor of church. "Mr. Sanborn's remarks were very touching and when he uttered the words "I will remain with you" an outburst of applause ran through the entire church, lasting several minutes...." | 25 | 5 | 276 |
1905.10.16 | Oct 16, 1905 Letter - Unitarian Church of Atlanta. Letter to Rev. Samuel Eliot (American Unitarian Association) from the church leadership indicating that the church had unanimously called Rev. Moore Sanborn. The letter begins with a comment on the ministry of Rev. Langston stating, "No doubt you are aware that our pulpit has been filled with mediocrity coupled with indolence and indifference for the past five years." The letter reflects a concern from the church leadership that "The friends of Mr. Sanborn have, all, urged him to decline our call. In fact it has seemed to us that the influencers of all his Eastern church and business connections have been against us." The church closes with "we wish in closing to express our deep gratitude to the Association for suggesting the name of our worthy lender Rev. Moore Sanborn." Archivist Note: Rev. Moore Sanborn prior to accepting the call to the Atlanta church had been an insurance executive in New York City. He had, however, been active in the Presbyterian ministry after college until 1889. The reasons for the "friends of Mr. Sanborn" urging him to decline the call is not known. Sanborn has just recently resigned his position as third vice-president of the Security Trust & Life company saying he was doing so for health reasons. Urging by friend to decline the Atlanta pastorate may have been a desire to retain his services in the insurance industry or a sense that he was unwisely "leaping back into ministry" for the wrong reason. There is only speculation on this point. It should be noted that Rev. Sanborn's ministry at the Atlanta church was spectacularly successful, but only short lived. He resigned his pastorate approximately one year later in August 1906. | 25 | 5 | 277 |
1905.12.31 | Dec 31, 1905 MoM - Meeting of members Unitarian Church of Atlanta. Meting called after service to appoint a nominating committee to select names to be voted upon in January 1906 as officers of the church. | 25 | 5 | 279 |
1906.01.08 | Jan 8, 1906 MoM - Annual Meeting of the members of The Unitarian Church of Atlanta. Full reports from Treasurer, Sunday School, Clerk and Nominating Committee. Information on average attendance is provided. By-laws changes are also approved. | 25 | 5 | 280 - 287 |
1906.01.10 | Jan 10, 1906. Letter - Unitarian Church of Atlanta. Letter to members of the church from nomination committee. Letter lists individuals to be elected as deacons and deaconess. Per a by-law change at the Jan 8, 1906 Annual Meeting, "Four gentlemen as deacons and two ladies as deaconess, said Board to act with the Pastor in all spiritual matters." | 25 | 5 | 288 |
1906.01.14 | Jan 14, 1906 MoM - Meeting of the members of the Unitarian Church of Atlanta. Meeting called after service to vote upon nominees for Deacons and Deaconsess. Resolution passed to have the minister, Rev. Sanborn Moore, to preach four sermons at the Opera House starting Jan 23, 1906. New member, Walter Chaney, received the right hand of fellowship. Archivist: There was no entry in the membership book for Walter Chaney; added that entry to the digital version of the membership book with appropriate comments. | 25 | 5 | 289 |
1906.02.04 | Jan 14, 1906 MoM - Meeting of members of the Unitarian Church of Atlanta. Meeting called after service so new members may "receive the right hand of fellowship." Archivist: There were no entries in the membership book for these new members; added those entries to the digital version of the membership book with appropriate comments. | 25 | 5 | 290 |
1906.04.01 | Apr 1, 1906 MoM - Meeting of members of the Unitarian Church of Atlanta. Meeting called after service so new members may "receive the right hand of fellowship." Archivist: There were no entries in the membership book for these new members; added those entries to the digital version of the membership book with appropriate comments. | 25 | 5 | 291 |
1906.04.29 | Apr 29, 1906 MoM - Meeting of members of the Unitarian Church of Atlanta. Meeting called after service to elect delegates to attend the Southern Conference of Unitarian churches to be held in Louisville, KY in May 1906. | 25 | 5 | 292 |
1906.05.06 | May 6, 1906 MoM - Meeting of members of the Unitarian Church of Atlanta. Meeting called after service to elect delegates to attend meeting of the American Unitarian Association in Boston May 21 - 27, 1907. | 25 | 5 | 292 |
