, 1874-06-08
"UNlVERSALISAI,

Fifth Conference OF tho missionary
Union.
The fifth Conference OF tho Universalist Mis-
sonary Union OF Chioaso met yesterday after
noon ut the Church Of the Redeemor, corner Of
Washington and Bangamon streets.
Tho exercises we're opened with music by the
choir. aud prayer by the Roy. Mr. Ralph. Of
Murray Chapel.
PEealdent Chadwick being abaont, tho
E1nsT v1cE-pREs1DEuT, J. II. EVAN,
presided. who briefly stated tho history OF the
organization, which was for tho purpose Of
bringing tho throe Univo,salist parishes together
in closer aud moro friendly association, and II
had already beon productive Of much good
The hymn F" Como Thou Almighty King"
waH then sung, after which
THE nEv. W. 8. RALpH
mad few remarks on the question OF what at-
titude tho UniveraaliRt Church should sustain
towards tho liberal thought and tendency dis
played In the Evangelical Churches. He said
that they should Htand with arms WIDE open to
embrace those who were approaching Universal
ism. He might do como ono an injustice by
what he was going to aay yet he had Boen some
be said. 4 liberal thought in the EvanEolical
Churches IN this tho nineteenth century was
/ unique. The old creods remained !; there
was a tendency to ignore thom
To illustrate, Prof, Swing had said ho did not
bellovo tn ,prcdosttnatton, but how many others
had said this? Tho members of hia Church un-
deratood Prof. Swings doctrines to bo evangelical,
while thosa outside the Church thought tGom to
DO exceedingly liberal.
!: Tho reverend gentleman said that every man
had an obligation to stand BY the
truth as bo understood 1t. He con-
tesaed ho had little faith in orthodoxy.
church in preference to hia own. What tho
Church wanted Was men Of conviction, honest
men, who dared openly speak their sentiment to
the world. He didn't caro- for tho triumph Of
for tho triumph Of It's principles. It was their
duty to stand firmly by those principles. Ho
gave q soathing rebuke, to Uuiveraalists who
neglected their own services and attended, tho
THE nEy. DIR. ronnEsrEn
followed on tho RRme subject. Ha said 1t was
well that the meaning Of tho terna they usod
ahould DO w. veil undo1stood Indicating with tho
lfgion Of Jesus Ghrist, and in this Universalsts
wore Evangelical. Bit tho word had beon usod
to designate those who believed in certain doc
tFtues a. psetdesna1tton ,1 tota1 depravity ETC.
tons Of other things in tho Evangelical and
Of Christ; Of tho, destiny Of man.
stvo movement must como from tho pow, not
from tho pulpit. The people wero responsible
for tho advance Of liberalism. Tho whole Bystem
Of Church Affairs was tending to HhoW tho truth
that liberalism came from the people,
The Bible waa capable Of many ambiguous
readings, and could DO Interpreted in lbcraf or
! narrow direction, according to tho various
tondoncloa Of thought lie would grant that
tlore WAS tondonoy towards liberalism, and
It might DO all right for tho UuiyersallBts
to stand with open arma and receive
thoso who waro approaching their belief.
Thoy, said the doctrine Of infant da,nnatioa was
people who were struggling to broak away from
tho thralldom Of old Ideas. and patience with
pastors striving to reach ultimate truth, and for
those who wore still busIed with the dogmas Of
tue past. There wns something grand In seeing
man atand up for what liz folt to bs tho truth
OF some priucipIe Of the past. The world Lad
navor Henn grandor example Of devotion to
truth than the polished, eod-hearted Patton,
tho truth OF Ills toueta Iii splte Of
oyerH aelmlng opposition. Nothing could reach
the loarta OF all as the love OF man. Lows
tlat beamed out from thu soul In whatoyor they
did and Hatd. Whore elao could be found tho
distinction between humanity mud Lnther!am?
It %aa lovo that whitenod our raimonts and
would one day. I'LL tho broad earth aud bring 1t
led IN thiB mattor woro tho laYgarda. II WAS tho
| proAa, the peope-tle common mRsseH OF tho
peoplo,-that wore DONG tho work. Tho proaol-
ors, tho most liberal Of them. wore like Nieude-
| mus whom ho oatu0 with hiH professions Of faith.
Alr. Forester alluded at length to the liberal
| vioWs OF certatn mntaters of tho South Side, aa
well AZ of the North and Weat Bldos.
II THE REV. r. Il. PULLMAN
next addressed tle maatlnR in reference to the