New-York daily tribune., 1859-08-01
THE UNITARIANS AND THEODORE
PARKER.


III. Rev. Mr.. rockingham, in a sermon on Three
ro,r,, of Excessive Righteousness, Can't Bigotry
,,d Supersttop preached yesterday before the Third
Unitarian Society gave the following example
of the first Form:
"Whie dwelling on this point | cannot forbear
ak,rg ausion to little event that trspspred lately
in Cambridge at meeting of Unitarian cergymen aud
bas cslled forth gOot deal Of comment. IL was pro-
posed by gentleman present graduate ot the Cam
bridge DIVINITY School and preacher Of note, that
the meeting shOud send to Their brother theodore
Parker, nov seeking restoration Of his hea.h abroad,
an expression of their good viii toward HIN, their
sympathy with him in his Illness and their hope that he
might return in rene we'd strength and heart to reeume
his lsb0rs in Boston The proposition me, with small
favor. The resolution IN which 1t was presented was
lest If because there was no precedent Tor It, wei
enough but IT, for any other reason expressed or i'm
piled, 20. well. az il seems 70 me. | mu,t confess
that was sInitten with surprise when read that
theytwhO opposed its passage most earnestly, did so
on the ground that Mr. Parker was not fit son TO
receive such expressions OF sympathy; saying that
his teaching was hostile 10 Unitarian enes; another
declaring that he rejected the authority Of Scrpure
third asserting that as preacher he subyerted all
faith in revealed rehgion-as If Mr. Parker might nor
retort those charges if he chose 10 do upon those
who made them IT, indeed, Mr.. Parker were rlbald
cenier or low scofer; If he were q man CT no char
scter e truth purity for piety or phhanthropy; II
he nationalist or vulgar materlalst who
repudiated the spiritual ideas Of Christianity and had
IOst the very inner consciousness and spirit which
constitute one a Christian man; II be were per-
who abored 70 weaken religious faith and up
root Chsrity among men; If he were Baron Ilo
bach or even a Thomas PANE there would be
good reason why the most liberal body OF men
calling themselves Christians should withhold
ron bin the voluntary expression OF their pro-
[.ss;oraI good wishes But when We consider that he
is what he is generally allowed TO be-a man OF large
learning and deep thought OF tenderes ale ;ons sd'
amsntine integrity, and pety az humble a. IL Is SIN
cere: a man whose spDessness Of private character,
Al. La Ina h1p m
tested tie mark OF go many evil eyes, was never lOr
an instant dorned by the breath of slander whose de-
vo,ion TO truth is beyond all impeachment whose sell
cousecration example even TO the sell consecrated
and whose love of man is so warm, deep, so cour-
apeous and unwearied thatit makes US judging nun
by the Masters rule, 10 feel that whatever he may
have denied, he can hsve denied nothing whlcn tnat
Master would deem essential to the working
faith Of true disciple when we consider now
his word is welcomed by the best spirits, ana is
feared by the worst how crowds hungerng ana thirst
ing after the blessed life follow him, hangog on MS
lips while evildoers greet him with reviiing his no
bic ness indeed being such that men OF quite opp0ste
opinions TO himself, Of whom Mr. Beeoher IS a c0nspc
nous example, constrained to offer him the hesIty
goodwill and "God be with ye' which these, MS
brethren H. a liberal faith withhold; when, cay,
we consider all this, such action as theirs awakens ~
us genuine astonshmeni, and induces us ss1y enough
10 snsnec the preseI ce of that ugly thing have been
descubre. God forbid that | should unfairly Judge
the motives Of my brethren. II is because they are
my brethren that | feel entitled thus to speak.
friend has the best right to rebuke friend.
"Throughout communities Cnaranism Is un-
popular IL is looked at with suspicion. am AFRAID
In some quarters it is looked at with contempt. And
wherefore Is it because it Is too intellectual has
pushed It's inquiries too far, has spoken out too boldly
it's doubts and denia has struck too hercely al popu-
lar errors and supers'itons Nothing OF this kind,
think can Justly be laid TO its account II Is because
an impression is abroad that it is not smcerc that is
tmid tne-serving and would willingly pass for what
il is not Men say it abjares creeds, and yet would
impose creed; il Processes to judge Christians by
their character not by their belief and yet 1t condemns
good nen for what il chooses TO call unbehef IN spite
of their characters it says, Let thought ne iree ana
hings the human mind, like an eagle, bravery out
upon Gods buoyant air of Truth, but then, with
fine invisible thread, pucks back when deems ITS
flight to be over bold; it declares that the written
Word is answerabe 90 reason, learning the suggestions
Of the Spirit within and then cries out on those WAC
reject the arbitrary authority Of the Bible; IL stabs
orthodoxy to the heart aud then ready TO use ortho
dox phraseoogy and affect the orthodox Inlen. III Is
disingenuous IL eq1ivocates s lodges. TINS is the
charge The world brings against IT, IL is The most iatai
charge that can be brought. For there be one thing
which men respect in parties aud IN persons ~ Is -
ce,fv Let opinions be what they Will, an unhnchhg
fidelity to them brave outspokenness Oi them WINS
fair hearing But a sect hat can assume tone or
posture not justified by its fundamental IDEAS has
nothing To do but 10 die.