The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-01-28
UNIVERSALISTS IN OTHER CHURCH
RELATIONS.

we nave received several ARTICLES IN
response to the views expressed in a
recent editorial, in regard to Universal
lists in places where we have no organ
ization, uniting in Christian work with
members of other churches. This is
sometimes possible without any sacri-
flee of personal integrity or concealment
of religious opinions, and where posi-
ible, we believe it to be the duty of
isolated Universalists to attend worship
and engage in church and Sunday-school
work in whatever church seems to them
most congenial, or where they are most
welcome. 1t is, however, only as Uni
versalists that we recommend such
action. The church relation would not,
in our judgment, be compromised in this
way. But the case changes when Uni
versalists are invited to join other
churches in a formal manner-when
the appeal is made for them to forsake
their own church and record themselves
as members of an orthodox body.
This is something entirely different
from the course we approved in the
former article.
In our judgment no orthodox church
whose articles include the doctrine of
endless punishment for any part of
mankind can consistently receive Uni
versalists in membership; and Uni
versalists should not consent to unite
with any such church while the supreme
tenet of their faith is contradicted in
such articles. If the orthodox churches
of the land are willing to receive Uni
versalists in their zeal for members Uni
versalists should by their refusal to
unite in a church membership which
contradicts their faith, teach them the
lesson Of honesty and integrity in relig-
ious opinion. Let our isolated Univers-
alists work with the orthodox churches
and help them in all good works, but
let them not put themselves in posi-
ton where they will become party to
this inconsistency or insincerity, and
where they will practically repudiate
their own cherished faith.
We give following two letters on this
general question which further dis
cusses the subject. One of our Illinois
pastors writes:
81 am glad allusion has been made to our
scattered faithful ones, where we have no
churches, working with some other church.
but working as Universalists. A member of
our church has been some time farther West.
gave him letter commencing him as
member of this church to Christians. Where
he first was he worked with the Congrega-
tionalists, and he now sings with the Presby-
terians, but he acts as member of our
church. In this like the action of our State
Convention in moving to build up Conven-
ton church, not alone for contributions, but
for church Identification. We are apt to
make too little account of this. 1t should
mean great deal more than it does to be
identified as member of the Universalist
church. Believers with us should be proud
of such membership Besides, that sort of
identification would be very helpful, and
every such one might be nucleus around
which others would gather, and so churches
would spring up and the good cause would
advance.
"While, it is true, many other churches gladly
receive avowed Universalists without ques-
ton, they receive them to educate them
to believe other doctrines and the moment
they become members of other churches,
they stand for the doctrines of those churches
and not for their own. l.. M. Andrews"
The second extract which we present
is from one of our isolated Ohio Uni
versalists-a lady of good understand
ing and well versed in our faith. She
occupies substantially the position COM
mended in the article of a few weeks
ago,-acting with her fellow Christians
in other churches, but not as a member
of the church. In this way she is her
self missionary of our faith and does
good work in presenting her views in
the church and Sunday-school. We
have recently ordered a missionary
box to her address. The touching use
she has made of it is revealed in her
letter, an extract from which we give
following:
:" 1t has been more than twenty years since
have had an opportunity of attending Uni
versalist services regularly, yet, have never
turned entirely from the faith; yes, am safe
in saying not in the least, although became
Indifferent because of isolation. For the
past few years l have worked in the Presby-
terrain and NJ. E. churches of this place. 1
am at present in the latter church, and only
recently was told that Methodist lady
said that had given her more insight in the
Universalist doctrine than she gained all the
in years she lived in where they had Univers-
alist church. 1 am in the same Sunday
school class that she is; and of course pre-
time. She told her lady friend if that was
Universalism it was not bad doctrinel
MY husband objects to my working in
the orthodox churches because / am not a
believer of the doctrine, and he thinks it does
violence to our faith. l do not. l may
never convert an orthodox believer, but
can SOW the seeds of better faith along the
waysides that will inoculate itself into their
belief, giving richer and purer tone to it.
And that is one of the measures we must
adopt into the work for the future genera
tions. The work cannot come instantane-
ously; it must be a gradual growth, accom-