The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-06-16
EDITORIAL BRIEFS.
BY REV. 1. M. ATWOOD, D. D.
Canton, N. Y.

of the other essays submitted for the
prize offered by the Pennf ylvania Con
vention, there will, we th1 k, be general
unanimiiy in the opinion that the essay
on which the choice fell is an unusually
strong and satisfactory statement OF Uni
versalist belief. 1t would be difficult to
pack mure into the same number of
pages, and well-nigh impossible to in
prove on its substance of doctrine" A
slight change of method would be about
the only modification we should desire to
make. But We subscribe to it heartily
just as it is. Let the essay have the
widest circulation.
When we read comprehensive and
concise statement of Universalist doc
trine like this, from the pen of President
Cone, two things are impressed on us
with great force: l. That a minister who
fully masters this system of Christian
doctrines is provided with material, am
pie in variety and extent, for the uses of
his pulpit. Such a minister can never
lack topics. 2. That the unity and rea-
sonRbleness OF this system of doctrines
must commend it to intelligent and fair
minded people everywhere; while the
realization of it in human society would
insure universal order, peace and Joy.
The chief source of unh8ppiness in
our world is unfaitbfulness. Ignorance is
the mother of many mischiefs; but ifpeo-
pie could be brought to do as well as they
know, the principal causes of human
misery would disappear. The lack of
conscientiousness, in common labors and
, in public station, creates an amount of
l imitation and disorder which, without
| any other element of confusion, drives the
9 world far toward moral chaoe. Those
D teachers OF religion who, like the liberal
t Christian sects, make more account of
0 the religious value of character than of
Y belief, cannot be accused of want of prsc-
g tical aim. What they preach is precisely
what it is most desirable to have mankind
y practice.
t AT no time since the world began
! has so much been done for the children
r and the young people. Our fs Eaily life,
q our public institutions the cause of our
y civilization, are shaped largely, with ref
-, erence to the wants and wishes of our
youth. Literature is to great extent
3 manufactured for them, and the public
library is almost wholly theirs. The
school-which was never so universal nor
. half so complex or completes for the
70 young, of course, and the church is
adapted to their requirements When
y one enters into an inventory of the man
ufactures, productions, shops, stores, So
d cieties that have their final cause in the
y wants of children and youth, he is apt to
d think that the old world is getting into
t second childhood.
Il If the succeeding Manuals of Faith
n and Duty shall keep to the high range
+ of thinking and the happy art of expres-
sion taken by the initial volume, the lit
s erature of the church will be enriched by
adding this series to its list. Mr.. Adams
+ has laid open and discussed the old theme,
"The Fatherhood of God,n in manner
. at once fresh and convincing. 1t is evi-
dence of the authors insight and pener-
|
= theme grows IN interest and magnitude
= in his hands.
q Precisely what our Free Religion
friends take to be their excuse for being
is not apparent to the spectator Beyond
one or two platform meetings each year
they do not seem to be carrying on any
work. Some great expectation appears
IL to be Turing them on, but it assumes only
: the most shadowy shapes. Their plat
IS form is Hospitality open to many shades
IS Of religious opinion, and to every color
d and class. But in the latter particular
e they are quite outshone by the Methodist
IS General Conference, and in the former
/ several modern sects are their rivals. At
their late meeting in Boston the interest
. was so faint that several of the veterans,
II like Mr.. Potter and Mrs. Cheney, were
j. In doubt, till after the exhilaration of the
annual supper whether the Association
y would better keep up longer the struggle
I, for existence.
: The extension of the time during
which a NJ E. pastor may remain with one
: church from three to five years is not, as
Q many OF our contemporaries make haste
8 to assert, equivalent to giving up the
e itineracy. The bishops have now power
! to continue a minister five consecutive
: years in the same place. But this is not
! the regular order, and it is doubtful if it
7 will become so very soon. When the
time limit WAS extended from two to
three years il did not insure an average
settlement of three years. A majority of
the pastors still chaoged every two years.
The five yea limIt will he avaled OF for
t the Oeueh Of suoh 90 lGregahon. particu-
larly III cttle-, "a nave found frruaent
changes il the sArisbes harmful t. con
tDUed interest aud desirable cOusohda-
uoD. Bat the msj rity OF pastors will
+ change every two rr three years.
Only careful and conscientious
writer can ennure the test Of having his
statements ~ fact ana opinion committed
to prnt. Col. Ingersoll If neither care
ful nor conscientious. Tue more he prints
Tia, narrower hIs fame and the sh lrter
his inHueuce. His stump spec Ga a. re-
jpnder to Ga Is n,e ha- the ususl array
~ orarnricai u Iuos aud c'suk7 ~" 'reu
I L..