The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-06-23
EDITORIAL BRIEFS.
BY REV. I. M. ATWOOD D. D.
Canton. NY.

CduCOU, ". 4.
WE HAVE read with attention paper
read before the New York Universalist
Club by the Rev. W. s. Grove, on the
"Lordship Of Jesus" as we find it in the
UniUersdlist Record, of which Mr.. Grove
is editor. The author seems to think he
has come to new light ON the subj oct and
risen to new ground. But, however it
may be to him, to us his position and his
exposition of it are alike familiar. Mr..
Grove remarks: 81 have cleared away
from my thought of Jesus all notions of
special providence, pre- existence, mirac-
ulous birth, Divine commission, super.
natural endowment power to work mira
cles, fore-kn owlsdge or superhuman
quality of any and every description"
This is an achievement which has
been accomplished by some very bright
men in every age since Jesus was born in
Bethlehem of Judea. 1t is matter of
record that Jesus encountered those who
had little trouble i'll clearing away what
Mr.. Grove styl les "a vast amount of rub
bish." The Christian fathers had at least
one such adventurous man in their
minds eye. All along the course of
Christian history we find the remains of
an occasional specimen of this valiant
class. In our own time they are as plen-
ty as blsckbirds, and much more noisy.
The modern champion differs from the
ancient only in this, that the latter sup
posed himself to be opposing Christian
ity; while the former is often found in a
Christian pulpit, giving original inter
pretations of "The story of Jesus" and
committing the absurd anachronism of
going back n sarly two thousand years
to inger in the dim dawn of light
that now foods the world, and transfers
the sureole from the head of Jesus to the
head of his latest expounder.
The tributes to James Freeman
Clarke come from all departments of soci-
ETY.. The secular press, the party jour
nails, the pulpit, orthodox and liberal, the
religious papers-all are prompt to recog-
nize his eminent abilities and his great
worth. 1t is not alone that he was ascholar
of distin otion and preacher of national
celebrity and an author read beyond the
seas; on these accounts only net half Of
those who have joined in his eulogy would
have paused to give him mention. 1t is
felt on all hands that James freeman
Clarke was more than author, preacher,
scholar-that he was q rare example of
the highest style of man.
In .reli gious literature Mr.. Clarke
takes rank, not so much by his learning,
although this was wide and exact, as by
a quality Of mind that allied him to the
ssers-morsl insight. He seldom argued
proposition; lie stated facts. enunciated
principles, summed up results. His mind
went with intuitive directness to the core
of the matter, passing by the details of
reasoning and putting the truth in mass
His statement OF case generally renders
argument superhuous. 1t is such
"verily, say unto you" as carries it's
own imperative. But it is a sincere,
lsrge-min led, out-spoken, utterly cour-
ageous exponent of the great causes con-
cernsd with human good, that MIR. Clarke
has made the deepest mark on the his
tory of his time and country.
Young men in all professions, but
especially in the ministry, may gain a
useful hint from DR.. Clarke's Iuls of life
contained in the text of the first sermon
he wrote-"Whatsoever thy hand findeth
to do, do it with thy might" What he
sccomplished-so he declared late in life
was due to the fact that he always laid
promptly hold of the duty nearest his
hand He did not wait for great occa-
sion, or better field, or wider opportun.
ity. He found his opportu uity in his
present field. II was by this simple
means that he built himself high and
wide, so that his field was, literally, the
world, his au Hence the whole public.
The policy of appointing certain per-
sons to responsible positions, in parishes
oAA OOAFcAeOhr, OlACA ntCAOoS
them, and identify them more complete
ly with the church's work, has been
much tried in all denominations, but with
only moderate success. Here and there
person not active in the counsels OF the
church is drawn into closer relations by
having responsibility put upon him.
This suggests that the plan may be fol-
lowed, to some extent, with good results.
But it is a nearly uniform experience, we
believe, that to entrust important con-
Germs to such persons is to have them
neglected. People who have any heart
in work are known by the part they
take in the work. People who take no
part in it have no heart in it. Unfortu-
nat ely. the responsibility for almost every
enterprise must be assumed by few.
" The many" shirk.