The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-10-30
FIRST RELIGIOUS SERVICE.
TUESDAY EVENING, Oor. 10.

TUESDAY EVENING, OCT. 10.
The delay in the arrival of the New
England delegation necessitated a change
in the original program for the prelimiu-
ary services of the Convention. Tuesday
evening was originally set apart for the
address of Rev DR.. Emerson on "The Con
yention of 1913" In his absence, Rev.
E. NJ. Grant, of Stamford, Conn, was
selected as the preacher Of the occasion.
AT the hour appointed for the service, the
large audience room of the Akron church
presented brilliant scene. The beauti-
full church never looked more attractive.
The skillful and artistic hands of the ladies
had decorated the platform, reading desk
and choir with plants and flowers. In the
recess of the pulpit the word "Welcome"
was appropriately displayed in white
Aoral lsttess on a adsEksbackgHan saEsnsTs. 3
ing from all parts 81 the church. The
choir consisted OF the following ladies
and gentlemen: Soprano, Miss May Ben
nett; alto, Mrs. A. T. Saunders; TENOR
S. d. Richards; basso, a. W. Cogswell;
organist, @. S. Burnham. They were
promptly in their place at the opening
hour and rendered the choice selections
of the evening in classical style.
An organ voluntary began the exer-
cises. The singing Of hymn Is, Good
VIII Songs" "Another heeting day is
gone" by the congregation, followed.
Rev. E. M. Grant read the Scripture les
son from the 10th chapter Of ST. Matthew,
beginning at the 18th verse. "Remem-
Der o, Lord" from Himmel, was sung by
the choir. The prayer followed by Rev.
Richmond Fisk, d. D., of Watertown, n.
Y. DR.. Fisk also announced the Ga
hymn, from Whittier, ooh, sometimes
CLEAN upon our sight," which was sung
by the congreg CATION, the choir leading.
Sermon by Rev E. M. Grant
The sermon followed. The text select
ed was Matt xviii. Is: "But if he will not
hear thee, then take with thee one or two
more, that in the mouth of two or three
witnesses every word may be establish
ed" The following is a brief synopsis of
the discourse: To those who go to the
sea shore for the first time, it is a novel
and curious sight; to those who have
lived long by the ocean, it Is no less IN
teresting because if is familiar; to all who
observe it for the first or hundredth time,
it is a source Of wonder and delight to
watch the rising and falling OF the tides.
1t Is just as interesting to watch the
tides of the spirit rise and fall in the in
dividual, or the tides of religious doc
trlne advance and recede through the
ages And | make it my purpose now to
take some note of the present condition
of the tides in those religious affairs
which most intimately concern us. And
| am sure the subject cannot be without
some degree of interest to any who for
business or for pleasure, for consolation
or purpose, for speculation or for faith,
watch the ebb and flow of Christian doc
trines. There floats prominently upon
the broad ocean of thought just now the
doctrine of the Future Life. The partic-
ular at any given time, depends largely
upon the tide. First, what is the state Of
the tide? observe there are indications
of an intowing tide. In all manner of
religious circles there is very apparent
discomfort and commotion. The tide is
out and the rocks are bare. The tide has /
for long time been running toward the /
sea. With some important notifications, +
the old doctrines of the dominant priest |
hood have been incorporated into the F.
creeds of the Protestant sects. To be .
sure, the doctrine of papal mfallibllIty Is
gone, but in its place there still exist
traces Of the doctrine Of the ufalhbilIty
of the Bible; and there still fingers a bold
remnant ot belief in the iufalhbls Prot
estaut church instead 0t the mfalnble
Roman church. Bat the tide ou which
these things came in having passed an
enthusiastic food, has ehbed ag,lu 70 the
very point of turning. Every doctrine