The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-05-05
EDITORIAL BRIEFS.
BY REV. I. M. ATWOOD, D. D.
Canton. N. Y.

The Cleveland Congregational Club
lately gave its members opportunity to
answer the question, eff you were die
tator what would you do?' Some would
abolish Sunday newspapers and Sunday
trains; some would extinguish the sensa-
uonal reporter; some would reform the
ministry snd churches; some would de-
wise suitable costumes for the ladies'.
some would give million dollars to each
OF the missionary organizations; several
would enact and enforce prohibition.
One would abolish the Democratic marty.
fumigate the Republican party and nat
the Prohibition party in it's place. DR..
GLADDEN. would abolish the Office of dic-
tator; and in this Judgment two others
conceded. Compulsory education. arbi-
tration for labor troubles, no more war.
justice to the Indian, and the extinctio,,
OF Mormonism, were some of the other
designs OF these paper dictators. Judged
oy their impulses, these Congregational
brethren are carrying out the plan of the
real dictator with tolerably good aim
But their policies run a little too unapi-
mously to the negative work of destruc,
ton.
Mr.. Edward Atkinson's examination
OF the Western Mortgage question pre-
sents results that will be reassurine TO
many Eastern lenders. The business of
negotiating loans on Western. farms and
village property has been growing to
such proportions in the East within
few years as to excite apprehensions of
disaster to the whole business. New
companies have sprung up on all sides
and the competition for loans has been
30 sharp that it was feared even the old
est loan companies we're doing a less
safe and solid business than formerly.
Mr.. Atkinson tskes the business of fifteen
mortgage companies, covering a period
In all OF thirty-eight years, with total of
250OOO mortgage loans made, and repre-.
sented loans to the amount of over 1904
100000, and shows that less than one per
cent OF these mortgages have ever been
oreclosed. The few foreclosures made
were profitable to the companies, and the
interest in all cases have been PROMPTLY
paid by the companies to the holders of
the mortgages. Will this good record be
continued?
"A few years ago there was a quite
general expression of surprise that the
methodist church in Saratoga should be
opened to the heretical Unitarians. The
public was gratifed as we'll as surprised:
but some OF our evangelical" brethren,
including two M. E. Journals, thought
the Saratoga Methodists had purchased
reputation for iberality at the cost of
consistency. But the world moves and
now the trustees of the Saratoga M. e.
church, reinforced by the pastor, and
by the presiding elder, have refused
to "help disseminate what the M. e.
church seeks to destroy" Again the
public Is surprised, and the comments
on the action of the trustees have not.
ss far as we have observed, been compli-
mentary. It occurs to us to remark. that
there Is one admirable thing about the
action of the trustees it is frank and
straightforward. They do not try to
dodge. They make no excuses. They
have church it is in order; it is suited
to the uses of the Conference j; they could
open it if they choose. They do not
choose. And they refuse because they
consider Unitarianism false and harmful.
There may be bigotry in all this there
is no hypocrisy.