Telegram-herald., 1891-11-02
fos GROWTH IN GRACE.



moath ago, We adopted . Bond OF
tnionss" and also = resolution stat
ing the Things mosf commonly b.
hesed among us" ssid the Rev. Mia
+. Tuppsr IN rns Unitarian Church
yesterday mornng. Yoa viii IND
both Of these on the card distributed
through the seats Thres weeks ago
l talked 10 you regarding the Bond
Of unaon." today lei ns coasidsr tAsss
resolutions stating this majority stAsd-
point.
You VIII notice that q hes not the
characteristics of . creed. a. creeds
have been used in the past. The
trouble with the croeds as they have
ben used, ie that they stated q gen.
eral opinion, as articles of faith. which
must De held by everyone who sought
fellowship with that religious organ
izstion. Most OF them have been made
without any thought Of change; those
who have drawn them up have be.iesed
that the truth as they saw In at
that time, was = necessary truth for
ali times. This statement, on the
contrary. has nothing 10 do with our
basis OF union; assent 10 IL is not re
qnired for membership, aud moreover
it is only a statement for today.
notice on the cards the word today
has been omitted c'believed today
among us"), probably through my
own carelessncss, bat that was GER
tamiy Implied in the spirit with which
these resolutions were adopted, for
you see Et says this statement shall
always be open TO re-statement.
Notice the Introduction OF the reso-
iutions.
''Iesoived. That although il is the
Intention OF this church to base its
fellowship upon the moral and re,ie-
ions purpose expressed in its bond of
union. rather than upon any creed.
however noble, we yet think some
practical good may be done by setting
forth the following statement OF the
things most commonly believed among
us. which statement shall always be
opel TO re-statcment, and shall be
regarded only ~ the thought OF the
majority"
What - the practical good which
we think may be done by this state
ment? In the first place IL seems
the frank thing to do. although
we hope to keep the moral purpose
the supreme thing In our work. IL ID
inevitable that much OF 1t win be
colored by the beliefs that are held
by the minister and most OF the con-
gregation. II our freedom IL no,
really bondage there must be an un-
hindered expression OF this belief. II
cannot help but prcvade the service
nd sermons. This II not only abso.
iutely necessary but quite 20 be de
sired. In every department. q life
thinking people must act upon the
basis OF the truth a. they see IL AZ
the present time and must work thro'
the expression OF that truth. II ia
important In the service OF the moral
lie TO clear uQ the theological prob
lems as East as we can We have
theological mission. On the other
hand as long as most OF us feel that
many OF the popular beliefs held are
false and liable TO exert an unwhoie-
some moral influence. we alaii wish
to do ali that we can TO spread abroad
the larger faiths that viii lesRe no
room for such error. On the other
hand as long as most OF us feel strongly
the truth OF certain great beliefs that
we think are inspiring and In every
way reasonable and noble. we would
he false indeed TO our trust II we did
not do all that we could to convince
those who doubt or deny this faith.
We have a mission ms long as VIZ be-
lieve unworthiiy and to those who be-
lievc not nj NIL
Moreover such r statement seems
only fair TO those who might svmpa~
thize with oar moral purpose and yet
who do not believe as the majority
10 and who would thus be hurt by
much Of tile work that IL secms inn
portant for us 10 do. We would be
glad TO have the believer IN the VI
carioue Afoncrnent Join with ms I'm
our work as a church for humanity.
hat Il would he only fair 20 let such
n one know that until the majority
N the church change their views very
radically. the method of work for
people wonld rot nc IN accordance
with the belief IN this plan Of saliva
sion. We ehould be vrry glad also 80
have the Afhi.t- y thrre be any. join
with us sn uplifting humanity. hut II
would be o-s'v fnir 20 ie- I'm know
'sosn-e hand thst hc wou1a have -
work with Others whose faith was
ssroav N the truth cf what he drnics.
The welcome world he cordial 20 both
- sh~er. but Ne lon~ ~ they wonld
have TO ben- mnch that they would
rot approve. a. ec<ms wisr and fsir
IN frankly stafe the~e things most
commonly believed. which must needs
crrf-~ol the general method and spirit
NJ the work. n eerrns TOO hed that
when we would ~ risf'r m~te n
homo Cor ell. hrf n " verv difficuif In
church or etet~. fn q community or
family me- fo have the Tyranny of
she ma io~stv.- there s~nyns no wav
~ avoid r.. Tire only thing that
e.r ~ DOR N srv ~ thes. ess~s n IN
tec, fhe ~nirff ~ the majority ~
t'-sd'~ ars r>on.sss-s+s THAT the minor
nv viii find themselves ensssved he
~nu~ ~ sf~fr toi~reree snd co-opers-
ton We so not sek tb~m IN aep>nt
20 what they ~ not believe hrf
ont~ 20 ~ pefs~rt with the prevailing
thnr~tt. even y thy % not agree
WITH r.
I shfrt shss @hss sfa+erers ~ sassS