, 1873-05-11
The Unitarian Conference OF.
the Previous Week. "
Graphic Pictures Of the Occasion and
-... Its Personnel. I -: =:
Affecting and: Vivid Glimpses Of Pastoral
Work In the Vest. -:

'
other cares, OF an almost objectionable indiffer-
enee, prevented many Of you from going; and
now wish I. could tell those who might have
gone what they lost, and. at the same time.; save
those who could not 90 from great regret
Yet, in saying this I draw By Inference an obvi-
ous distinction, for we can never feel such re-
eret about The thing We want to do but: cannot
az for the thing ne can do but will not. can
rlwsys get over the one the other has, given
me al1ayB the kcenest regret. It is one e!e-
mont in what the Bible means by, tn @
worm that dieth not and the fire that
is not quenched, and the poet when he cries:
OF Ill s.d words of tongue and pen
=. The aaddest are these: it might have been..
So that it is no doubt true that one Of the prime
leszons ne have to learn in this life, in order to
be fitted for better, is just this: That NO shall
lose no opportunity opening toward our 'higher
life through 1fartha-like slavery to numbering
cares, which might for the moment be set aside ;
OF what is even worse than that, an easy going
carelessness like that Of Gallo, who could see
nothing in the position OF man like Paul and
feel nothing in his spirit in contrast with that Of
tho Pharisees and Zealots which ought to arrest
him and compel him to sit down for one day and
give his whole heart and soul to the matter.
have said Tas painfully prevented from
but I WIS there for the greater rnrt Of one
dav. and what heard and felt and saw in those
few hours hiss made me bold to speak to you OF
Whit you hare missed You have missed the
finest Conference Of. liberal Christian Churches
over held west Of the ANeghenios-a communion
with the best company OF apostles and prophets
TINT eyer gathered together Mt one time: You
lave missed hearing some OF the strongest,
sweetest, and huest words ever said on such an
occasion; and q spirit SO earnest that in. the
r T and
ed down just now With many cares,1 was lifted
up and pervaded by it 80 that I thought OF the
Pentecost for q comparison went oTer with
out any great expectation. We have had rather
years past and feared this would be one OF the
old sort. It Was ::as bright as q day
In June. as fresh Us the winds in
the u,id-Atlantic. as ethereal at: it's
best .s the atmosphere on the crest of the! Alps,
and as Refreshing as the rivers OF COD. 70 the
Daniel, it would have been clear that the Lord
had sent His angels into the place. The proph-
cts would have watched for the sheen aud lis
tened for the sound OF their wings. We have
better than to look for them, and that may bo
thereason Why wedo not see them; stin, they we1e
there under other naInea and in many gulses,
bringing their blessing out Of the very heart OF
Heaven.
gathering in connection With our faith and order
in these Western lands. For presume that,
while yo, may be Indifferent about attending
such meetings, you hare warm place IN
your heart for that faith OF which
. fhey are the embodiment, because
you love truth and freodom. sweetness and Light,
the Gospel Of God and Of Christ md yo9r fellow y.
ua N such cruel bondage from the time when
xs s ehd5sn and l1y shr amaEs 5e ng15s sa
fire, to the time when We broke aWay from them
n not e~ng 6 TtheI fh we
/; truth Of the divine fatherhood and broiherhooa
carried by men Ike Ghanntng and IL EalkeI 70 70 ts an
pure conclusion, and 30 opening tne way 10 a9
infinite Application, as re ma oua noae osa ano
more wtas fatnerhooa ana prplaernoou m ma@4 :ot
- 1. The first thing thst toucnea me, Wnen g9s
ths1e and began to 1ook about me was t1a a aees-
rs that must % ofmne snteer9av ga s3nca ~ %st
began to preach to you a a. y yo4r pa p@stho1l h
snd attend these meeg anu satted Sam "ver nus
one man st the Conference stan sesu9o oser @
church in the Mest "ho mas seened % 1nen, anns ~,
when came 70 sntna ~ ~ gse y; r,o3,t ~ satt1sent
Oldest minister buE one, N Pon. ~
anywhere west OF NeW 1orA sau Eaa la1s"