Liberal Christian Church – Meeting Minutes, Jan 28, 1926 (Special Meeting)

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SPECIAL MEETING OF LIBERAL CHRISTIAN CHURCH January 28th, 1926.

A special meeting of the Liberal Christian Church, called to hear the report and recommendations of the special or “Steering Committee”, appointed at the Annual Meeting of the Church on November 13th, 1925, was held in the Sunday School Room on January ”8th, 1926, beginning at 6:00 p.m. About 50 members were in attendance.

Following a delightful supper, prepared by the ladies of the church, the meeting was culled to order by the president, Wade P. Harding. Mr. A. H. Scott was appointed secretary pro tem. The minutes of the Annual meeting on November 13th, 1925, were read and approved. The Treasurer, Mr. A. H. Scott, then read a financial statement for the year, ending December 31st, 1925. This was done to show conditions for the year which later, upon recommendation of the “Steering Committee’, was adopted as the fiscal year of the church. A supplementary financial statement showing conditions from January 1st, 1926 to January 28th, 1926, was also read, and this showed that either all bills had been paid or money was on hand to pay all bills still due and unpaid, with the exception of the taxes for 1925, the amount of which was not definitely known. It also showed that there was still a small balance or surplus on hand, a condition far different from that reported at the annual meeting. The Treasurer’s statement-is appended as a part of this record, See Exhibit “A”.

The report of the Steering Committee was then called for and the Chairman, Mr. Jas. P. Faulkner, read a full and complete report which showed that a careful survey of conditions of the parish had been made and steps had been taken to put the church on a firm and substantial basis. The financial condition of the church was gone into thoroughly, arrangements having been made to pay off outstanding bills amounting to about 8600.00; the parish records were carefully lo0ked over and collected, though there were some records still missing; arrangements for pulpit supply were adequately made, Mr. Faulkner, expanding his teaching of the adult class into more formal remarks and changing the hour of the class to that of the morning service, conducted the services admirably during December, and Dr. J. W. Rowlett gave his usual pleasing sermons during January.

The study of the committee led them to recommend several changes in the constitution of the church. Among these was the proposal to change the name of the church from “Liberal Christian Church” to “The Church of the Liberals”. It was suggested that the fiscal year be made to coincide with the calendar year and that the annual meeting be held in January, with two other church meetings during the year, one in May and the other in September or October; that the number of trustees be reduced from 9 to 7, consisting of the President, Clerk, and Treasurer, with 4 other members, and that the terms of the officers (president, clerk and treasurer) be for three years, while two of the other trustees should be elected for two years, and the other two for one year, it being recommended, however, that for the current year all trustees should be elected for a term of one year. Other recommendations were that the date of children’s Sunday be changed from June to May; that the annual contribution to the Universalist General Convention and to the American Unitarian Association to put at $25.00 each; that a budget of $6,000.00 be authorized, of which $3,600 was to be for the pastor’s salary; that the records of the clerk and the treasurer be modernized; that the history of both the Unitarian and the Universalist churches up to the time of the union as the Liberal Christian Church be written up, and that a Historian-Librarian be appointed.

All recommendations and amendments to the Constitution were unanimously adopted, except that concerning the change of the name of the church.  After considerable discussion this matter was carried over for consideration at the next regular meeting of the church. For Revised Constitution, see Exhibit “B”.

The Committee then recommended that the following be elected Trustees for one year: Wade P. Harding, President; Arthur H. Scott, Clerk; J. V. Rogers, Treasurer; Mrs. N. V. Perry, Harry C. Blake, R. C. Knox and Mrs. Calvin Stanford. This slate or list was elected. Mrs. J. P. Faulkner was elected Superintendent of the Sunday School in place of Mr. R. C. Knox, who was made a member of the Board of Trustees. Mrs. Draper and Mrs. N. V. Perry were selected respectively to write the history of the Unitarian and Universalist Churches prior to the union. For report of Steering Committee, see Exhibit “C”.

Dr. Rowlett and H. C. Blake were elected Deacons for the year, and the President appointed the following Finance Committee: T. C. Perkins, W. J. Draper and P. M. Greene. He announced that other committees would be appointed later.

After some remarks by Mr. Perkins relative to the condition and prospects of the church the meeting was adjourned.

(Signed) A. H. Scott, Sec’y. Pro tem.
Financial Statement for the Period from January 1, 1925 to January 1, 1926

Comments Sub Total Total
Balance on Hand, January 1, 1925 $72.13
Receipts
Plate collections $293.80
Pledges $1,791.76
Rents $423.75
Universalist G.C. $1,130.26
Miscellaneous Sources $82.53
Note to 4th National Bank $395.25
Total Receipts $4,027.35
Disbursements
Dues
Unitarian $15.00
Universalist $15.00
Total Dues $30.00
Incidentals, Interest, Insurance, Taxes
Incidentals $163.16
Interest $263.15
Insurance $336.75
Taxes $85.15
Total Incidentals, Interest, Insurance, Taxes $848.47
Printing $113.95
Advertising $65.62
Fuel, Gas, Light, Water
Fuel $87.50
Gas & Electricity $111.41
Water $13.50
Total Fuel, Gas, Light, Water $212.41
Janitor $184.50
Supplies $12.50
Total Janitor & Supplies $197.00
Repairs $53.60
Music $530.00
Pastor’s Salary ($1,822.32 on 1925) $1,933.32
Total Expenditures $3,984.32
Balance on hand, January 1, 1926 $115.11

Respectfully submitted,

Treasurer

Physical Archive: UUCA Box: 26   Folder: 03
Citation: Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta Records, RG 026, Archives and Manuscripts Dept., Pitts Theology Library, Emory University, Atlanta GA