1906.06.19 | Jun 19, 1906 MoM - Unitarian Church of Atlanta. Quarterly meeting. Summary of church attendance shows an average of 110. Detailed financial report provided. | 25 | 5 | 293 - 295 |
1906.06.24 | Jun 24, 1906 MoM - Meeting of the members of the Unitarian Church of Atlanta. Meeting called after service so new members may "receive the right hand of fellowship." Archivist: There were no entries in the membership book for some of these new members; added those entries to the digital version of the membership book with appropriate comments. | 25 | 5 | 296 |
1906.08.14 | Aug 14, 1906 MoM - Unitarian Church of Atlanta. Special of the members called meeting. "Mr. Moore presented the resignation of Moore Sanborn as pastor of the Church to take effect September 1, 1906 and in presenting the resignation of Mr. Sanborn, further stated that he had a letter from Mr. Sanborn in which he indicated that it was his intention to return to business." | 25 | 5 | 297 |
1906.11.25 | Nov 25, 1906 MoM - Unitarian Church of Atlanta. "At the regular morning services held this day, Mr. T.C. Perkins and Mrs. Alice Spratley Perkins presented their young son William Cossley Perkins who was christened by Rev. Rush R. Shippen." | 25 | 5 | 298 |
1906.12.30 | Dec 30, 1904 MoM - Unitarian Church of Atlanta. Special called meeting of the members to elect a nominating committee to identify nominations for officers for 1907. | 25 | 5 | 298 |
1907.01.07 | Jan 7, 1907 MoM - Meeting of members of the Unitarian Church of Atlanta. At the regular morning service hold this day Mr. R.A. Taaffe united with the church, the right hand of fellowship being given him by Rev. Rush R. Shippen. Archivist: There was no entry in the membership book for these new members; added an entry to the digital version of the membership book with appropriate comments. | 25 | 6 | 299 |
1907.01.14 | Jan 14, 1907 MoM - Unitarian Church of Atlanta. Annual meeting. Report on the Woman's Alliance was presented; treasurer showed a balance of $124.08. It was suggested organizing a Young People's Union. It was suggested that Rev. Shippen's sermons be made available for publication in the Constitution (Archivist: Atlanta's morning paper). A salary of $1500 was proposed for Rev. Shippen. Attendance and membership numbers are presented. | 25 | 6 | 300 - 307 |
1907.02.17 | Feb 17, 1907 Unitarian Church of Atlanta MoM - Special meeting to present resolution honoring the passing of church member Frank S. Hartshorne. | 25 | 6 | 308 |
1907.04.21 | Apr 21, 1907 MoM - Unitarian Church of Atlanta. At the morning services of worship a resolution honoring the passing of church member Ralph H. Brown was presented. | 25 | 6 | 309 |
1907.05.03 | May 3, 1907 MoM - Meeting of the members Unitarian Church of Atlanta. Special meeting to address Rev. Shippen's resignation. The reported observed, "that on account of the advanced age of Dr. Shippen and more especially on account of his wife's physical condition they did not feel justified in being away from their children and grandchildren another winter." It was noted by a congregate, Mr. Moore, that Rev. Shippen indicated that the Atlanta parish needed a younger man. | 25 | 6 | 310 - 311 |
1907.07.21 | July 21, 1907 MoM - Board of Trustees Unitarian Church of Atlanta. Special meeting to consider the resignation of the treasurer, Mr. J.G. St. Amand; additional information supplied by the committee on pulpit supply. Detailed treasurer's report included. | 25 | 6 | 312 -313 |
1907.08.25 | Aug 25, 1907 MoM - Rev. A.T. Bowser of Delaware is recommended by the Pulpit Supply Committee to be called a pastor of the Unitarian Church of Atlanta. | 25 | 6 | 314 |
1907.10.01 | Oct 1, 1907 Letter - Unitarian Church of Atlanta. Letter to congregation from the committee on pulpit supply that the committee has invited Rev. Alexander T. Bowser to become minister of the church for the ensuing year. | 25 | 6 | 315 |
1907.10.06 | Oct 6, 1907 MoM - Meeting of the members of Unitarian Church of Atlanta. Meeting called to vote on recommendation of Pulpit Supply Committee to call Rev. A.T. Bowser as minister. Motion carried. | 25 | 6 | 315 |
1907.12.15 | Dec 15, 1907 MoM - Meeting of the members of Unitarian Church of Atlanta. Meeting held after service to nominate officers to be elected at the Annual Meeting in Jan. 1908 | 25 | 6 | 316 |
1908.01.13 | Jan 13, 1908 MoM - Unitarian Church of Atlanta. Annual meeting noted that "the ladies served a lunch from 6:30pm to 8pm." Minutes include list of those present; treasurer's report showing a balance of $48.02; Clerk's report showing attendance of 64. A report from the Woman's Alliance was offered; the minister made only an oral report. In his oral report, the minister referenced "securing another lot and having a new Church building." Under new business, Mr. Moore as Chairman of the New Church committee stated "that our church property is in the hands of real estate agents for sale." More conversation on the pro/con of a new church. | 25 | 6 | 317 - 324 |
