The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-07-14
CHURCH EXTENSION.

THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH,-By free
will offerings and self-denying labors the
Christian church is extended in the world.
Churches are multiplied and the Gospel is
carried to the remotest parts of the world by
the voluntary contributions of Christian
people and nations. The call of GoD is con-
tinually being made upon His people for Of
ferings to build the LORDS house. The world
is full of evidences of Christian generosity
and consecrated service. All churches may
share, do share, in this noble work, and the
glory of establis hing the tabernacle of COP
among men, all men. The glorious work
must go on till the prophetic vision of the
Revelator is fulfilled, when the presence and
providence of GoD, the heavenly Father,
shall be ackno wledged among all people,
and all the races of men and the kingdoms
of the world shall be embraced in the King
dom of GoD's truth and righteousness.
THE UNIvERsALIsT CHURCH. - The
Universalist Church is branch of the
Church Universal. Its special mission is to
declare and advance to universal acceptance
fundamental truths of the Gospel, which
have been neglected and even actively de-
MED by the general Church in medieval and
modern times. 1t reaffirms with emphasis
the principal doctrines of primitive Chris
tianity. 1t seeks to restore to prominence
in Christian theology the Gospel doctrine of
the Divine Fatherhood and Sonship, and the
illimitable love of GoD for all his children,
and to Christian experience the recognition
of the fact that the kingdom of COP is here
and now, in the reign of Divine love and
truth over the hearts and lives of men,
aud that GoD is present with his children
always and everywhere. For this purpose it
seeks to establish itself and extend its organ
ization and influence. Offerings of money
and service are called for to sufficiently sus-
tain and strengthen for greater influence
and usefulness the churches and other insti-
tutions of the denomination, and to estab-
fish an effective ministry of the Gospel, and
to maintain public worship in Universal
ist church in every community in the land,
and, indeed, in the world.
CHURCH LIFE AND GR0WTH.-We are
called upon to support generously the church
with which we worship and work, and to
in their work of Church extension. What is
done to maintain UNCONVENTIONAL work does
not hinder or weaken, but really helps and
strengthens the individual and local churches.
Free and generous giving tends to increase
the willingness and capability to give, and
best of all, it enlarges the soul and develops
the spiritual life of the giver. Missionary
| nj
the Church, but strengthen the churches
that sustain them. The churches that are
most alive and growing are those that dc
most to extend the blessings of Christianity
beyond themselves. Churches that are mos
active in denominational work are usually
those that do most for themselves.
THE DUTY OF GENEROUSLY SUPPORT
ING OUR CHURCH WORKING ought
oheerfully to meet the requirements of oul
Church upon its adherents for liberal contri
buttons for its support and in aid of iti
work. Generous provision should be made
for the maintenance of public worship and
Christian work in our parishes and the con.
tributions and quotas for the State and Gen
eral Conventions, prescribed in the laws o.
the church and approved by its Conventions
and officers, should be promptly and gener
ously raised. Besides the annual collections
for the Conventions, we have as agencies Of
missionary work and enterprise the Famil!
Missionary Boxes and the Women's ant
Young Peoples Missionary Associations.
Our Sunday-schools and young people should
be fully instructed in the needs and methods
of work of our Church. and encouraged Il
take an active interest in all its affairs.