The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-09-01
A UNIVERSALIST.
BY REV. G. G. CONNER.
tRed Bank, o.


Ralph Waldo Emerson says, 'every
man is Universalist." He says, GAS
an earth, whilst it spins on its own
axis, spins all the time around the sun
through the celestial spaces, so the
least of its rational children, the most
dedicated to its private affairs, works
out, though as it were under disguise,
the universal problem In another
essay, speaking of a Providence that
works in all for good, he says: "Men
are all secret believers in it, else the
word justice would have no meaning;
they believe that the best is the true;
that right is done at last or chaos
would come" A while since we were
speaking with an intelligent gentleman
of the Orthodox church. He alluded
to the unfavorable elements that en-
tered into the general formation of
society in certain locality in one Of
the states, and to the yet deplorable
sense Of honor among the people, upon
which we observed that all this will be
better in time, that society will grad
ually cleanse itself Of the evil and ad-
vance in the good. He expressed a
ready belief that it would so cleanse it.
self and advance. While some have
thought of the welfare of the future
state, and have forgotten, for the time,
the blue and gold in the sky Of the di-
vine purpose bending over and around
this world, the unfolding realities here
claim anon their attention and obser-
vation and study, and they recognize a
moral power at present at work again st
wrong and for right, and express their
belief in the power and in the consist
ent results OF its aggressive onwork-
ing. 1t may be, therefore. in sense,
truly said that 'every man is Univer-
salist."
The thought, it is the purpose Of this
brief article to emphasize, is found in
the first quotation from Emerson. God
relates each and all to a general good.
One man, according to his law and or
der, cannot work for himself without
working for others. In this order God
has put the command, ''Love thy neigh
Dor as thy self" And in the fact of sal
vation taught and lived by Christ and
brought to man in the gospel, God has
put love that quickens and develops
us in our relations to humanity, and
makes US more vital and helpful part
of mankind. The saved man has been
shown the relations and uses of his life
and powers.
But while all according to the purpose
and order of God are Universalists, and
can be nothing else in that order, as He
causes them to work while dedicated to
private affairs, universal plan, some
are unconsciously Universalists, and as
they are uDconsciously SO, they are not
to be called such. And here we draw
a line between these that are and these
that are not.
Men in all ages and nations have
been selfish and have had the dispos:-
tion to subordinate the universal to the
individual and private good. They have
reversed Gods order in their own pur-
pose. The horizon of life with some is
scarcely further than a purely selfish
interest. Others have horizon that is
extended to family relations. Others
still to family and friends. Some have
seemed to think that others about them
lived for them. So they do live, but
then, not any more than they live or
ought to live for others. Likewise
have some sought salvation for the fu-
ture. 1t has been sought as aselfish con-
Germ. And in the application of the
promises of God they have interpreted
as intended for them what was really
intended for all men, and possibly, for
some through them, and they have thus
subordinated the universal to them
selves, instead of making themselves,
in love and will and purpose, part of
the universal life which God is seeking
to bless, and seeking to bless through
you and through me so far as our lives
touch and have to do with this larger
life.
These are not Universalists in their