Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-12-01

q ~ reason - veil = she heart Univessal.
,sts and unitarians are carrying the Prot
estant idea OF reason to it, legitimate con-
c.s ons- The two der ominasions differ on
some points, but on the cardinal doctrines
taey agree.
Reason believes in God, and that He enters
every soul just 80 far a. it can receive Him.
1t does not confne him within an individual
itv akin to mans, bot conceives Him ~ alb
soluts and infinite. None but the iIliterate
can believe in . deity seated above the clouds
from whence he govern. the separate Affairs
OF men. Rras IN does n It pretend to under
rtand God. but it assures Us that when we
Worship the highest of which We can form
any conception. We are approaching the vor-
chip of the true God. Each man makes his
own God and generally makes him in his
own image. The soul Of man instinctively
pfays TO God. He cannot commune with .
vacant heaven in which no divine heart feels
for his sorrows and forgives his sins, hut
looks up to something above himself, and 80
is lifted higher and made better Reason
also believes in J~sus that he established Q
pure religion founded not On dogmas or SEN
timents but on righteous life. He was sub
jrcted To ali the conditions of humanity,
worked fur his daily bread. hunRered and
needed food, was wearied and needed rest,
/ CIV
in his intentions and had to retreat
before the hostility be excited; was betr syed
by those in whom he had reposed confidence
and finally. when pain burned in every nerve
and the darkness yelled his spirit, he prayed
that the cup might pass from him, but was
| strengthened and went forth as a conQuerer,
to meet disgrace and death. To love his
character is to love the qualities that made
him lovable. The reverence for Jesus has in
creased the number of reverential men.
Reason also believes in the Bible not as in
fallible hut that it holds truth that man
needs. Even If the Bible were infallible, it
would not be infallible to US without an in
fallible interpreter who, out of the many
possible interpretations. Ould select the true
one. 1t is a ray from the sun of truth. and
gives the beginning Of a revelation which
has been continued up to the present hour,
and will continue to bring good thou xhts to
! men until the race returns to Him from whom
ii came. Reason believes that man is made
in the image of God and that the unlovely
traits that are in him show a nature chaotic but
not depraved. They refer not to past trans
erosion, but point to a coming glory. To
overcome his crudties man must devote him
self TO the best things because they are the
best. If he does the best he can he has as
good chance of a happy hereafter as the
|
from hell. Men are no: Influenced for good
by fear. Fear makes moral dwarfs,
love alone can make spiritual giants. Rea-
| son stands aghast at the atrOciuus doctrine
Of everlasting punishment and pronOunces it
libel on God. 1t believes in hereafter
that is ftaught with hope for all. not with
despair. Such is an epitome of the faith of
reason-our faith. We STAND in the line of
men tho were true to their convictions and
gained for us freedom for thought. We have
a noble faith whose sweet gospel was written
with Hopes own sunbeam for a pen, and it
forecasts the coming faith. Oh! is it COM
| ing? Sometimes the heart aches with doubt
when it contrasts ideals with the realities.
Yet only with a reasonable faith can relig-
ion be freed from her shams, her hatreds.
| her bigOtry, her super.titOns, her mental
and spiritual thralls. When the clergy shall
leave of cursing in the name of God and
the people shall leave of eursing at that
name and all shall greet the summer of a
universal love. religion shall be free, and as
pirations shall blossom and ripen to their
| iruitage, and Hopes fair harvest shall satisfy
the hungry soul, and the beauty of q new
| Eden shall invite to a new life, and the
| Brotherhood of man shall be his Paradise
| reganed, and the world shall be filed with
the light of truth.
AT THE FREE BAPTIST CHURCH.
Union aervices were also held at this
church and were conducted bv Rev. Mr.. Pen.
new. assisted by DIR. Kicker and Rev. MIR.
Bradlee of the M. E. church. Mr.. Penney
took far his text. Col 3: IL: "Be We thank
full
The surroundings of the text show its i'm
portance. 1t stands in a long list Of Christian
duties: in a life and character sketcbed by
Tho anos,le which if manifested and led
would make this world a v.ry holy and happv
ulace. like a link in a golden chain. like
can stone on the beautiful structure which he
had reared. il tells of one pervading principle
and affection which should leaven the be.
LEVERS whole heart and life. Remember all
the other duties, the apostle seem. to cay,
but never forget this, .Be We thankful"
Here we have the mood of spirit in which
the true Christian should be seeking to 20 on