The New York herald., 1865-04-09


and cannot easily be overtaken, even by dag
of truce; but Lee may be heard from, In be-
half of peace, at any moment
The Unitarinn Convention-Christia
with all the Modern improvements.
A convention Of the Unitarian churches Of
the Northern States was held in this city last
week. The time was very appropriate, for this
season Of Lent is EN- nently favorable to religi-
GUS meditation and pious discussion. A large
number of delegates assembled to improve the
first opportunity which the Unitarian churches
have had for the interchange Of sentiments and
the expression Of opinion. In order to mark
most distinctly the differences between the
Unitarians and other religious denominations,
Governor Andrew, Of ofNassachusstts, was called
upon to preside. After IN attentive perusai Of
the proceedings Of the Convention We have
come to the conclusion that Ayman and .
republican politician was decidedly tho proper
person to represent the assemblags.
We had always understood that the Unita-
rians Of this country were tho opponents Of
those advanced ideas Of religion Of which
Renan and Strauss are the champions In the Old
World Theodore Parker certainly sympa-
thised with these European reformers, and his
aim, like theirs, was to do away with the old
forms Of religious belief and worship, and con-
struct more liberal and poetical FORMS in accord
ance with the unfettered spirit of the nineteenth
century. In other words, Renan, Strauss and
Parker declare in favor Of religion with all
the modern improvements. This Unitarian
Convention, on the other hand, seemed in
favor of nothing except the supper at the
Academy. The delegates evidently did not
know exactly what they believed. The
name Of Unitarian implies not only that God
is unit, but that the Church is unit
also. The Convention showed that, 80 far from
there being any unity among the Unitarian
churches, each congregation was Independent
Of all the others, and quite determined to stick
to It's own pet dogmas, which change, it is
hardly necessary to say, with the whims and
caprices of its own pet minister. Separate
State sovereignty is doctrine thoroughly ex-
ploded by this war; but separate congrega-
tional sovereignty is doctrine boldly enunci-
ated and admirably illustrated by the Unitarian
Convention.
The first days proceedings were opened with
a war speech by Governor Andrew. Every
body being excited by the glorious news from
our armies, the speech passed OF without con-
tradiction, although what 1t had to do with
the business of the Convention-ifth the Conven-
ton had any business-we are at q loss to per-
ceive. Then Mr.. Low, Of Brooklyn, introduced
religious topics, and began to criticisc
tho sermon Of the u Rev. DR.. Free.
man. Clarke, delivered before the dele.
gates on the previous evening. He objected
to the phrase i'change Of fbasc" as applicable to
St Paul, or to anybody else except General
Mcclellan. The Rev. DIR. Bellows called Mr..
Low to order, thus insinuating that his remarks
were worthy Of his name. Then Mr.. Low, who
appeared to have an idea that the Convention
had met to agree upon something or other,
proposed certain doctrinal points of unity,
which we need not rehearse, since they were
Immediately laid upon the table by vote Of
the Convention, and were not mentioned again
during the sessions. This summary snub seems
to have disgusted Mr.. Low, who retired 10 q
spot on Brooklyn Heights, and
allowed half dozen ministers to talk all the
afternoon and evening about colleges and mis-
s.onary work. On the whole, this was a3very
sensible course TO pursue.
The next day friday the phrase "the Losd
Jesus Christ" which was used in a meaning
less resolution, provoked an extraordinary
debate. The Rev. Mr.. Watson, of Connections,
objected TO the title of "Lord.' He was good
democrat and scorned such arisiocra'ic pre-
fixes. We bave abolished temporal titles
in this country, and he thought, therefore, that
he Saviour ought 10 be called Mr.. Jesus Christ,
Or, at best, Jesus Christ Esq. These obscrva-
tons were received with some appreciation;
but the Rev. Mr.. Eurlcy, Of Florence, Massachil-
sets, who was no. a delegate and was not in
vited to be present, put on the oratorical gloves
with Mr.. Wa son, and very pretty display Of
science cnsucd. The Rev. MI. Clarke, Of Boston,
stopped this sparring match by moving that
the Uniiar.ans should be called independent
DR.. Bellows opposed this motion.
Mr.. Town thought that Clarke had made "a
rare spiritual mistake" and approved OF s,rik-
ing ont the title of "Lord." Mr.. Turner criti-
cised DR.. Bellows. Then The Reverend Doctor
fatty contradicied Mr.. Turner. Mr.. Mile, an
other Brooklynite, regretted "tbat expressions
offensive to good taste" had been employed,
and hintcd that the Second Unitarian church of
would not consort with 'ihe rag, tag
and bobtail." Finally the delegates recon-
mcnded the creation Of a newspaper organ for
the Convention, 10 be called the Liberal Chris
tan. II will indeed require an exceedingly
liberal Christian to reconcile all ibe conflicting
views of the churches Of the denomination, and
we await tho first issue Of the paper with con-
siderable curiosity. After di-posing Of this
scheme the Convention adjourned to farewell