The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-08-11
EDITORIAL BRIEFS
BY REV. 1. M. ATWOOD, D, D
Canton, N. Y.

ried Henry VIII, who thinks OF salads?
But Hume tells us that our English an
cestors had not the means OF making
saiad until the later pert OF the reign of
bluff Harry. Carrots turnips, beets, let
tuce were unknown in England, except
as a few forlorn species were brought
in betimes from Holland or Flanders.
Hops, also, were introduced into Eng
land in Henry's reign. There were no
vegetarisns and no beer drinkers in mer-
ry England three hundred and fifty
years ago,
Henry VIII. reigued thirty-six years.
In that period seventy-two thousand per-
sons were executed in England for theft
and robbery-Rn average of two thous-
and year. At one time there were sixty
thousand prisoners for debt. But the
astute law-mekersof those days, after de-
liberating on the desires of the king and
helping him restrain the clergy, gave
themselves up to passing statutes against
luxury in apparel, ana statutes fixing
the price Of beef, pork, mutton, poultry
and cheese, The political economy of
that time was as original some we have
now. Parliament attributed the high
price of mutton to the large hocks Of sheep
kept, and passed law prohibiting any
farmers from having hocks OF over two
! thousand,
The Rev. Geo. 7. Bowling, of the
Euclid Avenue Baptist church, Cleveland,
o., has become an open communionist.
At least, he re Gently invited to the Lords
table "sll who love our Lord Jesus
Christ in sincerity and in truth, and are
seeking to do his will, to whatever divis-
ion of his great cnurch you may be-
long" The growth of open communion
sentiment among Baptists is unmistaka-
BILE, though the situation of pastor who
takes the position of DR.. Dowling Is apt
to be made uncomfortable, and after a
while he is likely to betske himself to
some other denomination.
The explanation OF fact often noted.
That minister begins in a place with
general public favor, but slips from
month to month toward lower ground,
until in a year or two the people are ut
terly weary of him, is to be found fre-
quently, in the disparity between what
he says and what he is. His words. in
the beginning, had the full power OF their
own beauty and truth. But when the
preacher became known his personal
qualities and character instead of sup
porting his words, invited comparison.
Then it was that the words began to
sound hollow and cheap.
For the unalterable and unYarying
truth in the case is, that a preachers
word Is just as strong as he is and no
stronger. He passes his life in the daily
scrutiny Of his people and of the world
Before long they all know him thorough
ly. II he is a sound and sincere man
his public utteranceP, even when it halte,
will carry force aud command respect;
Alas for him if it be otherwise! If his
people know him for a weak, vain man,
or fer q dopble- minded mau, or for a sell
fish man, or for q man whose heart is not
in his work, it will be all in vain that his
lips speak OF excellent things. In a min
| ister of religion, more than IN any other
kind of workman, it is required that
speech and deed accord.
Our Chicago and congregational
neighbor, the Adrance, is very judicious.
In the column of book notices the Man
uel on The Fatherhood OF Gcd, is de-
scribed as 'an attempt, by Universal
ist minister of Chicago, to establish the
peculiar views of bis society" Farther
than that the genial critic does not go.
Six lines of safe and impartial "notice"
is all. Here is a model for writers of
school textbook on history who would
not offend religious prejudice. Let
them simply sly, of Lso or Of Luther, of
Henry VIII, or of c ement VII, Of Bal
lou or of Edwards, that each was en-
gagged in tn attempt TO establish the pc
culiar views of his society. Tnat is indis-
putable, it is colorie5s, it is ordorless, it
Is tastelees it Is harmless, it is the Id.
rance.
We cannot see that it has any good
effect for q sinful man to believe that his
salvation is accomplished by the death OF
Christ There is a lack of what Matthew
Arnold termed lucidity in the idea. We
can see that it Is good thing for the
wicked man to believe that his in and his
sinfulness, while wrong and deeply inju-
rious do not destroy Gods interest in
him nor make the acquisition Of right
eousness by him impossible. And il he
interprets both the life and death Of
Christ as evidence that God loves the
sinner and has determined to have him
fOTsRke his smtulness, it must be Ru as
surRnce so gracious and strong, that we
can think of nothing mere helpful.
1t is good, also, for the shining man
to feel the hatefulness OF sin, and its
utter irrecop cilability with the plan OF
God as well rs with his own peace. 1t is
no help to feel that, however, unless at
the same time he Sc. opening before him
a door that leads ont into a new and liv-
ing way. Now this is just what the gos-
pei supplies TO him. 1t shows WY Of
escape not from pc in; that may he good
for him, but from evil. And the central
and saving truth IN the premises IL, that
the way leads straight TO God. 1t Is
the natural but sad error OF wrong-doers
an error in which they are encouraged
by much Of the teaching in the name OF