The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-10-02
editorial 8rtets.
---N-<SA4
BY REV. 1. M. ATWOOD, D. D.
Canton, N. Y.

IHE independent gives what appear to
1t good reasons FOR the opinion that the
Prohibition party, as political organiza-
tlon, Is doomed to failure. Its readers
will remember that it supported st. John
for the Presidency two years ago. and
Will be inclined to wait for its Indignant
to mature before taking its deliverances
as sure word Of prophecy. It is too
early for any one not endowed with the
prophetical gift to pronounce the doom
of the Third party.
Mark Twain joins the ever Ienptben-
ing list of authors OF reputation who vol-
unteer advice to those who are not an
thors and who have not reputation. but
VINO are conscious of certain yearnines.
lie talks to them seriously for humorist
and practically for so daring a visionary.
Write without pay until somebody
offers pay" is his condensed counsel
Mr.. Clemens does not seem to be aware
that large percentage of fhe books of
permanent value produced thus far in our
world have been written by authors who
expected nothing for their work and GOT
what they expected.
In the first flush OF their victory at
Cincinnati, the Unity" party seemed to
be carrying the Unitarian body, almost
altogether, over to the non-theistic. nom
Christian basis But the young GENTLE
men and ladies who invented that bran
new idea Of religion, and sued out pat
ent on it, were early with their hurrahs,
The returns were not all in. Since then
the editor of the Re9ister has been
taking vacation and the great Uni
tartan centers have been heard from.
They repudiate the Cincinnati platform,
as, in DR.. Hedges phrase, "an affront to
the history and reason of our Sect
Cornelius Vanderbilt, son of the late
Wm IL. Vanderbilt, has given many evi-
dences OF turn Of mind which promises
to make the Vanderbilt name famous for
other reasons than the possession of enor-
nous wealth. He has long been an active
member of the Young Mems Christian
Association and has used his position and
influence to promote the objects OF that Or
ganlzat1on In the cities along the Wander
bllt system" He has been conspicuous
In efforts made in behalf of the "perish-
ing classes in New York. His PROPOSAL
to erect and equip club house near the
the Grand Central Station for the use and
improvement OF the employees Of the
Vanderbilt roads, is quite in the line of
his philanthropic proclivity.
Whether it is because clergyman is
editor-in- chief, or for some less eccle-
slastlcal reason, the Sunday edition of
the New York Herald is the only Sunday
paper OF our acquaintance which has a
regular religious department, carefully
edited. The religious world is watched
by sharp eye, its doings, sayings, impor-
tant events are chronicled in brief, SO
that this department of the worlds life is
fairly presented along with the rest. IL
we are to have a Sunday paper it is not
AANNScAoSAO w CApcCU LII IL I'LL 1QTelll-
gent survey and summary Of the rel;e-
ious activity of the time.
The Rev. G. F. Thwing says in the
Advance, that as pastoral theology has
been taught Cn the theological semin-
| arles) 1t consists of the barest common
places and insipid platitudes." He AYERS
| of I,o
where he was fitted for the ministry, and
infers it is SO generally. Mr.. Thwmg is
somewhat given TO drawing inferences at
long range. But he is right in thinking
that the commonplaces and platitudes
should be replaced with vigorous, help.
full, practical instruction as to the actual
administration of churches and parishes
Young men find that when they get into
the ministry that what they need is
knowledge how to do things and how to
get their people to work. In school they
are apt to be impressed with the value of
other accomplishments
The editor of the AdUaace brought
against the Andoyer professors the charge
of treating lightly the miracles of Jesus,
and gave as his auth,r rity former An
dover student. The professors all and
seyerally made prompt denial. Then the
AdUdHce gave the statement of the stu
dent which fell quite short Of sustaining
the charge. Now, Professor Hincks, the
professor referred TO by the student, pre-
sents the letters of the eight other mem-
bers of the clase, all agreeing, not only in
e6culpating the professor, but in testify
ing to his reverent handling of the Sacred
Word, and to the impossibility that he
should have used the language or the
manner attributed to him. This would
satisfy ordinary demands for vndication.
But the editor persists in treating the
professor as guilty, and piously remarks:
at will be matter of general sorrow
that Andover is in the hands Of such men,"
We would kindly but firmly admop-
ish our Congregational brethren who are
getting rather forid on the quotation Of
Audover-future probation-Aldep. etc
etc, that if they are not more careful what
they say and how they say it, the ungod-
/ ly will certainly baIiavz tL,t Al,