The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-08-14
ANECDOTES OF HOSEA BALLOU.
BY ONE WHO KNEW HIM.1

only an acute, profound thinker, but
man whose preaching had wonderful
influence over the popular mind. He
understood men. The common peo-
pie" heard him gladly; the young list
ened to his instructions with delight.
Often in the discussion Of the knottiest
theological points, his illustrations were
so striking, simple, that he kindled the
liveliest interest in his themes, and
moved his congregations almost as the
winds move the waters of the great
deep.
Nearly forty years have passed since
Iheard him preach upon the atonement,
but 1 can never forget the clear, beauti-
full manner in which he set forth the
divine love for sinful men. Then it
was common enough to hear sermons
upon the wrath, OF anger of God, and
to be told that Christ suffered to ap-
pease that wrath. ''People find it hard to
understand, said Mr.. Ballou, ,-''how
good God can love sinful, evil men,
but it can be made very plain. Mother,
you have little girl, and she goes out
into the street to play, but in short
time runs back into your presence, all
bespattered over with dirt. You take
your child into the nursery, wash her
face and hands, comb her hair, put on
clean dress, and she looks as hand
some and happy as before. Now, tell
me, would you love the child because
you had washed it, or would you wash
it because you loved it?" The New
Testament idea of atone lent, as we
conceive it, could not well be presented
in finer words.
An angry, half pagan woman, bitterly
opposed to Mr.. Ballou's theological
views, once said to him when crowd
pressed about him, 'You are old Mr..
Ballou, the Universal preacher, arn't
you % ''My name is Ballou, madam"
"Well, do you profess to preach as
Christ and his apostles did p 'That
is my aim, madam, as we'll as l am
able" "But do you say, ye sarpents,
ye generation of vipers, how can ye es-
cape the damnation Of hell ?'' mo
madam, do not preach precisely like
That. Well, you are pretty gospel
minister, confessing that you don't
preach just as Jesus did, "But 1
don't have any of that sort of people to
preach to in my congregation, madam.
If you will get them all together some
Sunday afternoon, in your church, |
will go and preach to them" The
foolish woman was answered accord
ing to her folly. To any one intelli-
gent enough to see fully his point, he
would, perhaps, have added, that Christ
preached hell to the Scribes and Phari-
sees who well understood the literal
and the symbolic use of the term, while
neither he nor his apostles ever threat
ened Gentiles with Gehenna fire
A Calyinist minister of the ancient
stamp, insisted that Mr.. Ballou must
be perfectly willing TO be damned be-
fore he could be finally saved. "Well,"
said Mr. b., II should not like any
mistake on SO important q point. If l
am willing to be damned. you are GER
tain that shall be saved 20 "Oh, yes
certainly" ""Well, with thatpositive as
surance, have no serious objections :"
Lyman Beecher and Hosea Ballou
were acquaintance, friends, in some
ways, in the OIden days. Fifty years
ago, New England girls went out to
domestic service. 1t chanced that Mr..
Ball0u's servant was one of DR.. Beech
er's members. Upon her he was ac-
customed to call in his parochial visits.
But It was his custom to call upon her,
as a servant, in the kitchen, and not
upon the family at all. One day the
two famous men met in the street.
Good morning, Mr.. BallOu."
Good morning, DR.. Beecher."
Mr.. Ballou, had strange dream
few nights ago."
"Ah, DR.. Beecher, what did you
dream %
Il dreamed that died and went to
heaven. And saw a great many good
people there, Baptists, Methodists,
Congregationalists but did not see a
single Universalist in heaven, any
where"
"Ah, responded Mr.. BalIou ''WeI,
I suppose you did just as you do when
you come to our house to make your
calls, you went around to the back door.
and into the kitchen. If you had gone
into the parlor you would have been
very likely to have found us all at
home"
In famous sermon, preached more
than a half century ago, from the
words, "Ye shall know the truth, and
the truth shall make you free" Mr..
Ballou pointed out, first, some of the
marks or characteristics of truth, and
then the marks or characteristics of
error. Truth, " he said, sis consistent
with itself one part is related TO an
other, and all the parts when brought
together make one consistent whole.
Error is discordant, one part antagon-