The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-01-21

minister, and the efforts of the best
shepherd of souls may be largely neu-
tralized by the lukewarmness aud quer-
ulousness of parishioners. Assuming
that our people wish to do their full
duty to their minister and the cause,
what are some of the chief requisites
of an ideal religious society?
Manifestly it must be united in every
good word and work. Its members
must dwell together in he unity of the
spirit and in the bonds of peace. Per-
feet agreement upon all points is not to
be expected, perhaps it should not be
desired, but where differences of taste
and opinion exist, the people must
"agree to disagree" Waving individ-
ual preferences for the good of the
church, they will allow the majority to
rule, and suffer personal inconvenience
rather than hinder the cause of truth.
In one sense the church is spiritual
army. If it is to be victorious there
must be unity Of purpose and action.
If part retreat while the remainder
advance, confusion and disaster will be
the result. In this age of religious
progress, the Universalist church has a
great opportunity, and it expects every
member to do his duty in the battle
against error and sin. Let personal
grudges be put out of sight, old griev-
ances be forgotten, and all ill-feeling
melted away by the consuming flame
of Christian love.
A model parish must also be active.
Some societies shrivel and die because
they do so little. They are not in the
fore frontof the fight for God and hui
manity. They do not make great sac
rifices, or perform noble deeds. 1t is
their wish to be carried to the skies on
fiowery beds Of ease. They politely de-
cline to feed the hungry, clothe the
naked, or minister to the sick. No
cause of reform or philanthropy re-
ce1ves aid from them. Let others re-
claim the fallen, and spread the gospel
to the ends of the earth. They will
turn deaf ear to every appeal for help.
Their charity begins and ends at home.
God pity such a church! 1t has no right
to live, for it merely cumbers the earth.
1t is stranger to Christian devotion
and self sacrifice. The model church
does as much as possible, not as little.
Its rallying cry is: "lord, what wilt
thou have me to do?" Its work is
done with such gladness and zeal that
it gains the esteem of men. 1t thrives
because it ought to thrive.
Generosity is another mark of the
ideal parish. 1t does not make prepos-
ferrous claims upon its pastor. Realiz-
ing that the minister is a man, it will
make allowances for the limitations Of
human nature. Its generosity will
also be shown by giving the preacher
an adequate financial support. 1t will
not allow him to receive less compen-
sation than the carpenter or mechanic,
when amply able to give an adequate
salary. 1t sees the folly and shame of
such a course, and realizes that if the
minister is half starved, his preaching
will be likely to starve the hearers
souls. Punched by poverty he cannot
buy the requisite books, nor gain the
leisure for study which would make him
a fresh and efficient sermonizer. A de-
voted Universalist, out of patience
with the stinginess Of certain parish,
once wrote to me these emphatic words
of complaint: "They want the best of
preaching for the very poorest of pay.
They are not content to take a good
man of ordinary pulpit ability, and
W Because they can
not get Hosea Ballou or DIR. Chaplin
for half the money they are able to pay,
the church is closed, and the blessed
privileges of worship are forfeited.
Let our societies do their full duty, let
them be united, active and generous,
and the future of our beloved faith will
be bright with promise. Let every par
ish strive to be model parish.
Cincinnati, o.