The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-08-28
editorial 8rtets.
BY REV. I. M. ATWOOD, D.D.
Canton, n. Y.

one know what that position is? So
far as we are able to gather it from nu-
merous recent deliverances, the funda-
mental position of Unitariaps is that no.
body shall ever be permitted to state the
Unitarian position. But if our learned
and amiable brethren of that name really
hold position, which may be stated-Uide
the Christian Register, Aug. 5-We do
not see tnat they really enjoy any ad.
vantage over the sects that have a creed.
A creed may be antiguated or a misrep-
resentation; but in origin and intention r
creed Is no more nor less tilan formal
statement of the body that issues it.
But there are creeds and creede. What
the world wants to know about church
is not its position on the silver question
or Mormonism, or tariff, or temperance
AS church it is presumed to hold a dis
tinct position on religion, to which its DO.
sltlon on the other subjects may besubsid-
iary, correlative or " innocuous." Religion
is not belief alone; it is not conduct alone.
1t is belief in reciprocal relation to con-
duct. A creed should not be a relic. It
is not thing to be piously pre- eserved for
the venerated associations connected
with it. Neither should it be an elab-
grated system of theology. Leave that
to the schools and the treatises. But it
should define distinctly and succinctly
Js.A
the people who proclaim it. Honesty re-
quires this. It is good policy also.
One would think from what he reads
in the newspapers since the decease of
Samuel J. Tilden, that he was one Of
those venerated idols Of the American
public, like Longfellow or Peter Cooper
whose probity and patriotism we're never
! suspected, and whose services were always
warmly appreciated by grateful people.
1t would never occur to him that this
man was so Systematically vilifed by
| a large portion of the press, that millions
of the American people had come to re-
gard him as q public enemy and selfish
money grabber. Why can not the truth be
told about public man while he lives?
Does lying pay better? We do rot believe
it. We believe it is the very worst policy.
as it is the quiutessence of n1eanness. to
abuse, malien and misrepresent your
political adversely. If s,ap not have
strict truth and absolute candor let us at
| the very least have decencv.
Mr.. Illden, having no family of his
own, did not commit the blunder of he
slowing his large property on the families
of relatives. He recognizes their claim
upon his consideration by making much
better provision for them than they had
been able to make for themselves: bnt
the great bulk of Lis fortune is given to
promote the public intelligence and com.
fort. Free public libraries in Yonkers. his
home, and in New Lebanon, his birth and
huriai-place, and great free public libra
ry IN New York city, are the objects which
seemed TO this sagacious American and
profound believer in American institu-
tions, worthy to absorb four of the five
millions of his estate. BY this DISPOSE
ton of his wealth, Mr.. Tiiden takes him
self out of the category Of the Stewards.
Nanderbilts and other rich New Workers
who have sought to perpetuate their
name 10y keeping their dead hands on
their cash, and enters the iliustrious list
of the Coopers, Peabodys Licks, Corco-
rams aud others, who gave back to
the world what the world had given
them.
"A correspondent of the Nation claims
to know that there were five hundred
applicants for five chairs made vacant in
the University of Mississippi. He also
| asserts that the vacancies were filed, not
on the ground of merit. but of orthodoxy.
| As he is one of the FIVE hundred his testi-
mony may not be wholly unbiased.
Bnt if we may assume that there were
half as many applications for the five
| prOfessoIships in that university, it would
seem to show, either that college proees.
sors are in a 'transition state" or that
there is a very extraordinary excess of
supply over demand in those engaged ia
the higher education As To the other
point, we suppose it does not follow that
a professor of Latin, Greek. English,
mathematics, etc, is the worse for being
Baptist or an Episcopalian; or the bet
ter for being an agnostie. Orthodoxy
often consists with learning.
We used to read of the days doings
at Chautauqua with feeling Of awe that
DR., Yiucent's disciples could in a single
season develop such extraordinary eapac-
ity of mental digestion. Four and five
solid lectures, an hour each, were the daily
ration. But We spent five days lately at
the new Chautauqua and coHtrived in
that time to give three lectures and one
sermon, each an hour loug; and to take
in two lectures on Hebrew Literature"
two ou Ethnic Religions" five on
Ethics one on the "IudiaH Cues
ton" one ON the "Help Afforded by
Religion 10 Science" one on the " Bitle
aud the Iutidel," and one on " BaaBt, -"
besides two Talks on tl.e Sew Fh.
ology," two sermons, three conferences
and q concert And sach Was our appe-
I tite from This ta.tg nf Dr sp......-z, a..