The New York herald., 1869-04-12
CHURCH Of THE DIVINE PATERNITY.
Discourse by Rev. DR.. Fisk.

DAsSVtAst Ny AACvs Drs cAsAAs
Owing to the continued illness Of Rev. DR.. Chaplin,
from an attack Of rheumatics, his place was sup
piled in the pulpit yesterday by Rev. DIR. Fisk, Pre-
sdent Of the Canton Unversast College. He said
he wished to speak to the congregation that morn
ing themselves, as people, as class OF protessed
followers OF Jesus Christ, as one OF the organic
churches OF the Christian Church. His text was
Corinthians, xii. 14-"For the body Is not one menl-
Der. but many.n The preacher then proceeded TO
say tnat they (the Universaists) claimed in common
that the Church divided into vari0usly varying
parts that had risen gradually 70 great influence,
and that stil bore relationship TO each other, not
withstandlng the doctrnal anagOnlsm which existed
betw cen the several denominations Professionalism
was not failure on that ground at least but agreat
success. Professionalism was hundredfold more
awe to-day to the serious investigation OF scripture
history than IL could have been had it been devoted
only 10 one class Of men enposomed only in one
d0ctrinal Church. AS well attempt to gather anu
coniine the earth's great diversity OF vegeta-
ton under the influence OF one latitude a5 10
bring human society TO conform TO any one present
organization OF Ideas or human Thought. While
tney mad assumed the importance OF the mission Of
the Unlversailst bianch OF the Church they IN no
wise sought to undervalue the Importance OF tine
Otner essential branches Of the Cnristlan Church
universal. The one great body they regarded as
made up of all these branches. They believed there
was something great and good mixed throughout
them all. If they would stop to taie the measure
Ol religious affairs at the present day-lf
they would stop and take an obSe Va ION OF the status
OIL the controversies going on between the many
branches OF the CHRISTIAN foid they should find an
almost unparalleled activity ana lat notwitstand-
Ing all that had been written aud sad In respect to
the tendency OF the age to maerlilism. He NAM
taned that II they took an observation to-day and
looked down into the hearts and spirits Of earnest
men and women they should Lnl they were living
III an almost unparalleled Intellectual activity, which
was actuay recasting the old implements Of con-
trOversy on the question OF faith AID life which lay
very near the heart Of every th0ugntful man
and woman. The difficult pro bl ;ms winch vexed the
the metaphy ysiclan Of every age had, every gen.
Grafton progressed, appeared to lessen, until now,
skill and intellect, wonderful influence had been
exercised these things In this age, which made
them clearer and more distinct. Tnat they (the
Unlversalsts) as marked Class OF Christians, had
some men capable OF setting forth and dis5emlnat-
ing the spirit or Universaiism and giving better,
purer and he believed, a more uplifting interpreta-
ton to Its teachings There was an item IN It's ms
be able to state. they were now nearly
in the Centenary year OF the organization
OF the body, and he reJoiced that they had accom-
ming TO find powerful aes In many OF the pulpts OF
other denominations. lie rejoiced at the growing
pOstiveness OF some OF the influential members OF
the Unitarian Church. But they must remember
Interpretation OF Christianity and human history
and interpretations OF other denominations were
by no meaus settled, nor were tney about TO De
settled de did not believe, then. tnat these
not by the shutting Of their eyes be washed out OF
sight be carried out OF the Held OF discussion 1t
would be as serious 70 have controversy IN the re:
lIglous world ut end, and society fall into utter
indifference consequence, TO nave nothing but
these controversies continually going on. Ali theOl0
gies cannot be truth, any OF them clear
up 10 the truth Some might be nearer the truth
tnan Others and TO nd out as near as may oe which
was nearest the truth and how TO make religious
truth most felt was certainly al ellOrt worthy the
wisest and the best " make.