The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-09-08

uurulB blo WdFm WSdbuol nun ooItnk 1OO
to $50. BY holding services during the
summer months many strangers are en-
abled to hear Universalist preaching, who,
Otherwise. would never hear our doctrines
and learn OF the work we have in hand.
Why Is It!
When visiting our Universalist Sun.
day-schools, in different sections of the
country, notice that often parents and
other adult Universalists are conspicuous
only for their alb sence, and / am led to
inquire, why is 1t SO? Then, too, many
who ought to fit themselves to be eff
cient teachers, acquainted with the. Bible,
familiar with its several parts, its geog-
raphy and it's history, as we'll as its pre-
cepts, allow themselves to go to their
classes with little or no preparation, al
most wholly incompetent to make the
lesson either interesting or instructive.
Then again it is no uncommon thing to
find church and Sunday. school, with
no sort of system in its business gffairs,
and the entire list of the cares and bur-
dens falling upon one or two faithful and
well meaning souls; but who ought to de-
mand that others share these duties with
them. / know one or more instances,
where such person is made trustee, sex
ton, solicitor and collector of funds,
cashier, chorister, gu perintsndent of the
Sunday school, teacher of the Bible-class,
and il the 70 be any other service, mental
or otherwise itfalls upon this same twill
ing worker" For very shame, brethren, let
there be more business inserted into the
management of the church and Sunday
school, and let each member strive to do
same brethren attend to their business
on business principles, and while they,
no doubt, put religion into their business,
they fail to put the needed business into
their religion. And here is the secret of
so many dead and dying churches. And
we're it not that our people are beginning
to be awakened to a necessity Of a new
departure in these matters we should
feel greatly discouraged. The move
ment for better things has begun and
let all unite to help it onl
Parents where are your boys?" I re-
Gently called attention to an article on
the above theme In one OF our Sunday
schools, and the Superintendent, who
knows of the dereliction of MAN. parents,
suggested an article on "Boys-Where
are your parents?' We confess such an
article is needed. Who will suitably pre-
sent the duty of Universalist parents in
this matter? Why are parents not more
faithful? Why have we not more "will-
ing workers" among us? Are we less
loving, less friendly to the cause Of hu-
mainly? Do we love children less than
others? Or is it that we do not realize
humanity's need as we ought? Shall
we not practice what we preach?
Springfield Church.
We quite agree with I" NJ. B." in re-
cent number of THE UNIvERsALIsT, in
what is said about throwing open some
one OF our many homes there, in the in
terest OF the children and youth Of our
church. Dear friends, it is time We
should come to understand that Christi
anity does not consist alone in the ele-
gance of our churches and the ease and
comfort of our surroundings. Christian.
ity is love of humanity crystalized into
deeds of kindness, and especially in the
care and training Of our youth, to raise
them up to be noble men and women. And
this can be done in very plain rooms or
halle, if only the spirit is truly Christian;
and we have no very exalted opinion OF
that minister who would recommend a
discontinuance OF services because the
place of meeting was not well-appointed.
We believe in nice, even elegant churches
but until we can have such, let us never
refuse to keep up Sunday. school merely
because we are not yet in possession OF
such q church. Christian people who will
not care for the cause, and especially TOR
the children, under adverse circumstances
are not very likely to do SO under more
favorable ones. Isit not very unwise for the
people of one of our oldest churches to dis
continue Sunday school and church SER
vices after so many years Of devoted Ia
Dor? Let US awake, friends, to greater
sense of duty and put on the whole armor
of God
Rev. DR.. Bowling,
in his letter of resignation as pastor of
the Enclid Avenue Baptist church, Cleve
land, brought about by his "open com
munion" doctrines. says: The only tri-
bunal of appeal of which know in our
denomination, is that which is composed
of the presidents OF our colleges and the
illogical seminaries, and the editors of
our denomination press. = i / said
frankly to that tribunal, III there is room
in our denomination for a pronounced
open-communionist, then will stay; this
is my home But il there is not, there
naed be no harsh worde. Say so,
and will CO." We regard this language
as manly and honorable on the part of
DIR. Bowling, and think others should
follow his example when they find them
selves out of line with their church.
Ought it not become settled thing that
mininter should be freq to unite with