Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-01-18
County Unitarian Conference.
SECOND DAY.

PRAYER was offered by Rev. Adm Ballou OF Hope
dale.
The secretary, Rev. VIM. 5. Haywood of Hud-
son, read his fifth annual report, representing
the number of parishes in the conference as
| twenty-nine, ofwhich twenty have made no min
iSterial changes during the year Returns of
their present condition had been received from
| twenty-lour of them, indicating hopeful and en-
couraging activity during the year in the vari-
Gus branches of society and Sunday school
work. The amount of S764 50 more had been
| contributed toward the American Unitarian as
ISOLATION than during any previous year, fifteen
societies having contributed sSS7.8S more and
five societies S123 less. Reference was made to
the happy results of missionary labors in Ber-
lin, where it was hoped new society would soon
be organized The Tcmpeton society had erect
cd new chapel during the year.
The treasurer, Mr.. John c. OTIS of Worcester,
announced the sum of S1656 as contributed by
the churches to the ScandlIn fund 1894 of it
from Rev. L. II. Halls society in this CITY, and
1902 from the Church of the Unity. The as
sociation had received S125 from the American
Unitarian association during the year. which,
added to S85.27 cash on hand at the beginning
Of the year, amounts to S16O27, from which de-
duct S14S.10 expenditures for various purposes,
and it leaves SPIT at present in the treasurers
hands.
An essay on "The lnter-relation of the Ma
terial and the Spiritual Life was then read by
Rev. A. j. Rich of Btopkield, He began by
saying that man is a complex being, both in his
organization and in his needs He has a life
material and life spiritual; duties that inhere
in the life that now is, and obligations that
reach forward to that which is to come. We
are admonished to do everything, in the CON
duct Of all affairs Of life, with reference TO God
TO be diligent in business, and at the same
time iervent in spirit-to care for the body and
also for the soul The two interests me mu-
tual, friendly and helpful, provided we will have
1t so We need the discipline of earthly care
and toll and responsibility to develope our man
hood aud give perfection to our moral nature.
There has been no mistake in the divine order
ing of our lives, or in the relations of the spir
itual to the material or both with the world to
come. Nor is it wise or well to insist on too
rigid a distinction between secular and re-
ligious acts, business and piety. The secular
Quoting its affairs in religious spirit, nor
should it seem out of place for press or
pulpit to lend its influence in lifting up secular
life by its leavening power. The man who
leaves his religion in the church with the feeling
that it has no right to follow him to the store,
or the field, or the work shop, or the home
circle, has but a poor idea of business
or religion, or domestic duties Work
and business need the infusion of devo-
ton to give them their highest character, and
best performance. The spirit which pervades
our entire life is far more important than set
DAYS of worship or set acts Of devotion The
difficulty comes when we give to material life
too large place in our affections, causing the
spiritual nature to suffer- and the talent unused
to be taken away. If on six days of the week
we leave out God, it will be hard work to find
him on the seventh. Religion in the heart will
always give to labor a sweeter flvor and
a better perform lnce; and the mereSt
drudgery done with reference to God and
the future, becomes elevated to a holy
service Paul making sails or preaching the
word, Peter fishing or trying to catch men,
Jesus making OK yoGes in his fathers work
shop or healing the lame man at the gate, were
doing the will Of God in all, only that the yokes
and the sails were well made, and were not sold
at too high a price. Material lie untouched
with the hallowing influences of religion, is def
cent in an important sense; and spiritual life
cherished for its own sake and confined to acts
OF devotion, becomes impractical and distorted
We have had GOOD illustrations of this in the clois-
tered life, where people, withdrawing from the
worlds temptations to escape its evil influences,
fell inro worse sins than Jhey ever knew before.
If piety is to bless active life it must come in
leayening contact with it. Spiritually devotion
has for its sphere of influence the entire realms
of life and duty. Il operates as the sun upon
plant life, to quicken, develope and ennoble
it. The divine fulcrum, the nearer walk
with God, is the power that elevates
life to its higher grade and nober mean
ing. We were not made to live apart from God
and be happy or useful. We know that the
planets farthest from the sun are the coolest,
and have the farthest to travel TO complete their
rounds. And, too, we may rest assured that
there is no true life which does not receive its
inspiration and hopes from above. True piety
has an ennohling effect on mental as well as on
neral power. Most of our noble triumphs in
art or literature have been attained by those who
have drank deep at the fountain of spiritual life
and love. Nor less does the impulse of spiritual
life act upon the physical being. true re-
ligion ever begets truer manhood. This spiritual
force, so powerful over mans life, should ever be
applied to the life of the church. Elegant
churches, with talented preachers, fine music,
and the pews filed with respectable wealthy tax
payers, cannot alone prevent religion from be-
ing at low cbb. Nor can creeds do it, Spirit
ual life is infinitely better than written creeds
to stimulate and quicken the churches, result
which can only be brought about by spiritual
communion with God and carrying his spirit
into daily duties Untarans should possess
fervor, a love, power, a burning and flaming
zeal, a spiritual consecratiOn and lpur-
pose, ii they would look for spiritual sue
cess. We already have basis and
platform divine as Christ, broad as
the universe, and solid and impreg-
nable as the truth of God, and to all who require
any remedy for defects, or means for advance
ment, | repeat that cur help must come from
that high and holy communion with God, whose
spiritual influence is unfaing and sure, and
thus lifting our banner high, we shall bearit
forward to a glorious triumph, and the "wel
done" from our master shall be our final re-
ward.
Rev. II. C. Bates of Sterling from the com.
mittee on credentials, reported 81 churches, rep
resented by % pastors and 14t delegates
Rev. George W. Stacey of Milford offered the
following resolution, accompanied with remarks
in its favor, and commencing the general views
advanced in the essay:
=, Resolved, that as believers in one God, and in
Christ tine beloved Son and Savior, we feel more
imam ever encouraged to press the claims of liberal
mltn which alone demonstrates itself IN the rand
work of reformation of all the children of EARTH
and the present yearnings of human souls towards
tue more excellent way" of salvation, Is our best
assurance that "hberty holiness, and love" will
prevail over bigotry and dogmNtc faith.
Rev. Mr.. Howard of Petersham seconded the
resolution, aud Rev. II. G. Bates of S terliur fol-
lowed in remarks favoung missionary work in
the county, as recommended by the late Rev.
Mr. Scandlin. Berlin, West Boylston and
Blackstone were among the fields of labor sup.
gested. Francis Dcane, ESQ., of Uxbridre. also
spoke ia reference 10 the prospects and needs
n. a.. .s.xs.gt A.