The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-02-11
EDITORIAL BRIEFS.
BY REV. I. M. ATWOOD, D. D.
Canton, NY

impatiently, What has been gained? and
the suggestion is offered that all such
"speculations" be abandoned. To us all
such moralizing comes close to childish
ness. As il it were in man that walketh
to direct his steps. Such subject as
the destiny OF large part of mankind is
not to be slurred over. 1t is an ever
present, vital, burning question. The
human mind cannot let it alone. Much
better blame the Waterman for keeping
up useless opposition than blame the
brethren who have revived into life and
vehemency the theory Of Future Proba-
tion." II they should keep silent the
very stones would cry out.
This "Brief" is written, and it is the
first line written in ''the new house." It
is quarter past nine in the evening.
The whole day has been given up to trans
porting our household goods and gods
from the old domicile across the campus
to the new. In the dead of winter it is
not safe to count on a succession of such
perfect days as this has been. All avail
able force has been brought into requisi-
ton, and here we are, In the midst of our
worldly effects, which lie about us in
such profusion as to suggest indefinite
if not boundless riches. 1t was christened
"the study"-this room in which we
write; but kitchen, psrlor, pantry, and
dormitories are better suggested by what
is in sight. "Chaos and old night" have
come down together upon US.
When one thinks of the vast work
done by Spurgeon in the last thirty years;
of the great church he has built and the
throngs he has impressed with his own
powerful personality; of the sermons and
books he has sent out over the whole
world and the students his pastors col
lege" has trained for the ministry, it is
impossible to restrain admiration. We
are pretty sure to calculate, when con-
trasting such achievement with the little
stir made and the little work accom-
plished by the average minister. "What
a stupendous work. How insignificant
beside it appears the record of most
other menu But when one looks to the
character Of Mr.. Surgeons theology and
the quality OF his teaching, and reflects
that most of what the great preacher has
done must be either undone or done over,
he abates somewhat his admiration.
There is distinction between results
and right and permanent results.
From replies made by the Presi-
dents of several colleges to the inquiry of
the Advance, as to the "Ohristian iDflu-
ences which surround young men in
college today" the inference would be
drawn that there is a more general and
pervasive religious atmosphere in Ameri
can colleges than thirty or forty years
ago. This is, we think, contrary to the
general opinion outside. The Advdnce
drew replies from only few institutions
and those under Orthodox control. We
judge that public opinion of the state of
religious thought and feeling in colleges
has been derived from institutions which
are under different influences. It is
agreed, however, on all hands that there
is decline from former years in the
proportion OF college men who enter the
ministry.
The Rev. Henry @. Graves, of New
Bedford, Mass, quotes the opinion of "a
clergyman of acknowledged authority
on religious tendencies in England"
that a majority of the ministers among
the "Independents' or Congregational
lists of England "hold to the theory Of
the final res toration of those who may be
punished in the future life. In word,
universal salvation is the destiny of the
human race" This opinion is probably
well founded; and we regret to observe
that the prevalence of the belief in univer
sal salvation as the destiny of the human
race fills Mr.. Graves with sorrow. He
does not enjoy the prospect of having
the whole race saved, it seems. Would
it fill him with sorrow to know that the
whole of his own family are to be saved?
Mr.. Graves's sorrow is not godly sorrow;
it is sectarian disappoin tment.
1t has been said by an eminent CAPT
tslist and economist, that laboring men
have q grievance, which is real, but that
they do not know what it is. The came
might be said of all of us. In a state of
society where many things are out of
joint, where the faint of selfshness is on
most enterprises and the mark OF imper-
lection on all, it is impossible that any
one, not absolutely stolid, should feel
sweet sense of the harmony and felicity
Of human affairs. In other words, every
one has grievance. The harness gals
at some spot for each one who wears it.
But there are differences in the de-
grees of unrest and discomfort. With
some it is a vague sense Of dissatisfac-
ton; with some it is clear conviction of
inequality and more or less clear per-
ception of the respects in which the in
justice appears; with still others there is
a sufficiently keen sense of misery with
out even CLEAN of true intelligence as
TO the causes of their unhappiness.
Again, some can bear their ills much
better than others. They have more
courage, capacity, capital, resources, and
some are upborne in the merciful and
comforting arms of Religion, which gives
Al