Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-04-29
UNlVERsALISTS ORGANIZE.
Inc First Church of Pittsburg Formed
Under Favorable Auspices-A Sensible
Sermon nm I,abor Sfurts If

The First Church of Pittsburg Formed
Under Favorable Auspices-A Sensible
Sermon on Labor Starts II.
The new First UniversaIist Church of
Pittsburg, was founded by Rev. W. S.
Williams at Imperial Hall, on New Grant
street, yesterday forenoon, with 125 persons
present to start with. The subject of the
reverend gentleman's sermon was "Driven
From Eden," and it treated of the labor
and-sweat curse pronounced upon Adam
and Eve when driven from the garden.
Upon this point Mr.. Williams said:
If this is the "curse" it is the most blessed
curse ever put upon mankind. Nature drives
all of us along from the ease of childhood into
the cares and temptations of manhood; out of
the ease of manhood into the exigencies of age;
out of age into the untried future Behind are
the green fields, sparkling waters and luxuri-
GUS ease, before us labor, care, anxiety, strug-
gle. In mans view there is harshness to it;
there is an unnecessary obligation and response
bility attendant upon it which he would gladly
rid himself of, We all have Adams love of
Eden. There is in us q native inclination to
inactivity. We seldom labor out Of the purest
love of it. we do not bear care graciously; we
do not encounter temptation willingly; we do
not court sorrow, PAIN aff1iction. We expert
ence disposition to be exempt from them all,
and we ofttimes think that we would be COM
pletely happy and perfect were the incubus of
inactivity lifted from us.
But it were well for us that all our notions
are not carried out; for we mistake what is to
our largest Development. 1t is fortunate that
there is Goods side to Eden"
Eden represents the first and lowest estate of
man; it is the symbol of inactivity, supine ex-
istence. Driven out of Eden means the
struggle for existence. God has a purpose in
us which reveals itself outside of Eden. Like
all his successors Adam loved life, but never
before had he realized the extreme value of it
as when he perceived its continuance was de-
pendent upon his own exertions The market
value of life appreciated when Adam was cast
onto the world
In Eden there was comparatively nothing;
outside there were all the wonderful, mighty
resources and powers of earth. God had stored
them outside, and sent man out to find them
and use them. They have gradually yielded to
mans endeavors. but under the pressure of
stern necessity.
Cast out of Eden we develop our strength in
nghtin@the elements. Graded in luxury and
fondled in the lap of ease never makes great
men. he only knows the true value of a dol
lar who in the sweat of his brow has earned
the cents to make it.
VIRTUE is seen in its most beautiful radiance
when It has struggled through sea of tempta-
ton; when its maintenance were far more diff
cult than its abandonment. Truth appears
most luminous when it breaks through the
darkness, or over a sea of doubt. Love finds
its richest expression when the cords of affec-
ton have been strained or snapped by care
aff1iction, sorrow or trial.
God drives us from Eden that we may make
our way to heaven; He starts us from the low
est to reach the highest. Out of Eden man be-
came co-worker with God. God meant man
to help Him complete the world, and in Eden
he couldn't do it