The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-10-30


ship is within the comprehension Of
the youngest of young people, Are We
doing all that we should in behalf of
young people? l don't like to find
fault. 1 serve notice to these college
representatives that l am not q candi-
date for the degree which Br. Biddle
once thought should be established,
viz, d. C.,-DenOminatiOnal CrOaker,
but confession must be made that
we are not fulfilling the measure of our
responsibility in this matter. We min
listers do not preach enough to the
young. We have learned to love 1.-The
still air of solitary and delightful
studies" We labor under peculiar
temptations. First, so large is the free
dom under which we study and preach,
that we are are encouraged to read and
present dissertations upon lofty scien-
tific and philosophical themes. They
charm Us and, secondly, we preach to
congregations that are above the aver
age in intelligence and mental calibre
So we know that to many of our hearers,
these abstTuse themes are attractive
So we often present criticisms upon the
leaders in scientific and philosophic
thought. But yOnder young man who
has spent the week behind the counter,
measuring ribbon or weighing sugar,
cannot follow the most eloquent and
powerful speaker in the treatment of
such topics. He is too tired for that.
He hasn't enough education for that.
We weary him with our talk. So ne
goes to the church over the way, where,
perhaps, far less learned or eloquent
man, tells him some plain truths about
his life, or brings before him some
grandly simple and true character Of
the past for his admiration and posi-
bly, emulation.
But the laity are not to escape criti-
cism; and | wish to offer few sugges-
tions which, if followed, will offset the
losses that make our churches seem
like a religious sieve. In the first place,
let us begin with these young people
while they are children. Let us first
Of all possess our own. Take those
children and impress it upon their minds
that they are birthright Universalists,
and that this fact carries with it sacred
privileges and duties. We are almost
unique in that position as a church.
The Catholic child is no Catholic until
christened, the Baptist child is no Bap-
tist until it is immersed, the Methodist
child is no Methodist until it is born
again. BY our belief, the Uniyersalist
child is born child Of God, an heir of
immortality and of heaven. He is born
into the royal family and should never
be allowed to forget it. Second, teach
the children, just as soon as their young
minds can stand it, the doctrinal basis
of our church. Right here some one
will say, Don't rob the child of lib
erty. Let the child make his own
choice when he comes to the years of
discretion. Precisely. But when he
comes to make that choice, let him have
knowledge enough of the Universalist
faith to give that faith a fair trial
Third, put some of the interests of our
church into the hands of the young peo-
pie whenever they show themselves
worthy of our confidence. Fourth, one
should create the missionary spirit in
their hearts. There is not only some
thing to do, but there fs something to
be, if we would get the sympathy and
cooperation Ofyoung people. First, we
must be hospitable. Second, confident
Of the future of our church Third,
consistent in our religious life. Fourth,
alive to the new methods of this new
day.