The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-10-23


will constitute the sect. There are even
now small sects in large sects. There is
different work for different churches. The
Methodist can not do the work of the
Presbyterian; the Catholic can not do the
work of the Quaker. Possibly another
church may yet be needed for the great
outside mass. Like new parties in pol
itice, there may be new combinations IN
the religious world. These several points
we're variously illustrated.
The Universalist and Unitarian Church
es had their rise about the same time;
the one to emphasize the idea of the
nobility of man; the other to emphasize
the idea of his love and goodness as op-
posed to the traditional ideas of his
wrath and hate, as seen IN the formulas
of human destiny. What is Universal
ism? In the popular apprehension it is
a doctrine of final destiny. 1t is rightly
so regarded from the special emphasis
given to that question. But it is large
subject; in fact, a system of interpreta-
ton for nearly every question that per-
tains to nature, man, law, God, Christ,
inspiration, retribution, character, sin,
salvation - everything that enters into
life and Providence. In the early his
tory of Universalism different faith in
the results of Gods providence was need
ed, and doctrine of destiny was pro-
claimed, which was relief from the in
tolerant oppression of the dominant faith
of that day. But the emphasis that is in
this denominational name is shifting to
new sections of the feld-not to induce
oblivion to that ideal result of perfect
ed universe not to take from the Script
ures that great word OF divine result
wherein "God shall be all in ALL" but
there is a universalism of relationships
in Gods providence that is equally sig-
nifcant, and for immediate and practical
uses among men, it is the more impor-
tant and imperative noU. It is more
vital, and its logic, as bearing even upon
remote issues, is more memorable and in
evitable than that of Scripture texts as
theoretically applied.
Here is an immediate world Of human
sympathy. Here are mutual depend
ence and relationship. Hope and
love and memory and unaccomplished
purpose-and all the manifold other woe
begetting and joy begetting possibil-
tiles Of this great humanity-all are here.
This humanity rightly related to itself
and harmonized is divine harp on which
the only celestial music may be rendered.
| Wrongly attuned, it is the source of all
| heart-breaking discord. Here is the
| field for the proclamation of the uni
versalism of common hope, struggle,
charity, sympathy and fellowship. This
thought would make larger Universalists
than are often found created by the the
DRY of results.
We are 80 constituted that we must
commence our thinking at the first point
of consciousness and then broaden to
wider circles. Like the circles about the
point of contact between the pebble and
the water, human thought is at first very
limited. Our senses are first in the order
of development, and child cries for
bread before it will call for God. But
we reach God at last, and if he be to us
God of love, we find him as such only by
walking in the paths and toiling in the
fields of human love.
This view would make all the narrow,
theoretical sectarians, of whatever name,
practical Universalists in the sense of
their discipleship in the gospel of COM
mon universal need and help. We would
all be broader in our sympathies as re-
ligionists if we based our classification ON
the foundation of human need rather than
on the basis of speculative theology.
How, indeed, can we know God or Gods
love without human love?
The Universalist who is made so by
broad and frank and living recognition of
common relationship will be larger than
one who is made SO by his judgment of a
mere theory of far-off results. And GER
tainly it is tine import of the text, that he
who knows no humanity will know prac-
tically no divinity. What does any man
know of heaven of love who has never
known even what kindness is here? Sc
cure right relations between yourself and
your neighbors, relations of love and good
will, and the question of destiny ia set
tied at once. For whomsoever gou love
will not go to perditionl
The larger sympathies of the world
have changed the old theology. DR..
Holmes says, " Put new idea into the
mind and it stretches it so that it never
shrinks back into precisely the same
form" So new feeling will enlarge all
things. The call that is heard on every
hand for a second probation is in obedi-
ence to the larger sympathies of these
times.
Reverse all these ties of sympathy
let them flow back into the great depths
let them be unknown and unfelt = let
love die out of human souls, and we will
have tyranny in government, selfishness
in society, oppression in labor, and
creeds which result in cruel and hateful
dogmas concerning destiny.
With love is revelation of nobility even
in the SHINING world. Love sees divinity
under the narrow and broken forms of
I, -.