The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-08-04

ever sprung up In Ine CHRISTIAN Cnurch
and, in my opinion, when thus adapted,
is exactly what we want and need.
My experience is such as leads me
most heartily to commend it to every
Universalist Church. The idea of the
Society has no connection with any
system of theology. 1t is an attempt
to answer the question, "How may
young people work for Christ and his
church," The answer to this question
is found in the Society of Christian
Endeavor, whose chief purpose is de-
votional meeting. The society is
founded ON the idea of taking obligations
Q) to be present at every meeting of
the society unless unavoidably detained.
~ to take some part at every meeting.
There is nothing in these obligations
which anyone, whether orthodox or
heterodox, who wants to do something
for Christ and his Church, cannot take.
These two obligations are the central
ideas Of this society. All other obliga-
tions or rules are to adapt this idea to
the needs and wants of each church.
1t is easily seen that any body Of Uni
versalist young people can take these
two obligations and then can make
such other rules or take such other OBJ
legations as seem to them helpful in
carrying out the purpose of the society.
Every earnest Universalist wants to do
something for Christ and his CHI urch.
This society is more helpful in this
work than anything that has yet ap-
peared.
Our experience has convinced US of
the fact just stated. 1t has aroused the
religious earnes tness and enthusiasm of
our young people, has gathered them
into devotional meetings and held
them there, has developed their spirit
ual natures and taught them to express
their religious feelings, and has trained
them to do practical Christian work.
BY some simple devices we in Middle
port avoided all danger of the harassing
waiting that often occurs in devotional
meetings. In conducting the religious
meetings the young people all take
their regular turns and the pastor takes
no leading part, but takes his turn in
speaking and leading with the others.
Our organization here is extremely
simple, with little of the machinery,
that to us would be useless and cum
bersome, which is recommended by the
general society. Most of the societies
in our churches in western New York
have done practical Christian and
church work, besides attending to the
devotional meetings. The Rochester
society has taken up the work Of visit
ing the two hundred and forty Univer-
salist families in that city who are not
connected with our churches there; the
Buffalo society is providing country
week for poor children; the Middleport
society distributes Universalist litera-
ture. Another most cOmmendable
thing about the society is that, with US,
it is one society which is not engaged
in gathering money or in providing en-
tertainments to gather money. Its pur-
pose is devotional one, and the Chris
tian one of helping others. A society
connected with the Universalist church
may, or may not, as it chooses, belong
to the general society. Societies be-
longing to our churches will be gladly
accepted. Our society here does not be-
long to the general society and, as yet,
finds no reason for doing so. Our soci-
cites in the cities meet with the peri
odical gatherings of the societies from
all the churches, but find them little
helpful. The theology of orthodox
churches imposes different methods on
their societies, so that our societies are
not in perfect harmony with them.
But, as was said, the idea of the Soci-
ETY. of Christian Endeavor is not pat
ented, and any church can adopt the
central ideas of attendance and partic-
ipation and arrange the rest to suit its
needs. Our experience in Middleport
and throughout western New York, is
such as to make us heartily commend
these societies and the good Christian
work they are doing on the lives of our
young people to earnestly express the
opinion that every Universalist church
would be the better for such a society,
and to hope that soon Society of
Christian Endeavor may be found in
every church in our Zion. T. C. D.