The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-12-08

II er lament wa, sincers when sfdsction an
sorrow cam home to cir Own ri &c, but
their religion had not sugnt them tie m
h rent sacrsdness OF human life. Tne COM
Hand which read Thou sha love thy neigh
Dor and hate tnine enemy was not command
10 inspire res ,ect and veneration for all
human ings simply because they were
OF the human family. Cru 'lty and In
humani to foreigners thus rose TO
the diAnty of isious acts History
is filed with strange actions with sick
ening horrors, all growing out of religious be-
liefs which fail respect human life. There
10 the account of the terrible Draining of captives
"a religious ac;--tne cutting OF threats among
the AZ ecs. tine off=rfug OF human blood TO the
gods, the compelling OF children to pass through
the fire unto Moloch, the shutting IN for life of
monks and nuns. the caring of men TO pieces
with the Spanish rack, or breaking their limbs
on the wheel by the Catholic irQ nsition, the
burnins of Servetus, .hs Unitarian, by c Twin,
the Protestant the hanging a Q iak-r woman
by Pur tans in New Eng and. In short, Gil
these actions and every conceivable absurdry
grew out Of belief that the Lord God was God
OF the lew, not OF the many, and that His favor
was bestowed Only on Those who served Him in
u particular ay.
This belief, modified In q measure, unfortun-
ateIy survives, though happily, its consequence s
are less dreaofu than formerly.
Wnea U.Ii aranism, ma century ago. first
X,
doxy was o. it's height Il taught in the
most open way that Gods grace extended TO
but few. that the great mass of humanity was
doomed, consignei by the everlasting DEGREES
10 tie urning pit, where forever there would
Be weeping and ailiug aud gnasning of te, tn
Take the creed OF Presbylerianism, about
which there Is now so mucn discussion. 1t
start out by imputing to US depray.d natures
by reason OF Adam's all from gr ace, and then
goes on say that this corrupt nature makes
us all gu ty so as 10 d serve G ID q wrath All
all miseries. That IN Sc miseri would Gil be
inflicted upon US IL Cnrlst had not borne them
ON the cross. by His blood and Il, attn we are
redeemed. Only through accepting His atone
ment can we obtain life eternal
The orthodox Greek church of Russia takes
the same unhappy ew. The millions of peo-
pl of ST. II Europe who acknowledge It's con-
fession OF faith as tile on y right doctrine must
vow be ief in a statement much like that of the
Westminster cathe chism.
How fersnt all this from real Christianity
l. e., from what the Galilean rabbi actually
taught
Anayze the teachings OF Christ Get them
down to the simplest elements, what do you
ind? An insislence on the depravity If man?
NO, far rom il. The whole trend of Jesus teach
ing is to increase the appreciation of human
life.
Jesus saw Il o. those men who claimed com.
mon parentage In Abraham looked on each
othtr as neighbors, those outside the nat onal
relationship were Looked on as enemies, aud the
Mosaic command "lia.e your enemi s." was
only too strict liv MP o. The frst thing
therefore, wac u give men a higher regard for
their e. emies, TO make them look with more
sacredn' IS on those OF other netioa ties, hence
sus said: True. you All have Que Father, not
Abraham. but the Father in heaven. All men
ar, His chil1r n. consrqn, ntly brotners Loak
hat
Roman, as you do on one of your own race for
behold, they too are children OIL God; brothers
your neighbors. G,d's love go g out to them as
TO on. BE We perfect, even as your heavenly
Father 10 perfect" By this fiction OF blood re-
lstionship tie was established between men
the most diverse. The words '.In Christ's
name," If u ter9d by Goth, Jew. a Syrian, a
Rom N. were enough. Tney established the re-
iationship, they bound together in an interna.
ional brotherhood those that were willing to
work al d suff-r for ChrisPs sake.
Christianity through the CENTURIES has, there
fore. done much 10 develop the brotherhood
feeling. In proportion as its central doctr me-
this of the brotherhood, has taken hol of mems
imaginat Oh, in just that sam proportion have
they been wi ing to do and dare and die for
the good of others. Lately one step hi cher has
been iaken.
Science has be- n the guide. Instead of de.
stroyinE religion science has contributed to i,
the most valu ID e, the mot sacred, the most
Imperative obligation. No need now to resor,
To 6cton. The blood relationship of all men
is established. Believe in Father in heaven
or not" says science. think what thou may
est in regard to d. one thing is sHre ab. olute
sure, the same life force which flows in aud
throu b thee fow' in and through thy neigh nor
Tor there is but one universal life." Il
the world prepares for such a vas thought IS
this? Do II d. sire to have pre- ched this gospel
nj he. -nf III 81
Yes, the time is here 1t is now. From Gar
msny, from Sweden, from Iraly, from Ru STA.
from Every country on the fa of the gob.
men hsye come to ipd new country aud a
newshome In these Unitei States As a gov
ernment we fer them rights and privileges.
We promise to make them joint heirs in this
our glorious heritage. Our constitution reads:
The ght OF citizens of the Unit States to
vote shall not be denied on account Of race.
dior or previous condition." Aud again: "Ali
persons born or naturalized in the United
States, AID subj c. to the Jurisdiction thereof
are cit z ms Of tn Unite states" In these two
clauses we have the widest. fullest expression
II poliii, al ncusivene-s
NJ any OF hese foreigners thst have come and
are coming to America nave brought an will
bring from tn Old home prejn ices, PECULIAR
ties, national traits tn { are more or e dis
aerr"able. For that reason we do not close our
Io-ts 10 them. AID refuse them city nship
Neither must we close our hearts 10 them We
al least, VINO prif. Ourselves on being American
born must get above o prejudces our dis
likes, our race nsrrowness, aud We went a re-
ligion broad nough and Charitable ough to
help US 10 do this. II our re igious ia tn is not
as broad as our political faith ii is useless
Unitarianism Is trying u accomplish lust that
very thing.
Its ministers are continually lifting their voice
sgains' ali creeds in politics and theology which
estrange men ose from another. Uuisaranism
stands 'quavely for the brotherhooi Just as it
Is the province of this country TO obliterate Old
Word I.aiiona distinctions in the lar ,er idea of
American citizenship allowed to every man. so
II Is the province OF -nitsrianism TO obliterale
narrow creed distinctions in tn larg- r idea
o the brotherhood. 20 Uuitariaus it is given
To oe reiigiously the reconciier, of the narious.
Ours s the work of the peacemakers Can YOU
conceive of more glorious mission?s On
lie and not on creed; on work nj not on IA tn
we insist Our constant EFF rts 30 forth. or
should 60 forth. not in bringing all men 20 the
same beIi' THAT is mpo o debut in infrlsing
all men with The sam spIrit the spirit of en-
thusi- site devoti' or whas ever things are
rue; whatso Yer thin are hone {; whatsoever
tnitg are lst: whatsoever things are lovely
abo of 81 oc repule; in & word, for the God-like
Sinner, save thyseit," has been the cry of the
church Tor ages. We change 1t 10 sinner, save
Others aud thus thyself."
This makes our watchword. not Salvation,
but Service.
Il came that they might have more abundant
life" Thi> spirit of service must be our sp.rL
let your light so shine that men may see
your good works. By their fruits ye shall know
them"
UNITARIAN CHURCH WORK.