Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-02-17

grounds, Unitarianism, as compared
with many other confessions of belief, was
making no noteworthy progress. The
writer then, with a clear comprehension
for the reason of this, went on 10 say that
Unitarianism represented more especially
a move ment of thought than any concert
of opinion; that it was an influence not SO
largely felt in its special work of denomi-
national activity as in the power 1t e1erted
in every higher department of Intellectual
and moral progress, and so any proper ap-
probation of its usefulness must come
through a careful estimate of what liberal
walks of human accomplishment.
| have already said that Unitarianism
has long since abandoned anything like an
attempt to buttress its structure by what
may be classed under the general heads of
exposition. comment, defense and attack.
Except, too as they are naturally con-
nected with its work. the strictly denomina-
tionsl address, essay or treatise, for one
capable of accomplishment adapted to
appeal to a larger constituency, is distaste-
full, such work being deprived Of that
larger hearing which would be accorded to
it if it simply appealed to truth that could
be more easily recognized as bearing Gre
dentials emitting it 10 universal accept
ance. Upon the purely UNCONVENTIONAL
contributions to the literature to the GEN.
fury, recent writer has, however, this ap-
preciative comment; ITO have produced
such classics" he says, las the volumes of
Buckminster, Charming, Dewey, Hedge,
Parker, Martineau, would alone give dig
nifty to the half century of UNCONVENTIONAL
life in which they appeared, the more
when we think of the limited range in
numbers that UNCONVENTIONAL life embraces
and the fresh spirit with which these pio-
neers are followed by writers of fully equal
vigor and popular quality, rejecting quite
as clearly the very different intellectual
tendencies OF our own day"
II has so happened, however, that these
truly great names do not now represent to
US the standard-be of a movement that
is felt to have an importance and an int1u-
ence that cannot be measured by any de-
nominationsl strength. even the greatest,
and so the allegiance Of the great body of
the thoughtful and reverent of the world
passes over the church to that higher claim
upon it, which it recognizes in what may
be called the literature that gives distinct
i've character to the time in which we live
But this very literature is Unitarian in a
peculiar sense, not Unitarian in any ety.
biological meaning OF the term, but
Unitarian in that regard which
the discriminating editor OF the
New York Tribune understood as synoDy-
nous with the movement of thought
which operates upon the highest level of
intellectual and moral mplishment. 1t
living or recently dead have claimed our
is almost trite TO name over even few, con-
filming the examples to ourl land, ofthose who
fellowship. Among scientists and edu-
Gators, Joseph Priestley, Sir Charles Lyell,
T A
statesmen and jurists, John Adams and
John Quincy Adams, Edward Everett and
Fisher Ames, John Marshall and Charles
Sumner, Daniel Webster, Josiah Quincy,
John A. Andrews, Joseph Story and George
w. Curtis; among poets, Bryant and Long
fellow and Lowell and Holmes; among
historians. Bancroft and Motley, and Pres
cott and Hildreth, and Parkman aud
Sparks, while in the more distinctly liter
airy ornament the constellation which
shines with the greatest brillisncy is COM
posed Of those who in their teachings not
only reflect that higher religious thought
for which Unitarianism stands rep
resentative. but who themselves make
our church's altsr the shrine which
contains the mystery before which they
revereutly kneel. And what is this move
ment of thought OF which the teachings of
TIC III tEIttst anu Otol VI tllC lftlG lOuIu
to be representative and expository? 1t is
discovered in the acceptance of that general
truth upon which | am insisting; that all
scripture is given by inspiration of God.
All scripture, not all of the Hebrew Bible,
but surely most of it; and also something
that anciently found place in the Nedas,
the Avestas, the Eddas and the korans of
the world. Scripture, too, that is found in
what of universal truth was proclaimed by
Eschylus, and Plato, and Virgil, and
Dante; by Shakespeare, and Wordsworth,
and Goethe, and Browning, so recently
dead. But the scripture which makes sp-
peal 10 our consideration, and is that
which in the highest expression of it may
be considered to contain the substance of
Unitarian faith, may be described as the
testimony borne to us from every depart
ment of intelligent end reverent investiga-
ton, from the domains of history and science
and philology and archaeology, that the
real revelation of God is not limited
to book or TO a race, for from all prov
inces of his creation there comes teach
ing which, adequately understood, is prof
table for the things which add dignity and
significance to human life. And this is our
liberal faith faith in the righteous gov
eminent of things; faith in some ulti-
mate and fortunate destiny belief that
some great progress is working in the
world, and which slowly but steadily and
everlastipgly is carrying the race onward
to compass moral accomplishment for
which time can furnish no adequate meas
ure; and it seems to me that the only faith
that can satisfy the reason of this latter age
is that faith which comes in esteeming all
real knowledge, from whatever source de-
rived, as scripture given by inspiration of
God.