The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-11-13
Edited 9ntes and Ne,ps

Dhute DlVlnS comedy tond5 ITO cast
ridicule and contempt upon the different
existing religions;" and they have inter-
dicted it on that ground.
The desire or expectation of enjoying
good without paying for it is one of the
worst forms of depravity. Let the class
who aboard around" among the churches
to avoid pew rents, remember this fact.
1t Is stated, on what authority we
know not, that "the American Associa.
ton for the Advancement of Science
held prayer meeting during its recent
session at Saratoga which was we'll at
tended and heartily participated in by
many of the scientiste.'
Plain takers are called for by the
Baptist Weekly. 1t remarks: "And what
is true of platform efforts is true of
preaching. Not rounded periods nor roar
ing orasory, but earnest plain talk is
what commands attention and carries
conviction to the hearts of the average .
congregation"
The Able Roux, a recent French
writer, well says that "a poplar leaf can
hide the sun from our sight; the slenderest
terrestrial care hides Gods shining i'm.
mensity. Was it not because of mems
disposition to place the petty interests of
this mortal life SO near to their vision as
to shut out of view their highest concerns.
that Jesus so earnestly entreated his dis.
ciples "to take no thought for the NOR
row."
The Catholic World takes lively
interest in the Audover CONTROVERSY. Tt
says that "ths Massachusetts, courts
should decide whether the trustees can
give the emoluments of those chairs to
those who have departed from the de.
nominational standards fixed by the ben.
efactors." 1t also contends that Harvard
University was taken from the orthodox
Congregationalists without a protest. Is
not this last a mistake? Was it not the
occasion of very decided CONTROVERSY
in all New England?
In recent criticism of Julian Haw.
thorne's essays, the reviewer of the New
York Tribune wisely remarks: "a God
who is Indifferent to personal vice and
virtue, who only orders things for the
general progress of humanity as whole. a
God whom we can neither serve nor offend
and whom we are not required to obey,
is no better than the blind impersonaI
Force which is supposed to have started
the evolution of primordial protoplasm
into this visible universe. Admitting the
existence of God, we cannot help placing
the basis OF morals in a conformity with
the divine will"
1t has sometimes been claimed 1--WE
quote editor of the UniUersalist Herald
that the doctrine of probation, or repent
ance after death, has tendency to cut
the nerve of religious effort Not so,
however, thinks the Rev. Mr.. Williams,
editor of the ST. Louis Central Baptist
He says: "Could it be known that there
Is probation after death, the knowledge
would not make less urgent the business
OF saving souls" So we say. What peo-
pie need to be taught is, that sin is an
evil and bitter thing. That the longer
it is persisted in, the longer we make our
selves miserable. And the sooner we re-
pent and turn to God, the better.
Rev. VIM. Bicknell writes: "It may
virtually be said of the stars they are at
an infinite distance from us; yet in refer
ence to them the astronomer is not an ag-
nostic. Because line will not reach to
them or around them, he does not pro-
nounce them unknowable. The lines
they send down on his spectrum indicate
the elements existing there so familiar to
him here. In respect to the essential at
tributes OF God, there is no ground for
agnosticism. From God, as from some
star lit immensely the spectrum of the
soul, dependent upon no discovery of sci
ence, has always been lighted up with
Inequalities: intelligence, power, wisdom,
ROOuneSS, ana love.
The Chautduquan has this interest.
ing paragraph in recent communication.
A few weeks since, l received a visit
from my old co worker during the war.
the veteran army nurse, "Mother Bicker-
dyke" She had spent the rainy day in
searching for an old soldier, who for the
last ten years had lived absolutely in
Boston. She had visited police courts,
jails and houses of correction, and was
wet, weary and depressed. 1 remonstrat-
ed "My dear friend, why do you, an old
woman at the age OF seventy three, waste
yourself on such worthless fellow as
B-w Turning to me with flash of her
blue eyes, and Strengthening of the
curves Of her yet beautiful mouth, she.
gave me this rebuke: "Mary Livermore, I
have commission from the Lord God AL
mighty to do all 1 can for every misera-
BILE creature who comes in my way. He's
always sure of two friends-God and me-"
What il this spirit dwelt in all of us?
An English Unitarian preacher in a
recent sermon spoke as follows in refer
ence to popular doctrines of the orthodox
church: Digging among the theological
strata We find some curious fossils, such
as the dogmas of total depravity. eternal