LOOKING BACK 50 YEARS by John C. Cahill, 1936 --------------------------------------------------------------------- From the transcriber (David Lawyer): This was a handwritten document which was found in the archives. It is not fully accurate. For example, when the church left Williams Hall, it moved to an ex-Methodist church building for a couple of years. While it implies that the boards of directors were all men, the first board of directors in 1886 consisted of 3 women and 4 men. It represents one person's recollection of part of the church's history. It covers the founding in 1886, the building of a huge church in 1890, the resignation of Rev. Florence Kollock in 1895, and other events. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Father Throop, an avowed Universalist, came from Chicago to settle in Pasadena about 50 years ago. He thought there should be a Universalist Church in every town in California and did help to build many of them. He set about to build one in Pasadena and was anxious to get a Society started here. He engaged the services of Rev. Florence Kollock, a charming woman who endeared herself to everyone. She got together the few devoted ones and held Service in Williams Hall, South East corner Fair Oaks Avenue and Colorado Street. Soon she managed to get together a goodly number of Universalists. She led her little flock in the hall on Sundays till the Church was completed, and this was the beginning of a permanent Society. The large and fine Church attracted a good many people; it also added greatly to expenses, and from now on, for a time, it was a struggle to meet expenses. While there was a Board of Trustees, the women of the Church assumed the responsibility. Father Throop paid for most of the cost of building and the congregation felt that they should lighten his burden and pay the running expenses. They were unable to do it, and the debts piled up tremendously. Father Throop again sent for Florence Kollock to come to Pasadena to help taking us out of the difficult plight. I was much impressed with this. If you would have things done right, get a good woman as your leader. I have learned to appreciate the high quality inherent in women of well balanced minds. I advise all men to be guided more by their wives. Be good to you wives. Give them the light, they will find the way when you cannot but mope in darkness. The greatest calamity that could befall a man is to lose his wife; the one who does his thinking. Let a man try one to take the place of his wife. You cannot find the second one. A noble lot of women composed this Congregation. Devoted to the Cause, and a determination to succeed. Steadfast in the pursuit of knowledge, they pressed on, never losing faith they had inspired in the good work they had undertaken. They met with many failures, only to try another way, another way. Always there was another way shown them. The need of money to discharge the pressing obligations bore heavily upon them. A bazaar- A newspaper- A Dinner- An entertainment- A lecture. All brought much money. So many ways were shown to make money. All were tried and the coffers became full. The Church was soon out of debt --The Women did it -- The Bazaar brought in $2000; Newspaper telling all about the Fair $1000; Ice Cream $500; Dinners $300; other things $200. Nearly or about between $4000 and $5000. No use to try to make money unless there is a woman managing. The success or failure of Churches depends on the leadership, like all other things in the business line, even in the administration. All depends on the Leader. When Miss Kollock took the lead all seats in the Church were occupied. The Galleries were opened. Ample means to discharge all obligations. Always a good balance in the bank. Money came in from all quarters, and now was the time to talk about getting an organ. Fancy a church without an Organ, like a Man without a Wife--Good for nothing. Mr. B. O. Kendall was delegated to purchase an organ for the Church. Columns were written in our papers and in other journals about the Church needing an organ. The people wished it and all joined in one big wish. Believing constructive thought toward a person or thing tends to bring into being a demonstration of that thing. We wish each other "Happy New Year". All wish "Happy New Year". It will come. Everyone we meet on the street on the first day of the New Year we say "Happy New Year"; that is a constructive thought. Who can say these things mean nothing? Well, we got our organ. We got our wish. Listen to the Chimes so sweetly playing. We had but little trouble in raising the money to pay for the organ. The people cheerfully contributed. There were no debts incurred and things were going along smoothly when Miss Kollock resigned in such a hurry that she forgot her pulpit robe. It was sent to her by mail. We thought something serious had happened. It was only a wedding. She married Dr. Crooker, a prominent minister in the Unitarian Church, a scholarly man and a good preacher. She practically retired from preaching. She passed away about ten years ago, and Dr. Crooker passed a few years later. There are only a very few now remaining who were here in the early history of the Church. B. O. Kendall is still with us. He has been a loyal adherent. Ready always to assume even more than his share of responsibility. Generously extending a helping hand in all cases where it was needed. He loved the Church and did much to help it. The few who are left have the pleasure of looking back over those fifty years with many memories of the good times we have had in the Universalist Church and the nice people we have met there. We must not surmise what it will be in the next 50 years. Never different, until the thinking of people are brought more alike. My love and Good Wishes to all John C. Cahill