, 1880-03-28
THE UNIVERSALlSTS.
The Illinois Conference at Relvidert
Special Dispatch to The Chicago Tribune.

The Illinois Conference at Relvidere.
Special Dispatch to The Chicago Tribune.
DELy1DERE, ILL.,, March c7.-Ycsterday after
noon the Illinois Universalists commenced q
three days conference in this city 1t is being
held in the Untversalist Church, Of which Everett
Green, young theological student, has been
pulpit supply for two or three months past. The
services yesterday were the ordination Of Mr..
Green.
at o'clock the Conference was opened. DR..
J. ". Hansen, Of Chicago, occupied the chair.
The Rev. C. E. Tucker, Of Aurorn, is Secre-
tary. The candidate for o, dinntion was ex-
amined by the Council. In reply to
questions submitted By members OF the Council
Mr.. Green offered the following views, which
seemed to meet the approval Of his UniversAlist
interroeators: He believes in the inspiration Of
the Bible; that it is the work Of man, developed
not by the will Of man, but by the influence Of
tho Holy Spirit. There are in the Bible ele-
ments Of both natural and supernatural relg-
ion. The former Is exemplitied in prayer, the
inter in the answer to prayer. Evidences of
the immortality OF the soul he finds in
sacred histry, in the resurrection of Christ,
and in the fact that man is taught
by intuition to expect that there will
be q hereafter when this life is done.
Punishment, he thinks, the just reward for
wrongdoing; repentance frees from sin and its
consequences only in measure. He is con-
WINGED of future punishment, where shame
and remorse will be the heritage Of the esil-
docr The object of punishment is twofold; to
make the transgrcssor conscious Of his wrong
doing, and in the end to reform him. Doctrinnl
probation he believes to begin at the start of
life. to continue through life, and into the next
world as well us this. The new birth, or being
born again, he considers the revival Of life tho
awakening up to q sense Of religious duty. He
does not consider baptism and communion alb
so1utcly essential; they are helps, or aids
and he would not dispense with them.
they are beneficial in the sense that they dr1lw
ones thoughts toward religion and toward God.
He does not believe in the nnnihilation Of
human soul; he believes in uniycrsnlisn.
Upon motion Of the Rev. c. f. Tucker it was
voted to confer upon the candidate the rite of
The ordination sermon was preached by the
Rev. G. E. Tucker, of Aurora. His text, Romans
l., is: "For l am not ashamed of the Gospel of
Christ, for it is the power Of God unto salvation
to every one that DcIeveth' to the Jew first and
The reverend gentleman opened his discourse
by euloeizing the life and teachings Of the
apostle Paul. Who in point Of influence in the
Master whom Paul served.
What is tho Gospel, that OF which We are
taught not to be ashamed?
analysis of the Gospel, and to call attention to
some Of tho elements Of its power When Jesus
began His ministry there was such knowledge
Of God in tho earth and such only, as to cause.-the
people to stand in awe before Him. They spoke
of Him universally: as the Creator, the Sovcr-
eign Ruler, and tho Supreme Judge Of nations;
Those who cherished lively faith in Him stood
more or less in fear Of his Divine Majesty, and
trcmbled in expectation Of some terrible judy
mcnt. In the first sermon that Jesus preached
tfhnt peerless production called the Sermon
On the Mount y. Jesus spoke Of God as the iy-
ing Father of the whole human race. He said
that be was being full Of tenderness and love;
t,ofh h1If inf acf nra
than earthly parents hud for theirs, being kiud
even to the unthankfu! and the evil. 70 the
Jews he said. When ye pry to n the e G Ged eda Of
Sinai amid thundcrings, and lghtnings, and
blasts that shook the mountain and
filled all Israel with fcnr, when yc prny to Je-
hovuh, the God of Abraham, lsnuc. aud Jacob,
s!ly Our Father" 1t is for you that lie has
made the earth so beautiful in its seasons: for
you that IIe renews each day the light of suns
tho flowers and delicious tiavors to the fruits:
and out Of trial and persecution gives blessings
more and greater than words can tell.
Jesus spoke concerning God gave to MIN such
IDEAS in regard to Him, such assurance Of His
Divine Fatherhood, as to prove powGruntos sal,
vution to every one that believed. It thrilled
the soul Of men and women with higher aud
holier thoughts than ever before had been
awakened in the human mind, and history IN
thoughts, swaycd and controlled by such convic-
ions, were lifted up, were given new ncentiye
10 r1obIencss, felt new impulse toWard5
goodness, were made helpful in the cause Of
humanity, and saved by this element of the Cos
3cl's mighty power. Then cnme to them days OF
iurkncss, trial. and brooding mystery, days
yhcE danger threatened and death stared them
n the face But with tho assurance afforded
hem BY Jesus, that Father Of intlnit wisdom,
power and lave was mindful Of their condition.
hey could be calm and confident, trusting and
triumphant Again, the Gospel that revealed so
ully the fact Of Gods Fatherhood also made
ruowu Us q sequence and complement of thAt
rust tho fact of human brotherhood. Tint
which ever has and ever viii prove an element
If power in the Gospel is the assurance It NJ
/. t truth ~ taught By Jesus, demonstrated through
lis death .{the unniversury Of which occurs TO-
nlny churches throughout the world) and in his
csurrection. The world to-day needs preachers
vho will teach this great truth; preachers who,
ike Paul, are ready to preach OF the Gospel at
Iny.:cost, in any place, and ut any time
Upon the conclusion of the sermon, the Rev.
}. c. Tomlinson offered prayer: The charge was
md $An E4rfy, r,tas f1r1E