The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-01-16
A FEAST OF REASON.
Unitarian Club Banquet at the
Rainier Hotel.
RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATION"
Fine Addresses by Rev. Roderick steb-
bins and Mr. Joseph shippen-A
Notable Gathering.

"A
members OF the club and their ladies who were
present, Tacoma, Fairhaven, Olympia and Puyal-
itlp were represented By prominent rnitarians
III the dining room the banquet was inaugur-
ated By the saying of grace by Rev. w. L. Cope
land, OF Tacoma
The first address of the evening came from the
retiring president OF the club. Mr. Samuel
.oiiyer, OF Tacoma. Mr. Collyer said he found
himself In a peculiar situation. ON the pro-
gramme he was put down for en- address from
the retiring president, aud would also have to
answer for the address of the new president.
II was needless TO say he was grstifed and
surprised to see so large number of Unitarisns
assembled. II it were in Tacoma he would not
nave been surprised at all 1t had been the Gus
tom heretofore to read letters from friends from
various sections, but that would be dispensed
with and he would introduce Mr.. Joseph Ship
per. the principal speaker of the evening
Mr.. Joseph shipper made an address on 'sRe-
hglous Organization" from which the following
extracts are made:
1.-THE immortal words OF Webster Liberty and
union now and forever, one and iuseparable,
are as true in religion as in secular life and in
situations. Under the inspiration OF that feryid
watehword, conned by all school boys of the
last generation 100000 men marshalled
marched and fought successfully for the preser-
vatlon OF free government. We repgdate the
viduality of Louis Quatorze, who proclaimed, 4
am the STRENGTHENING that in union there is
streDgth-believing in the brotherhood of man
and seeking the liberty wherewith Christ hath
set us free-the Christ who came that We might
have life and life more abundantly.
These ideas OF liberty and union find their
correiatiyes III the centrifugal and centripetal
forces in celestial mechanics. No one OF the
myriads of myriads of stars hitherto only
imagined, but now revealed by the photo
graphic telescope. at Harvard. is beyond the
realm OF the law that gives form to the smallest
water-drop.
Sin individual life we have the same anti
thetic tendencies in freedom and loyalty: aud
the conduct OF lie, adjusted In due moral per-
spectives, depends largely upon maintaining
thelr true relations. Character is and must ever
be individual, and is formed by making pledges
to ones self based on highest ideals and then
resolutely keeping such pledges We recognize
the value OF the individual, and know the scales
must often kick the beam when attempt is made
TO balance mass OF humanity against the
weight OF single man endued with spiritual
weight and power. When Julia Ward Howe
once asked Charles Sumner to dine and meet
distinguished stranger, she was repealed by the
senator's reply, 80, have lost all interest in in
oivlduals. Can we not synpathiZe with Mrs.
Howe in making her diary entry that night,
Thanks be given that God has not advanced SO
far.
at is, then, with the fullest appreciation OF the
Importance of freedom OF thought and independ-
enee OF action in each OF US, that now turn the
other side OF the shield, to present the value of
associated action-to speak briefly of the expe-
ton is the word OF the hour. We see its potency
shown in government and in trade. and are al
most appalled,, like ward Bel!amy, by the CT
feets OF concentration of brain and capital
"There stand the Red Cross aud White Cross
societies, multiplying and roofing themselves
throughout the world to foster and establish
charity and purity in the hearts of men. 1t is
upon the principle of geometrical progression
the Lend a Hand clubs have been formed nm
der the impulse given by our loved friend DR..
Edward Everett Hale and are spreading over
land and sea. The Kings Daughters, too, have
arisen, and are said now to number 10000 men,
Ders, guided by the impulse OF the beautiful and
immortal poem OF Mrs Rebeeca Palfrey Utter,
the wife OF our Chicago minister, whose self
sacrificing missionary efforts as a pioneer at
Olympia are never to be forgotten.
