New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-09-30
THE UNIVERSALIST CHURCH.
THE REV. DR. PULLMAN SPEAKS-A GROWTH
IN SPIRITUALITY NOTED.

THE REV. DIR. PULLMAN SPEAKS-A GROWTH
IN SPIRITUALITY NOTED.
OF the state aud prospects OF the Unlversalst
societies l., the city. the Rev. James II. Pullman
d. D. pastor of the Church Of Our Saviour said !:
Our denomination has not kept pace numerically
with the growth of the citys population; II had ~
would be the only instance in the world CT tho KIND
The growth of great cities is abnormal. while the
growth of Christian denominations is normal and
has 10 meet aud overcome the worldinoss That grows
with great cities We lave mad existence as church
only sxty-fve years. Since our beginning in 1929.
six soc,etits have b organzedof which the fourth
the Church of the Divine Paternity. became the
greatest under Dr. Chaplin. The six societies by
coocentraton have been diminished to four
churches and one mission. Unlike tho Roman
Catholic Church, we lose our natural increase by
the drifting of young people into the suburbs,
where rents are cheaper
"Witnin fifteen years our societies have grown in
influence and wealth. and all the churches but one
have been replaced by handsome tdi6ces. We stand
IN this respect like other denominations; though
onr churches are not more numerous than they
were twenty years ago. they are Tar better nstru-
ments The full Office of n Church is TO modify
conduct AZ well as opinion, and this we are doing
now az never before. 1t is only within tho last
ty.pty-fye years that tao den Dmination arrived at
sell. consciousness. Since then, though there has
been no essential change doctrine. there has been
in empl asis Our churches. from centres of doc
trnal reform have become centres OF spiritual life
"Our missionary labors have been devoted to
work among the ter ement house population Of both
sides of the city, We have single organized mis-
sion on The asst Side. but work is done individually
hy the societies. This church took mp new feat
nr, this sumIner Ike that of TgE TRI8CEEs Fresh
AR Fund 1t was an experiment. but we succeeded
in giving vacations in the country to l0l children
a.l. tad from liza
took pains 10 see them clothed aud provided good
homes inspecting all the places before sending The
children there. We sent sonio mothers with SICK
children, and also CAV. needed recreation to some
worn ont shOp-grls. We were mucn encouraged py
the result and W Ii resume the WORK next Summer.
THE TRIBUNE WAS great help to us IN making
kno I'm the character of the work by the publication
OF ITS own dongs with the Fresh Air Fund.
"The lberalZlng tendency Of the times mas
affected our denomination TO strengthen IT, Mhat,
ever .iberazes the people sends them 10 liberal
churches or into the open. The drift toward the
sea of posiivism and agnOstcism has dlscOVeIeu 10
te UnIversa.isJ Church that II VIII not 90 tnere
Ii plants itself without single question upon the
autnority as Divine Teacher Of Jesus Christ THIS
is not new with us. but 1t has been deyeloped ~
full sympathy long ago with tue tide OF ibOlicai
criticism both constructive and hesiructlye, and u
has developed our position. We are CHRISTIAN
Chnrch NV personal experience is that within the
last ten years there has been strong ana growing
tendency toward fraternity between the ministers
and people OF the other denominations and the Uni
yersalist There mas been "a decidsd change IN our
method OF preaching doctrine: the old bitterness
has pretty well passed from theological con-
troyerSy. Yet UniverealIsm as system OF DOC
trine was never strongly clearly stated as IL
is to-day. Tue change has boen that which has
made us a positive force Tor dong Christian worK
instead OF mere reforners OF theological doctrine.
The ministers meet in this study once month"; anu
consequently my hand is on their pulse. Ihey
never were full of hope and courage as they are
to-day They expect large and worthy future
for the Church not on narrow sectarian ground,
but on their power to help humanity