The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-01-21
THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT.
BY REV. @. E. NASH.

The Permanent Fund" whose claims
are so loudly and so justly lauded in
these columns, results primarily in the
employment of an agent who bears the
above official title. Other channels
for the fund are, indeed, embraced in
the missionary conception, which can
be opened only when the resources are
larger. At Atpresent the income is scarcely
sufficient from all sources to keep the
Superintendent in the field; other
schemes must, therefore, be for time
in allegiance. But the Superintendent
we must have; all else in the way of
general work must be sacrificed in order
to maintain him at his post. So say
the "powers that be-" the Executive
Committee, with entire accord. What
is the reason for this emphasis? Why
is the Superintendent so indispensable?
The answer to this question in the
minds of our leaders does not amount,
we may be sure, to any idle sentiment,
to any zeal for mere organization, to
any lust for authority on one hand, or for
Limitation of orthodoxy" on the other.
These are long-headed men, practical
men, who advocate only measures of
approved utility, and for the sake of
their utility. These are not the days
for creating new popes and the Uni
versalist church will be one of the la
test to bulge an inch from its original
Professionalism in that regard. We have
not lost faith in liberty, in the inde-
pendent judgment and voluntary SER
vice of Christians and the idea of the
State Superintendency arises from no
desire to institute a dictatorial policy
in Ohio, whereby the free loyalty of
our people may be coerced into mere
blind acquiescence. If the Superin-
tendent is not set up to be dictator, no
more is he, on the other hand, offered
as dole of charity to the INDECENT. 1t
is not intended that he shall go about
instituting free meetings for the relief
of those who do not care to burden
themselves with the support of a pas
tor. He is to be servant of the church,
rather than its director but his labors
will be supplementary, not substitu-
tional nay, it is fOndly believed that
he will be able to stimulate the separ-
ate parishes to doing more than ever
for themselves, and something also for
the common enterprise, instead of en-
couraging them to get used to assist
ance, and to settle down into state of
contented dependence.
The Work of the Superintendent.
What, then, is expected of this our
agent and why is the demand for his
services 80 insistent ? Will the ques-
tioner kindly lift his eyes above his
local horizon and contemplate the field
of our denominatiOnal endeavors at
large This gospel of universal saliva
tion which we have received of the
fathers" and through them from the
Father, does not permit US to confine
our solicitude to our own affairs, but
obliges us to see in every man brother,
whatever his lot, wherever his resi-
dence. 1t is our business to preach to
those who have not heard of this in
spring faith. And since this is the
business of all, we cannot but be anx-
ious that every voice should be in tune,
every pulpit active, every parish aggres-
sive. Further, it must be our ambition
under the same motives, to establish
pulpits in the centers of population, to
reach the ears that now have no oppor-
tunity of hearing our proclamation, and
thus to inoeulate the communities with
the saving influence of our doctrines.
Holding this purpose clearly in mind,
look abroad and compare with its scheme