I'm the highest planes of thought and action in
mind and spirit in religion the effectiveness of
organization is likewise everywhere recogni-
Fable. Nor is it only in the hierarchies, and
missionary enterprises; the truth is felt in the
magnetic consciousness of receiving the as
sured blessing attending the two or three as
sembled in His nanle-assembled IL the spirit
of unity TO dwell in the bonds of peace. Ca
thedrals and flaming rituals are unneeded to
establish the true church of the soul The Ia
coma girl OF brother Copelands flock, possessed
OF social graces and refinement who gathers i'll
the wilderness near Wllipa in Pacific county
the netghboring woodsnen from Sunday to sun
day for religious thought and sympathy, has
founded as true church as that OF st. Peters
rock.
rs there? Can there be another side to this
subject? Yes, We are trcading on disputed
ground. Yes, DIR. Claiming (Whose article on
laboring classes was the incentive in England to
organization OF great permanent usefulnessj
sixty years ago, in an article on organization
talked forcibly of the dangers incident to or
ganic life. That great theologian and human
tartan emphasized the perls to individuality
and individual thought and action--the ten
deney TO forge chains to the enslavcment OF
the minds and conseiences Of others. Manywho
have thrown OIL the trammclS aud superstitiens
of medieval orthodoxy rebound TO the other e,1-
treme and repudiate the idea OF Limitation OF lib
erty by law
II disclaim any desire, my friends. even if
time permitted, 10 speak OF what should const-
tute the basis OF religious organizations. The
advantages, II any there be, OF dogmatic credsl
statements are outweighed by their attendant
evils We love to use--we are obliged to use
symbolic words and embems as aids TO thought
and expression. Yet the holy cross has been
carried by many Cortez at the head OF victori-
Gus armies engaged in nefarious warfare. The
thorns that eneircle the Naza:enes brow have
been adopted by religionists (some of whom are
stu to be found in my native state of Pennsyl-
vania) for the fastening OF garments, with such
zeal that hatred. strife and litigation have been
engendered through their displacement by
hooks and eyes, while the Use OF buttons has
been denounced Gs II carnal sin.
"H hen first went TO st. Louis, twenty years
ago, no bridge spanned the Mississippi. but deep
beneath its swift and tuTbid current were hid
den the s0lie foundations upon which the sub
seaueat magnificent structure was 10 rise; and
when the grand opening at last came. the great
engineer, james b. Eads, publicly stated that
the structure, costing SO many millions, would
endure as long as the wants OF man should re
quire. for he said the bridge was designed and
constructed upon lmmutGbe principles with
foundations anchored TO the bedrock and the
sUpefstructure forever capable OF new adapta-
ton and replacement
''ShaN NOT our faith in the external and ma
teTial be extended 10 the moral and spiritual
with confidence in their equal OF even greater
permauence2 Thus shall we do what we can to
advance the church militant 10 becoming the
church tYiumphant-toe establish the kingdom of
God on earth. Come long expected DAYS, come
and gladden. our waiting heart come thou
church uniting the love OF God with love of His
children; zeal with charity-Fcason with reiig-
ion-iaith with work All hail thou church uni
veTsali'
Rev Roderick Stebbins. tho new pastor of the
Unitarian church o. Seattle, was introduced 10
the club by It's president. He said that he had
been asked more than once since he had been
here ii he liked seattle He could not reply
otherwise than affiTmativey. IN view OF tho
treatment be had received. lie wanted TO say a
few words to supplement- what Mr.. Shippen had
said ci organized religion lie wanted "a speak
briefly. too. of the ideal church, which Is
founded on three principles: First. upon some
thing tnat men are ant 80 forget in their earthly
desires that IL Is a church of religion. lt is a
place Tor the religious development OF The re-
ligioCs nature OF men and women.
In the second place IL shall he a church with
o simple belief with no long creeds 70 bewflder
with its lntricaCies. The creed Is TO he
founded only upon the principle OF love TO God
Thirdly it shall be a Christian chureh-oue
animated by the spirit OF the man Of Nazareth
The future Of this new church is with us Shall
we not put our shoulder % the wheel and build
up the principles OF our ideal church,
Rev. Herman Haujerud, OF Puyallup, said in
substance;
On coming here tonight tud ny name on
the programme for the first time, 50 VIII uaakea
few remarks. love AulericS fer the hospitality
OF its people. love the Unitarian religion be
cause 10 is ~ American. True religion is to take
q true, loving and intellectual relation toyVar ri
everybody and efetythiDg. Ours Is n liberal
religion. tree 70 all. We do not build IIares
saf1