The New York herald., 1869-11-04
TIE CENTENARY OF UNIVERSAL.SM IN
AMERICA,

Speeches by Horace Greeley, DIR. Chapin and
DIR. Miner, Of Boston.
The members and congregation OF the Unlversalst
Church IN this city and neighborhood met together
last night for the purpose Of celebrating the Gen.
tenary OF Universalism In America, or, In other
words, the celebration OF the embodiment OF the
doctrine that all men will be saved from eternal
death and eternal punishment. This doctrine ap-
pears to have been preached and publicly promul-
gated in America In a UNCONVENTIONAL form by the
distinguished Universast, Murray, the year 1770
and 1t Is to mark that fact with significance and to
make 1t an occasion Of thank offerings that move
n,ent has been inaugurated throughout tha States
for the celebration OF his centenary.
The meeting last night was largely attended, and
subscriptions to the centenary fund were announced
amounting to $23, 900. 1t Is proposed to raise
81 900 0oo to be devoted to various purposes
nected with this UNCONVENTIONAL effort
The following are the officers connected with this
movement OF the Fifth avenue church meeting:-
Pyesident-Georgc w. Platt
Yics P,'esidents-F; 9. Hayermeyer, Warren Har-
j. w Cloves N. Smith. Q. H. Delamater. 5. Weeks,
G. Ricard ID. strong +. "; Crowe, NJ. Reynolds
r. G. Wilder, @. Barstow, p. NJ. Laavitt.
Secret0rtes.-J. Gushing, Jr., d. j. Stagg.
The meeting was opened by prayer, offered by the
Rev. Richmond Fisk, President OF ST. Lawrence
University.
Mr.. GRoRaE W. PLAT then took the chair and in
short speech referred TO the bene1ciont and pro-.
gresslve character OF the doctrines of Universas.
Mr. HORACE GREELEY was next called upon epd
he was received with applause He said that the
Universallsts never desired to separate from the
comm Common % communion' Of Christians D'H It was their cir
adversares that had caused it. and not In any way
the result OF the choice OF Universalists.
| Mr.. Greeley then traced the progress OF
tle Universallst doctrine through the his
tory Of the Christian Church. showing that with
the Introduction OF the principles Of tho ReioTma.
tion, the discovery Of printing AND the discovery OF
camation Of the truth. The English Church uit n
| matey forbade the proclamation or this truth OF
Universalism, and therefore unversalists were out
| side the Church by the action OF other Christians
| There was great talk about Christian union, and
Mr.. II. Ward Beecher was the editor OF periodical
difficult to understand what the idea OF Christian
union was. There was liberty given to read the
| versalist churches and II they acknowledged the
| Fathernood OF God and that Christ was tender
sent from God, he was welcomed 70 their church. m
After referring TO the preaching OF Uniyersalsm by
| Chancey, Mayhem and Huntingdon, Episcopal cler.
| gymen. ne said that In the year ITO MT. Murray
truths Of Universalism, and laid the foundation OF
| this denomination in that year. Il was. therefore.
! brated by Universallsts By some decided act. The
progress OF the truths OF univeT5allsm mpSt not be
measured by the number q y ,ne snss
truths had found their way into all the churches,
and had permeated ali Christian churches,
Sue nad and soo nG sfafs also Ssos Se
preaching, for there was no such preaching now as
that which was characteristic OF the great Calvlnis,
| John Edwards, for 1t would not be tolerated now.
such pictures OF the truth would repe men irom the
| worship Of q God who could be so innuman. The
/ progress OF Unlversalism must be measured by
| broader view than the reckoning up OF the 500
churches and the 500 or GOO preachers OF the Uni
versalist church. That would hasten the tiino when
/ all men would act on the common principles OF
Christian love and charity: tAppause.l
| Rev. \. o. EALLs then addressed me congresauon,
/
liberty and relief from the thTaldom OF considerable
| spiritual darkness, by those living IN the present
/ times was OWING to the progress OF tnlversasm
| and kindred truths lie then referred to what he
thought was the oest mode OF celebrating this cen-
Which Ss uSrS gss s % @ csnay hco &
| which was given now would bear abundant lrult.
Frv ur MINER said that the history OF UNIVERSAL
ism had been that OF a contest between two oppo.
site parties. The Protestant world taught salvation
| for some and eternal damnation for the rest The
Unyersalists saw salvation complete and universal
for an That was tho battle ground OF their creed,
but the Universast exposition OF The doctrine OF
| preached in HI the churches, though II might
not form part remar. 'na1' nsps;on rresqs AFTER OF
| the spread OF unversalism in the churches
he said that the Centenary FUND would endeavor 10
churches burdened with debt that should be relieved
! from IL, many parishes needing churches, many
churches needing TO be reconstructed ana iurn,sned
also reef funds for the maintenance OF INDECENT
| cergyInen and their families, and considerable nome
work IN the churches For these purposes " had
been thought desirable to raise fund OF to
! be called "Ihe Murray Centenary Funu." ~. Miner
then referred to the necessity Of the beraly Of the
churches being directed TO this genera fund aud not
TO allow their berality to be merely lrttered away
| by local Efforts, and TO remember that SOU puIi,
| angels as soul purified in New York. In reference
to The subscriptions to the fund New iorK anu Mas
ugn 70 ass nsa rnsad 81
4 educational Institution In her midst. He thoup NJ