The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-06-09
INDIANA LETTER.

The opportunities for building up our
cause are, it seems to me, simply immense.
There never wss time in the history of
Universalism when the opportunity was
80 great as now. We only need the earn
est consecrated minister to go forth into
the vineyard, and churches will spring
up in almost every town and hamlet. 1t
wants, however, no milk and water" pre-
sentation of our faith, but clear, out
spoken Universalism, such as Paul gave
the world when he preached at Antioch,
or as Christ when he told the Jews, Glow
can ye escape the dsmnation OF hell"-or
condemnation of Gehenna. Let these
words ring in the ears Of the people, and
let them be accompanied with the thought
that it is the love of God that leadeth
thee to repentance" that it is the same
great loving heart of our Father in heaven
which moves the hand in the distribution
of the sweet rewards of obedience, and
brings down upon our backs these chas-
tisements which teach us that "the way
of the transgressor is hard;" and that
his love ia alike revealed in each. Yet,
With all these Great Opportunities,
we have to report that many of our old
churches in this State continue inactive
1t is probably about the hardest work
a minister has, to put new life into old,
dead churches. To accomplish the resur-
rection of one church is harder than the
building of two or three new ones. Our
church at
Milan
is still pushing forward but slowly. The
Sunday-school recently organized is
growing, and the friends there seem to
realize that il they succeed, they must de-
pend upon themselves instead of depend
ing on their orthodox neighbors. They
have arranged to have regular preaching
until the meeting of the State Conven-
ton in September, or until the Rogers
Association is supplied with minister.
On the third Sunday in May, which is the
regular. day for church services, their
meetings were we'll attended and COM
munion services were observed with ex-
cellent effect. The appropriate remarks
made on the occasion enabled them to
realize the truth of the words, "Blest be
the tie that binds"
On Thursday evening following they
had strawberry and ice cream festival
which Melted them nearly $50 for the
benefit of the Sunday school.
The work is moving slowly at
North Vernon.
Much might be done here if some live
minister were with them to attend to their
wants, and whose business it is to push
the matter forward. On my last visit to
the place 1 found one of the most CON
secrated and jealous members, Br. Glib
son, lying nigh unto DEATH, awaiting
patiently for the summons to "come up
higher" As l read the comforting words
of the Psalmist, The Lord is nny shep-
herd, shall not want; He maketh me
to lie down in green pastures; He leadeth
me beside the still waters; Though walk
through the valley of the shadow of
death" etc., smile seemed to pass over
his countsnance, and I thought how
sweet to live by, but how ineff ably sweet
to die by. A fervent prayer was offered,
then pressure of the hand, perhaps for
the last time, and was away again, speed
ing 'like the wind" trying to work for
the Master.
Our new church in process of erection at
McCordsville,
near Osklandon, is being pushed rapidly
forward, and the brick work will be done
by the first week in June. The church
is not large, but neither is the town. 1t
is 35x50 feet, and will probably cost from
1880 to $4,000. While the building is
being erected, the members are looking
to the securing of the funds to furnish
it. The money is already raised to buy
the bell.
These churches, from fourteen to six
teen miles from indianapolis, speak we'll
for our friends in the community, even
if the latter city has no church.
Mt. Comfort,
five miles South of Oaklandon, is a sta
ton on the I. B. & W. road, with no
church of any kind. The prospects are
excellent for good church. We visited
this place and delivered one discourse to a
large audience, who were deeply inter-
ested and are anxious for more preach
ing. After the sermon, man Gt it be
lawful to call him MANI came forward
and asked me where I got the idea that
man had an immortal soul. I told him
in the Bible. That God created man in
His image and as "God is spirit" there
fore He created us spirits, commonly
called souls.
SWELL" said ne, "God did not give me
a soul or spirit when He created me-" I
told him he was very unfortunate, that it
must be an oversight, and if he would
just notify God, no doubt it would be
made all right and that God was impair
tial. had often found persons with very
small souls, but he was the first one