1908.01.19 | Jan 19, 1908 MoM - Meeting of members of the Unitarian Church of Atlanta. Following the regular morning service on this date, Miss E.L. Robinson was received into membership in this church in the usual may. Archivist: There were no entry in the membership book for this new members; added an entry to the digital version of the membership book with appropriate comments. | 25 | 6 | 325 |
1908.03.08 | Mar 8, 1908 MoM - Meeting of the members Unitarian Church of Atlanta. Meeting called after service to draw up resolution on the death of member J.C. Peck. (Archivist: This March 8, 1908 MoM is out-of-date-order in the meeting book seen on page 325) | 25 | 6 | 326 |
1908.03.15 | Mar 15, 1908 Unitarian Church of Atlanta MoM - Meeting called after service to read resolution on the death of member J.C. Peck. (Archivist: This March 8, 1908 MoM is out-of-date-order in the meeting book seen on page 325) | 25 | 6 | 326 - 327 |
1908.03.29 | Mar 29, 1908 MoM - Meeting of members of the Unitarian Church of Atlanta. Following the regular morning service on this date, Mr. John W. Rice, Mrs. Ethel M. Rice and Isaac R. Hayes were received into membership in this church in the usual way. Archivist: There were no entries in the membership book for these new members; added entries to the digital version of the membership book with appropriate comments. | 25 | 6 | 325 |
1908.04.13 | Apr 13, 1908 MoM - Meeting of the members Unitarian Church of Atlanta. Regular quarterly meeting an apparent lively conversation ensured regarding fusion with the Universalists. A straw ballot to merge showed 15 for and 10 against. Conversation on the church being a "local movement" and referenced the "number of Northern people connected with it in more less prominently." There was even a vote to disband; voted down 8 to disband 24 to continue. A motion was made and withdrawn to have the current governing officers resign "to make room for others to represent if possible a more local sentiment." The resignation of Rev. Bowser was read to take effect the last day of April. Other reports show membership at 51 local and non-resident members. Report on Church Property reported that "it has made such repairs made as were absolutely necessary in order to maintain the desired safety." Inspection showed that floors were in need of repair "...in numerous places the sleepers have partially and in some sections to all purposes entirely disappeared." | 25 | 6 | 328 - 329 |
1908.05.17 | May 17, 1908 MoM - Meeting of the members Unitarian Church of Atlanta. Meeting held after service. Rev. Bowser not willing to reconsider resignation. Letter from American Unitarian Association also read which expressed displeasure with congregation's decision not to merge with the Universalists. This letter was quite strong stating that the Unitarians must "unite or die." A letter was also read from Rev. Ellenwood the minister of Atlanta's Universalist church extending an invitation to his church when the Unitarian pulpit was empty. | 25 | 6 | 335 |
1908.05.17 | May 17, 1908 Letter - American Unitarian Association. Letter from the President of the A.U.A., Rev. Samuel Eliot to the minister of the Unitarian church of Atlanta, Dr. Bowser, dated April 23, 1908. The Letter is strong states the Association is not pleased with the decision of Atlanta Unitarian Church in Atlanta not to merge with the Universalist. "This seems to me a question of 'unite or die'. " The letter continues, "Non-union apparently means the disintegration and ultimate disappearance of the Unitarian church." The letter concludes, "I commend to you a sermon on a good text from Deuteronomy: 'Behold! I have set before you life and death; therefore choose life!'" | 25 | 6 | 335 |
1909.01.11 | Jan 11, 1911 Report - Unitarian Church of Atlanta. Minister's Report Rev. Rowlett (money concerns), financial statements and reports. "To look into the Church records, reorganize the finances, and in general take charge of the affairs of the church, reporting at a call meeting at as early a date as possible." Financial statement provided detailed review of church finances. Archivist Note: These reports are recorded in Book 1 which appears to have been used to record meetings at the church. Book 2 appears to have been used by Board of Trustees at their regular meetings. See the other MoM entry for Jan 11, 1909. | 25 | 6 | 336 |