The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-09-15
THE WORLD RECEIVING THE TRUTH,

There is great deal being said in
current writing about the tendency of
thought. People seem to think this is,
in some ways, peculiar age. The
popularity is made to consist in a
general demand for exact statements
and proofs of things and propositions.
It is loudly asserted that people are
not so ready to believe upon inexact or
insufficient evidence as they once were.
Having learned something of the ma
ture and value of evidence, we under
stand better the relations and depend
encies of thought; having gained in ex
act knowledge, we demand more of the
same sort.
There is doubtless something in this.
Something of it is true, but certainly
there is more made of this tendency,
more said about it than it deserves.
There is too much made of the fact that
men question and criticise before they
give consent. 1t is taken too much
for granted that question Or ia criti-
cism, is sign Of positive unbelief.
This is not always the case. Men may
question their deepest convictions; this
is what large numbers are doing at the
present time. The meaner suggestions
may rise up in controversy with the
better inspirations. Persons may speak
out of these meaner suggestions even
while they live truly in the higher
inspirations. The tone of public opin-
ion not less .tSsaRss the noble efforts
of good men and women for the well
fare, the salvation of bad men and
women, prove that the real impulse
and motive for work are in the better
thoughts and impulses of the heart,
and that the good and true are disposed
now, as they ever have been, to trust in
unseen, silent forces of goodness and
truth.
This is the secret of all the reforms
of the day, the main spring in all the
complicated machinery Of moral enter
prise. Men and women trust in the
efficacy and permanence Of moral
forces; they believe in those inspira-
tions which have their seat in the
affections; they cling to the innate
divineness of the human soul and
trust to the quickening power of truth
and love to bring, ultimately, the evil
minded and sinful to repentance and
salvation. Men believe more than ever
in the Immortality of truth, and trust
more than ever in subjective spirit
ual forces and causations. The faith
of the world in these was never so
strong as it is to-day. Moral suasion
was never 80 firm a reliance as in this
same year Of grace. There never was
a time in the worlds history when
brute force was so little regarded, had
so little value in mems eyes as now.
Even law and government are seen to
be valueless if they rest upon brute
strength for their enforcement and
maintenance. Law and government
must be bedded in the innate ,of
justice, must appeal to conscience, be
founded upon the moral instincts of
humanity, or there is no sure warrant
for their permanence.
Law, government, reform, custom,
even public opinion are founded upon
the popular faith in the efficacy and
the immutaoility of moral forces. Talk
as men may of the atheisGic tendencies
of the times, there never was so much
honest faith in the world as there is to-
day, there never was time when in
all the affairs of life men appealed so
directly and trusted so confdentially in
the unseen but eternal law Of right and
truth as now; thereSnever was time
when the organic principles of Chris
tianity were 80 inwrought into society,
when the Christ spirit was so manifest
in private character and in public en-
terprise as now. This is the best day,
the most Christian day the!world ever
saw. There is much that might be
better we all know, but this is the best
time that ever has been yet. To-mor-
row ought to be better than to-day,
and all ought to help to make it so.
Growth in goodness and truth is Gods
eternal purpose which through the in
ages runs; and we are all here
TO help this purpose on to fulfllment. |
The revelation made through the |
mouths of all Gods holy prophets and |
Jesus the Christ is the light |
upon the path to show us how to do it.