The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-07-21
Correspondence.
JOY IN BELIEVING.

hand to my former theological associat 9s,
and as l have since received many letters
from its readers, this was deemed pro-
per time to submit few lin IS for their
consideration.
Having lived in all the theological
zones, from the orthodox torrid to the de-
ightfully temperate in which 1 now re-
side. please allow me space to inform
those who have been left behind that
"surely the Lord is in this place." it is
land which howeth with the "milk and
honey" Of divine promise. Gould those
who are yet breathing the birthstone at
mosphere of the torrid domains of ortho-
doxy, but realize the advantages to be
gained, there would certainly be one of
the most memorable migrations, theolog-
ically, ever known in history. There
are hundreds living in those realms who
have inhaled its sulphuric gases until
their souls are sickened, and they travail
for deliverance. Why, then, do they re-
main there? That is question which re-
peats itself over and over again. Those
who have stood for years on the borders
Of this land of bondage can scarcely tell.
That there is a vast multitude in the
Christian world longing for better things,
is fact plainly evident to every one
who pays any attention to the signs OF
the times. Emigration from this land of
bondage is delay ID, doubtless, by many
considerations.
Many of the would be emigrants are
afraid, perhaps, they can never become
acclimated in a cooler religious lati-
tude, having been spiritually born and
reared in a hot climate. They shrink
from contact with the cool, wholesome
air of higher mental regions. They
have for years been feeding on the leeks,
onions and Aesh-pots of Egypt, have Sc
rious misgivings regarding the bill of
fare with people where fire is so scarce.
Perhaps they are fearful that in q coun-
try where the divine wrath is not the
principal element in the moral govern
ment, there can be no we'll regulated 30
cial system. Or, perhaps, again, they are
prevented from emigrating by the thought
that friends must be left behind, that
former associations must be severed and
ties OF friendship broken. Many even
contemplate change in church relations,
but are afraid to venture on account of
the possibility of not finding church
better adapted to their needs. This ap-
plies more directly to those preachers
who have found it impossible to believe
the creed of the church where they are
and yet are prevented from coming out
from them by financial considerations.
They sacrifice manly independence and in,
tegrity to interests which are more or less
selfish. The alternative seems to them to
be either false position before the world
or loss Of remunerative appointment.
In re cent conversation with prom
inent Universalist, q popular young Meth
odist preacher OF Detroit, acknowledged
that, although he might not be in full
sympathy with the doctrines of his church,
he dared not proclaim his secret convic-
tions for at least ten years to come.
In presu ming to offer few suggestions
relative to general experience on such i'm
portant subj ects, appeal to the honest
thoughts Of all concerned. The idea,
men will not be religious without the
terror Of endless punishment is libel
upon humanity. The universal human
heart longs for an object upon which to
pour its incense of worship. Take from
between Deity and humanity the dark
mantle interposed by superstition and
sophistry and men will bow with reVer-
ence before the throne of the King of
heaven, not because they fear him, but
because they love him. Hence those are
in error who fear too earnest and urgent
presentation of the love of God to-
ward the race. The line between a good
man and bad man can hardly be laid
down, and we are all taught to say "Our
Father in heaven" As to those who
dread the rupture of family and social ties
they may depend upon it no true friend
will repudiste man because he changes
his opinions. Every associate who is
worthy OF the sacred tie of friendship
will be just as true in the new relation as
when you walked in the same highway
toward the eternal kingdom of God.
True friendship is not biased by preju-
dice for creeds, but is rational enough
to act upon the principle that character
is the only standard by which we can
justly measure man. 1t is true that there
is class of people whose minds are so
puny that they can see nothing beyond
the narrow limits of their creed; people
who will assail vindictively any one who
dares to venture beyond the Landmark
of the fathers" Such persons should,
under all circumstances, be studiously
let alone. There are people enough in
all social circles who have minds suffi-
GENTLY liberal, and souls sufficiently gen
erous, to enable them to reach the friend
ly hand and send the friendly word across
all border lines of intellectual differences.
A man never loses true friend because
he changes his mind.
Further than this, public sentiment is
not always an earnest Of truth. Truth is
eternal. Public sentiment changes like
the wind. The true man would rather
be right than be popular. The man