Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-01-12
Va. Hepwor,h,s Caec.

Mr. AepWOrthss Case.
On examining other reports of Mr.. Hep.
worih's farewell discourse, we find that the New
York Worlds report which we printed in the
Spy was very imperfect in some respects
Whether the Worlds reporter or its types are
responsible for the errors is more than we can
say. One of these errors, which our types
made worse by the omission of a single letter, is
very comical. According TO the Worlds re-
port, Mr.. Hepworth said: "Such state of
things is exactly suited to some Departments;
as fol- myself want free launch" The Spy,
by dropping letter, made the last clause read:
''As for myself want free lunch, pa very
droll expression to put into Mr. Hepworth's
mouth on such an. occasion. What he actually
did say reads in the correct report as follows;
SSuch state of things is exactly suited to
some temperaments, as for myself am not
free lance" There were other errors in the re-
port, but no other so notable as this.
Mr.. Hepwortb's case seems TO have produced
an unusual amount of feeling among Unitarians.
In the church with which he was connected,
there was a surprising outburst of sectarian
dogmatism we can think of no church of any
of the other denominations in which a hot ris-
ing against heresy would be more prompt or
more vehement. OF course, Unitarian church
has as much right as any other church to be
sectarian in the matter of theology and deal
summarly with hereticS but it is not On this
account less surprising to see Unitarian church
assert this right and make it cffeclve The tel
egraph gives notice that Mr.. Hepworth is TO be
attacked severely in the Liberal Christian" of
this week, which will 'hope" that he "wi be
acquitted of any deliberate purpose of betraying
the church committed to him,-as West Point
was to Benedict Arnold,-to our theological enc
mics" Benedict Arnold We think this is a
notable sort OF ''liberality."
Our concern is not so much with Mr. Hepworth
and his thcolo meal views, whatever they NAV be,
as with the outburst of UNCONVENTIONAL feeling
aroused by his alleged departure from the Uni
tartan faith, which furnishes a remarkable
study,--a very notable 'lcsson for the day.
considering the source from which it comes
Doubtless it is a sign of life, but not Just
that sort of life which many suppose
peculiar to '1iberal Christians who repndiate
creeds, eschew sectaranism, and profess the
highest and brightest style of Christianity.
Manifestly, the brightest and best OF us need to
give more attention to the exact meaning of
that badly used word 'liberality, )" when applied
to religion. All must admit that the heat against
MI. Hepworth furnishes much stronger evidence
OF life and positive convictions than could be
supplied by indifference; but that it has any
superiority whatever over the theological or re-
lieious life of other denominations, will be
questioned.
1t is manifest that we can not have the mil
lennium prematurely. Itwould have come long
ago, if it could be brought into existence by
vote Of convention, or by protesting the su-
preme TRANSPORTATION Of its influence We
may claim to have begun it in some particular
sect or party, and talk of making it universal
by persuading the rest Of mankind to adopt
our badge, pronounce our shibboleth, and swear
by our fraternity; but the human conditions re-
main unchanged, and all but ourselves will see
that the theological sect or party is merely one
of those "dens" of which Lord Bacon speaks.
can not see that theological speculation and
ke whether "orthodox" or "heretical," have
.lency whatever to bring on the mien-
p, can we see that Mr.. Hepworth's
elltlah could be injured by his ministry, should
it be continued, provided the life aud aim of that
church really mean something higher than ever
changing theological dogmas; but we can be in
structed, and our ears are always open 10 the
maa who speaks reason.