The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-10-18

'e~' '"""s" 'OuHliDg among ltS
members number OF the more wealthy
and public spirited citizens of The town.
THE DEDICATION.
The noS church was formally dedicated
on Wednesday evening, October 10, with
a crowded congregation in attendance. On
the communion table stood beautiful
cross OF flowers, presented by the church
of the Unity, Springfield, Mass. The order
of exercises was as follows
l. Organ voluntary, by Professor G. f
Schuster - 'iiFtt
q Hymn No. B. sung by The congrega-
ton. .l
3. Invocation, by Rev. NJ. II. Harris, of
Brattleboro.
d. Reading of Scripture, by Rev. G. q.
Ferry, of Northampton, Mass.
8. Hymn No. AGA.
q. Dedicatory service from the writing, of
Or. Charming, read by the pastor, Rev.
VIM. J.. Jenkins
Z. Prayer of dedic ition, by Rev. !. T.
Moers, of Greenfield, Mass.
g. Hymn No. 704. rs
o. Sermon by Rev. DR.. Bellows, of New
York.
10. Prayer, by Rev. $. W. Bush, of Bos.
ton.
II. Doxology tttrr es
H. Benediction, by Rev. A. D. Mayo, of
Springfield, Mass.
DIR. BELLOWS DISCOURSE
was mastery, lucid and eloquent presen-
tation of the Unitarian faith as contrasted
with the more dogmatic Trinitarian oreeds.
Before announcing his text, he coDgratu-
lated the society in glowing terms upon the
architectural gem set in the lovely Connec-
ticut valley, which they were about to ded.
icate to the promotion of pure and liberal
religion. l rejoice, he said, that. like Da-
vid. you do not give to the cause that which
cost you nothing. nor that which ia not
yours TO give You have place of wor.
ship beautiful in its simplicity and freedom
from superstitious symbols, rs is your reli-
gous faith. The text was from |. Peter,
ill.,, 10, 1G;
But sanctity the Lord God III your hearts, ana
be ready always tn give an answer to every
man that ast eth you reason Of the hope that
is in you, with meekncss and fear:
Having good console nee, that, whereas they
speak EVIL OF you, as OF evil-doers, they may be
ashamed that falsely accuse your good CONVEX
sation In Christ.
The sermon may be outlined as fol-
lows
Fifty years ago all Unitarian Christians
were sincere in their convictions and held
them firmly, although denounced as de-
lists and intidels. and threatened with social
ostracism. Their departure from the
Trinitarian creed was not wide one, but
they were distinctly come-ouers, and the
press teemed with pamphlets on both sides
of the.controversy aroused by their heresy.
The attacks of the French deists upon
sectarianism led some iuto extravaganza. of
opinion, and they find their counterparts
to-day in those who stand aloof from all
churches and get their religion di. ectly
from nature and their own souls. The
mistake Of this class is disastrous and
fatal one. But the genuine Unitarans
said to their opponents, prove your Trini-
tarianism or we will prove our Unitarian
ism from the Bible. The argument was fair
on both sides and fairly conducted, as may
be found in perusal of the tracts
ioo"Su " p'O -NhVilCdu u ultuTldI dSsOcla-
ton. Now, neither orthodoxy nor Unita.
rianism rest on teXtual authority. Quietly,
but radically, the ground of discussion has
been changed. We find in the four gos-
pels the Uniiarianism of Jesus and the
apostles. bit insist that Christianity ia
not religion in book, but Il religion in
iife. UnitariaNism awaits the verdict OF
humanity's spiritual nature. The real
church Is God Hlhecir Ia tue gre..ing soul
and life OF humanity. The Trinitariaaauli
are tie hereics to-day. Professionalism is
forward movement and has been from the
first. Formal d0gmns are not the real sap
Of religion. The orthodox idea of the Tr-
nifty is a speculative theory Of the divine
nature. The doctrine OF the vicarious
atonement is fond prejudice, a pleasant
delusion, "A narcotic for human conscious
ness, n venerable relic of an expiring the
ology. The belief in everlasting punish
ment is plainly shocking and inhuman. Its
effect has been to drive people mad or else
harden them into stone. People could not
believe it and retain their love for God.
The doctrine is pow virtually surrendered
by the orthodox and it could not be revived
by any Combination Of forces Much the
same may be said of predestination and
foreordinaton. once attended funeral
WIN tt oi.h'''A tits anu at ltS
close he grasped my tand warmly and said
he should meet me by-and.bye in heaven.
Knowing my religion, rs he did, how could
he dare make such eli assertion if he was
loyal to his own creed?
We acknowledge that it is difficult to de-
fine unitarIanism, because it is religion of
development and growth. Our great lead
ers, Ware. Martineau and Charming differ
ed from one another. No man has said
moro things to offend the orthodox than
Charming, and no man is more acceptable
to them. The difficulty is not a reproach.
rejoice in the stigma of independence in
thought and belief. 1t ia said that young
people are unsettled by it. Yes, but when
young people settle too early, they settle on
barren ground. But, it is urged, if you don't
tell them plainly what Untarianism is,
they become impatient and 90 elsewhere
Let them 90. We cannot tell them what
we do not know. God, truth, love. PRAYER
Jesus Christ, are indefinable. We accent
Jesus Christ as the most divine and per-
feet specimen of humanity, but we have
no creeds. We can only suggest our opln-
ions. Those who are not satisfied must
seek shelter in ready made faith, that re.
lieves them from all thought and aspira-
ton. There is still plenty of room for the
defining sects, and it is perhaps true that
the masses need them. God, | humbly
trust, has raised us above them. Our home
is with the unanchored dwelers on Gods
spiritual sea, safely harbored in His love
whether the sky smiles soft above or temp
ests rave around us, secure in His guidance
and protection, however far we may be
from shore.
In conclusion, may state our position
upon some points that are regarded as fun
damcntal. We do not worship the Bible,
or make an idol or fetch OF it. We re.
gard it as the finest legacy of the author
ship of the past. Some parts of il are TO
us secular, some unintelligible, and some
Improbable for religious uses. We mean
to be wholly free in intellect and con
science in interpreting the scriptures. We
hnd the chief value in the Psalms, the
prophets, and above all, the four gospels
and st. Paul.
We do not make Christ the heoinn;nn