| OCR Text |
Show Reorganization The and First Building: 1901-1920 minister Rev. Philip S. Thacher is listed in 1878 as a certified undergraduate of Meadville Theological Semi nary, then located in Pennsylvania. Before coming to Salt Lake City he had been a Unitarian minister in Augusta, Maine (where he also served as chaplain of the National Soldiers Home at Togus, Maine), Santa Barbara, California (where he also founded the Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital), Fresno, California (where he helped organize a Unitarian society), and Needham, Massachusetts (where he served for seven years). He was an active member of the Freemasons, the new Elks, and other fraternal orders. Rev. Thacher with his wife, Alice, moved 1901. in May organized He not only began as to Salt Lake minister to the City newly society but also served as state secretary of the American Unitarian Association for Utah. Rev. Unitarian Thacher's efforts were successful enough that the Unitarians I "becoming favorably known once more."! After becoming better acquainted with the religious climate in Utah, he reported (With some exaggeration in the statistics) the following to national headquarters: were very different from the popular conception. Their faults have been exaggerated. their virtues overlooked The Mormons are .... Submission leaped over to church authority the barriers to find is insisted upon; but many have a congenial home with us. The apostate Mormon has a respect for us which he will extend to no other church. All the orthodox churches combined throughout the State have not made two hundred converts from Mormonism in More than twice that number actively sympathize twenty years. with us. clearly proving that the old faiths cannot interest those who outgrow Mormonism. and that Unitarianism can It is my conviction that ours is the only form of religion that .... can I I exert a deep. widespread. Accession 1 094, Bx I, Fd 5. and permanent influence for the 57 |
