The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1888-03-15
Modern Bigotry VS.. Humanity ana
Christianity.

lie and Congregationalist Churches of
his city, concerning lecture that /
-ecently gave in my Church, which
was briefly and imperfectly reported
for the PRESS. The report, though
better than the average of such
failed to do Justice to the lecture. The
spirit of this can best be judged by
those who heard it. 1t was stimulated
by events beyond my control. Recent
ly one clergyman had advised his con
gregation not to countenance my |
church twice within two months, or
thodox churches had been refused for
funeral services because I was to
preach Three years ago Ministerial
Association was organic ID, and all
clergymen in the county were invited.
Having been a regularly ordained
minister of the gospel for nearly 25
years, responded to the invitation,
to the evident surprise aud disap-
pointment of at least a part of the
clergymen. Shortly after two of them
had the frankness to tell me that they
did not expect me and that was not
wanted. After some conversation ]
accepted their invitation to remain,
yet after two or three meetings they
disbauded rather than meet in the
Uulyersalist Church, intending to re
/ organize so as to exclude me. Three
OF the pastors In Ravenna set IN
disposed to exclude nae and my church
from Union Temperance and otht
meetings. and to utterly Ignore us as o
religious body. 1 was frequently asked
why did not attend temperance meet
ings and unite with the other churches
To answer legitimate questions and
aid in overcoming that intoleranc.
which stands in the way of united ef
fort for humanity. gave my lecture
II was not necessary to make any ap
peal for sympathy. for snrh comes to
me spontaneously from the great mass
Of community. Ny appeal is for jus
tice and true Christianity. For it is
an unquestioned fact that The bigotry
of professed Christians has furnished
intiiels some of their strongest weap
ons
Idesire to thank Revs. Holtz, Laugh
lin and Meek for their open c"nf' ssiof
Of theological weakness, ecclesiasiiea
bigotry aud consciousness of danger Il
their seetaIisn craft. Their plea o
gnilty of funwilirgness to have relig
ious associations with Uuive. .salists /
Significant. Is 1t not 10 he inferre'
that tney fully justify Bro Meek il
advising his congregation not to atten'
lecture in the Universalist Church
' or encourage or conntenance that in
= sti,utiou. and that they justify ciosinI
orthodox churches against me on fu
neral occasions and excluding me an
nay church from union temperate
and Thanksgiving meetings? tits bu
lust, however, to say that | am pei
sua6ed that such exclusiveness Is nc
n endorsed by a large majority of tn
# members Of their churches Bro. Nee
e can tell what sone of his people thin
y of his conduct, AMI have been assure
= that u maj ,rity of the M smbers of tn
g Edinburg NJ F. Church condemn th
s action of their pastor. The people al
u far 10 advance of the clergymen.
II NV brothers have furnished fir
Is Illustration of the fact that, the distiI
- gushing fundamental principles I
" their theology are false, dying an
, afraid of the light. AT least they tax
e refuge b-hind a statement that betray
Il IL either ignorance of Universalism (
B. their unwilIingness to expose the
theological foundation to inspection
n Is it true that Salvation from sin
- such faith in Jesus Christ as brin!
"a obediencs to his word and spirit" is
le Distinguishing fundamental principle
Al Their theo.ogy? ! have preached th
y. % for twenty eight years, and yet ha'
a. never been classified with the orth
h dox. Possibly If my brethren ha
known this they would not have bee
'e so exclusive. They may believe thi
te but 1t is not distinguishing feature
a, their theology. Will they try agair
ID If so will they not say that Origin
- Sin, Vicsrious Atonement and Endie
a. Punishment are Distinguishing fund
D. mental doctrines ? If 80, will the
lg state how men would act who embo
=, led the spirit OF these doctrines in the
q, lives2
le II their distinguishing theology
=, - not false and afraid of the light wi
D try to prevent investigation? If Ii
e narrow, why so much exclusivenesi
: But can 1t be dying when th,re are
- many churches and ministers asser
g ing toit Yes. Think what chang
~ have occurred within q century. A
Z, the doctrines of total depravit
y election and req rotation, infant da1
t. nation, a personal devil, vicario
a atonement, general judgment aft
ID death, and endless torment taught
SO formerly? How many now belle
nr these doctrines? Let churches {
er communicate allmembers who belle
le in or sympathise with Universalis
~. and how many would remain II
d. old doctrlues are dying, and many a
Or wise enough TO admit 1t.
" ~ Statistics are not always corret
Twenty years ago every UNIVERSAL
I'd preaching station was numbere
c Now only actual church OF parish q
'S ganizations. This is why figures a
a apparently against our growth ASS
IN ORGANIC I'D body we are stronger tbs
&c ever, and growing steadily and surel
~ ~ There was q gain last year of 43 pa
r ishss and =, 2,257chuFeh members. The
IL are now over ST. ,000. .OOOlnveslsd in e.
u, ucationai institutions, church propert
.. - and o.ber denomInational enterprise
, | Readily admit that the combined o
v. Ihodox churches far outnumber U
!e Que hundred years ago orthodoxy hs
- almost undtsputed possession, al
al When the Upiversalist church Wi
h born It was hated rs bad rs the infal
Z