The New York herald., 1869-11-04
THE CENTENARY OF UNIVERSAL iSM II
AMERICA.


Speeches by Horace Greeley, DIR. Chapin and
DIR. Miner, Of Boston.
The members and congregation OF the Unlversalist
Church IN this city and neighborhoOd met together
last night for the purpose OF celebrating the Gen.
tcnary OF Unlversalism In America, or, In other
words. the celebration OF the embodiment OF the
doctrine that all men will be saved from eternal
death ana eternal punishment. This doctrine ap.
pears to have been preached and publicly promul-
gated In America In den0minatiOna form by the
distinguished Universalist Murray, the year 1910,
and 1t is to marx that fact with significance and to
make 1t an occasion OF thank offerings that move
ment has been inaugurated throughout the States
for the celebration OF his centenary.
Tho meeting last night was largely attended, and
subscriptions TO the centenary fund were announced
amounting to $4,000. 1t is proposed to raise
So 600 900, to be devoted to various purposes con-
nected with this UNCONVENTIONAL effort
The following are the ofncers connected with this
movement OF the Fifth avenue church meeting:-
President f.--Georgc W. Platt
Vice F1esidents.--F. @. Havermeyar, Warren Har-
rior L. smith, @. X. Huntingdon. 8. o. Herring, u.
q. Ricard, d. Strong Il. w. Crowell, NJ. Reynolds,
r. q. Wilder O. Barstow p. M. Leavitt.
Secfetdi1es.-J Cushing, Jr., ID. J. Stagg
The meeting was opened by prayer, offered by the
Rev. Richmond Fisk, President OF st. Lawrence
University.
Mr.. GKoRaE W. PLAT then took the chair and In
short speech referred TO the benenciont and pro-
gressve character OF the doctrines OF Universasn.
Mr.. HORACE GREELEY was next called upon aud
he was received with applause. lie said that the
Uniyersalists never desired to separate from the
great body o r. ss were oud as
the result Of the choice OF Universalists.
S1Sssy hsn docns through se %
tory Of tho Christian Church. showing that with
ton, the discovery Of printing and the discovery Of
America there was . large and more precious pro-
olamaton Of the 81 truth. The English Church ult y;
Universasm and therefore Universalists were out.
side the Church by the action Of other Christians
There was great talk about Christian union, and
Mr.. III. Ward Beecher was the editor OF periodical
that had christian Unon' for its tej but II was
difcult to understand what tho idea Of Christian
| union was. There was liberty given to read the
| truths OF the Bible for themselves In the Unit
yersalist churches, and II they acknowledged the
| sent from God, he was welcomed TO their church.
After referring 70 the preaching Of unlyorsaism by
gymen. nc SAID that in the year l77o Mr.. Murray
came TO America and distinctly proclaimed the
| truths OF Universasm and laid the foundation OF
this denomination in tnat year. u was. therefore.
thought desirable that the year 1870 should be cee-
b q y some decand ac' Ihs ne
o. By ,go he number Il the
churches, nor by the number OF preachers. Those
truths had found their way into all the churches,
and had peTmeated all Christian churches
mad and sss DsT sHas sso sEsvsS es ,ss S
orosehInr FOR there was no such preaching now as
that which Characteristic OF the great Calvlnis,
| John Edwards, for 1t would not be tolerated now.
such pictures Of the truth would repe men nom the
worship Of q God who could be 50 inhuman. The
progress OF Unlversalism must be measured by a
i broader view than the reckoning up OF the 500
| churches and the 500 or 600 preachers OF the Unit
versallst church. That would hasten the timo when
all men would act on the common principles OF
| Christian love and charity. Appause.l
Rev. u. @. BALLs then addressed the congregation,
showing that the progress made IN civl and political
liberty and relief from the thrald0m OF considerable
| spiritual darkness, by those living IN the present
times, was owing to the progress oi Universalisn
| and kindred truths. lilo then referred to what he
Thought was the Dest mode OF celebrating this cen-
tenary, which was by conservation OF their prop
| erty 70 this work. 50 that n century hence that
| which was given now would bear abundant fruit
| lev pr' MINER said that the history OF Universal
l ism had been that OF contest between two oppo
ste parties. The Protestant world taught salvation
| for some and eternal damnaton for tile rest. The
| for ALL Tnat was tho battle ground OF their creed
but the Universalist exposition OF the doctrine OF
| preached IN all tho churches though II might
few more REMARKS in illasrnton ,ss tnarc, Of
| he said that the Centenary fund would endeavor 10
accomplish several effects There were many
churches burdened with debt that should be relieved
| from IL, many parishes needing churches, many
churches needing 10 be reconstructed aud furnished
| several educational institutions 10 lie founded, and
/ also rellef funds Tor the maintenance OF ndigens
| cergymen and their families, and considerable homa
work In the churches. For these purposes u had
been thought desirable to raise fund OF SlOOOoO0 TO
! be called "1he Murray Centenary Fund" ~. Miner
then referred the necessity OF the berallty tine
churches being directed to this general fund and not
TO allow their llberaty TO DO merely irttered away
by local efforts, and 70 remember that SOU puIi.
! ned in California was o. precious In the sight OF
| angels AZ a soul purified In New YORK. IN reference
| TO the subscriptions to the fund New YORK and Mas
sachusets ought 10 raise ono.half OF the entire sum
The small state OF Indiana had raised stvOoo 'or a
educational institution IN hey inIos,. ne ,noup q
| that liberal gifts should DO made. because ,