The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-02-18
UNIyERSALISM.
of Its Centenary Remarks o
Rev. MIR. Chaplin.

Celebration of LIS , Gept!ssnary- Remarits of
The one hundredth anniversary of thefounding
of Universalism was celebrated at the POLYTECHNIC
Institute, in Brooklyn, last evening. The chapel
of the Institute was filled to its utmost, and the
addresses were listened to with attention and
enthusiasm. The Rev. E. w. Crowell called the
meeting to order, and nominated Demas Strong
for Chairman, who was unanimously elected.
In taking his seat Mr.. Strong explained the OBJ
ject of the movement, aud called upon the
Rev A. j. Canield President of the First Uni
yersalst Society in Williamsburg, who delivered
an eloaHent address, enlargilg on the duties of
Universalists, the activity which must be kept
up In order to have the church thrive, not
thinking that because Henry Ward Beecher ac-
cepts Universalists as members of his church in
GOOD standing, that that, perhaps, is the proper
time to lay by the armor. We must grow in
proportion to the growth of our institution. We
REQUIRE to have larger hearts and larger heads,
and the test question is simply this, Whether we
will be able to show, in proportion to our num-
bers and influence in the community, that we
are as much consecrated to our faith as our
fathers were one hundred years ago?
The Rev. DIR. Chaplin then came forward and
was received with great applause. He said he
didn't feel that 1t was at all unclerical to come
forward and speak after seeing such cards played
-(referring to the subscription cards M which
Qaughter.) We wish to signalize this centenary
year, he remarked, not by our faith, but by some
voluntary offering, which shall carry forward the
truth which IN aSsOclateu VIII tnlb one nun
dredth anniversary. AS has been often said in
the course of these meetings we consider our
truth itself as old as Christianity, and if any
one asks 'where was Uniyersalism $50 or 200
years ago." we say where the mans face
was before he washed 1t in the merning.
It was covered with dirt, but It was there.
Gaughter.) DIR. Chaplin continued that he
was a strenuous believer in Individuality In any
RELIGION. He could allow no priest, bishop or
pope to decide for him his convictions. His
light of reason might be feeble and small, but
il was the best he had, and God had kindled 1t
to guide his feet, and he would assert 1t against
al" denominatlonal FORMS all ecclesiastical
assumptions. He could not for a moment
attempt TO repress or control 1t. Applause. !
Our great fundamental doctrine, out OF which
all important results fiow Is the absolute Father
hood OF God. We believe in Its efficacy as Q
converting, regenerating element, and that this
doctrine may be carried forward band ourselves
in q denomination and establish denomina
tional machinery. It seems to me tn,
question stands, Shall the future of this countr,
be Roman Catholic, shall 1t be materialism, o
shall IL be Christian not whether IL shall b
Baptist, Methodist, or Quaker. Some there ar
who say, 1--WE are weary with discussion, W
are sick at heart Of attempting TO probe th
mvstery of things; doubtless 1t is their futur
~ drix into the calm paths of the Catholi
Charch.n' On the other hand, however me
may stop for the moment for definition, an