The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-07-28

combined effort and community of in
terest, that every one must sharpen his
arrow or build his hut or row his
canoe alone. And their civilization is
simply baTbarism. 1t does not improve
from age to age. And so we compre-
bend the vast, the overwhelming i'm
portance of the doctrine of fellowship
in the affairs of men; all progress, all
virtue, all greatness and glory, all
nationality, and the substantial pillars
of society itself, depend upon mans
cooperating with his fellow-man, and
upon nation cooperating with nation in
all of the practical affairs of life. Such is
the good of fellowship in mans affairs.
And what now shall we say of the
doctrine of fellowship in the affairs of
our Lord Jesus Christ? His affairs
take us into the realm of religion and
spiritual things. Now, therefore, if
neither the affairs of mankind, nor the
affairs of the great God himself, can be
carried on without the doctrine of CO.
operation and fellowship, how shall
we expect the affairs of the Lord Jesus
to be carried on without it? Does the
omnipotent operate with the principles
in heaven and on earth-do his children
initiate those principles to their infinite
advantage, everywhere on the foot
stool-and yet does the Son of Man re-
pudiate these principles and find in
them no good for the purposes of relig-
ion? l cannot believe it. On the con-
trary good fellowship, thoughtful and
tender association, love to each other,
constitute the foundation of our Lords
religion. AS 1 understand the Bible
the father did not propose to save the
world without fellowship, without CO.
operation with somebody else. And
SO we have the spiritual co-partnership
of the Father and the Son in the saliva
ton of the world. No doubt the
Father could have saved the world
without Jesus. But inasmuch as he
did not and will not, we apprehend
that the cooperative plan is the best
that the profound wisdom of the
Omniscientcould devise no better. "Our
fellowship is with the Father and with
his Son Jesus Christ" That strikes
US as beautiful gem in theology. 1t
is the union of tender father and a
| perfect son for the redemption of
| the whole brotherhood of mankind.
Neither was the Son satisfied with a
mere dual fellowship. He extended
the doctrine of his Father and enlarged
the co-partnership by the immediate
choice of the disciples. And so St.
John thought it not robbery to say
''our fellowship" This is an assump-
ton Of membership in the magic
circle. John said "our fellowship as
we say ''our family "our home,"
tour church." This is the very spirit
of partnership and fraternity. "And
truly our fellowship is with the Father
and with his Son Jesus Christ"
But the privilege of extension and
enlargement is accorded by the text,
eye also may have fellowship with us.
And truly our fellowship is with the
Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. :"
Who shall say that this is not an in
definite extension Of the privilege of
fellowship to all countries, to all ma
lions, to all worlds in time and eterni-
ty? The woman hunted for the silver
for the unity of the pieces. The
shepherd sought his sheep for the
unity of his flock. And the father
welcomed the prodigal into the COM
partnership of his family. What shall
hinder the ingathering of Gods chill
dren forever, until all shall have fellow
ship with the Father and with his Sonp
Why shall it not go on and on, wider
and wider, gathering more and more
and more, until ''God shall be all in alp?
In DR.. Kane's Arctic experience he
had occasion to send out an exploring
party in an effort to make certain dis
coveries. They took provisions for
brief journey from the ship, and on the
third day were expected back. But
the third day passed and they did
not return. So the fourth day came
and went, and they did not return.
The weather grew colder and colder.
On the fifth day DR.. Kane gave
orders to prepare a second party to
go and search for the lost. But the
Doctors companions were alarmed.
They would all perish in the dreadful
weather! And where should they go?
And how should they find the lost?
But the commander insisted and him.
self headed the little expedition. They
went over the desolate fields of ice the
first day, and no results. They follow
ed on during the second day, and no
results, till at the last hour and in the
moments of despair, they thought they
discovered the slight fiutter of rag on
mound of snow. Courage revived.
They made haste. DR.. Kane himself
was the first to press his way into the
frozen habitation of his lost and per-
ishing men. And what sight! The
Lost man uvara NOT oil daad hut on ,oaar