The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-02-11

'eternsl hope;" and such Christianity
is destined to rule not alone the United
States, but all the nations of the earth.
From y. Cone, DID,, President Buchtel Col
lege, Akron, 0.
The answer to this question should be
made from the point OF view of Lessing'e
fine discrimination between Christianity
and the religion of Christ. Whether
Christianity as a system of doctrines and
chain of churches is gaining ground in
the United States or not, is matter of
little consequence. Whether the relig-
ion of Christ is gaining ground or not is
matter Of great consequence. The
Methodists build, perhaps, one church
every day in the year in the United
States. Is the country to be congratu-
lated? 1t depends on what doctrines
are taught in these 365 churches.
| assume that the question has not
been proposed for discussion simply in
order to determine as a matter of ststis-
tics, whether OF not the increase in
church membership more than keeps pace
with the increase of population; but
whether or not the religion of Christ is
gaining ground.
What is Christianity Out of the con-
fusion in which the answer of 500 differ
ent sects would come up, there might
@bsaistiaguiah ahed hy. the emphasis; ,syica-
rious Atonement, Endless Punishment,
Election, and No Chance after Death"
These are some of the essentials OF
Christianity and the American Board.
Are they gaining ground2 Is the sense
of justice declining SO that men are re
garding with increasing favor a supposed
divine "soheme" by which the punish
ment of sin falls on an innocent person
and the guilty one goes free? Is man
hood perishing, so that men are beoom-
ing more willing to be saved" without
merit of their own, but by the fiction Of
'imputed righteousress?' Are men be
coming demented 80 that they are vel
coming with increasing favor doctrine
of salvation which reverses experience,
and discourages morality by teaching
that good works count for nothing in
Gods judgment, while de8thbed act of
faith is a passport to paradise? Are
men losing faith in God and in the
power of His TRUTH so that the belief Is
gaining ground that endless sin and bias
phemy and pain are part of the Divine
Order? Have pity, fairness and human
ity perished in men SO that they are
ready to worship such a beng as the
American Board offers them in the pl ace
of the Eternal Father?
Believing that these questions must be
answered in the negative, conclude
that Christianity as represented in the
popular Christian creeds is not gaining
ground in the United States.
What is the religion of Christ? 1t is
trustful worship and obedience toward
God as the Father, and selt-sacrifcinR
service of man as brother. Is this gain
ing ground among Us? 1t is. Here are
some OF the evidences. There is a strong
tendency to reject any view OF God ineon-
sisteat with his Fa ,herhood. The persist
ent direction of human evolution toward
humanity was never more marked than
now. 1t would be very difficult to find
man, not professional theolOgiaD,
American Board with regard to the
future destiny of the heather. Men are
now vastly more interested in saving
their fellowmen now and here from sin
and misfortune, than in defending the
dogma Of endless suffering. The love OF
God is increasing, the fear Of hell is de
creasing.
From Rev. ]. G. Townsend, D. D., jamestown.
NY.
II by this question is meant the num-
Der of church members increasing or di-
minishing, would answer, diminishing.
In Africa, China, India, Japan, Chris
tian missions are making but little ad-
vance. Many missions are struggling
to hold the places they have conquer
ed. 1t is no doubt true that for every
convert gained in China, Japan or India,
by United States missionaries, a convert
is gained in the United States to esoteric
Buddhism or theOsophy.
With the possible exception OF the
Southern States, there is here an in
creasingly large number, who, wherever
they find their spiritual food, find it not
at the table of the Church. There is a
large number Of men Of probity and in