Telegram-herald., 1891-10-12
SIAADPAST FOR Liberty


'toAti1ued ueH Flrst page
living bat no one doubts that i. Is the
part or true manhood and womann0Oa
10 Faithfully confonn 10 their highest
eOnet pJ<n CT righteousness. Men may
lot agree "a 10 bow We stall love and
serve mankind Bat no one can help
eeeIBg that love ald service are most
worthy or cur aspiration. And so
think have here, friends, struck
bed rocz. We have expressed here q
bass which shalt make "ail neresy I'M
possible IA this eaurch bat dishonesty"
A SSsaafass ParPo.s Expresssd
We have expressed purpose that
cannot imagine that one can ever out
grow. thousand years from now, no
matter no. advanced We may be ia in-
tellecL or character or on whatever
planet we may i've, truth righteousness
and hove will always have a meaning
aud always will be- iit expressions for
the aspiration of our souls. | wish you
would take tine To read II through
many times from different standpoints.
Imagine the Salvation Army soldier.
although q leaves out much that he
would INSIST would have to be In, there
u nothing that he could object to IN
the purpose expressed. Think OF Is
from the standpoint of the agnostic on
the other hand, Is there anything that
would trouble his conscience If his
moral purpose were sincere lie there
anything here that does not represent
the best that IS to DO found IN tire pope
or Luther, IN Calvin or seEyetus2 No.
believe that there y nothing that would
bar the entrance of an earnest soul INTO
our church II he were wiling to fellow
"a "a hs.A I'D Oh,
HIM. In the moral purpose here ex-
pressed. We have. think, one state
nlent OF the best thing that there has
been IN all the religion of the past and
prophecy OF the hes. that can be IN
the future. We have here the common
factor that gives unity TO all the
earnes, work OF the world in spite of
the discord and differences thai there
has been IN connection with il. When
We want 10 find the common factor in
mathematics, We reduce all the ele-
ments TO the lowest terms and the COM
mon factor Is always the smallest one.
And on first thought it may seem that
We have found the common element IN
religion IN the same way that the COM
mon element would be the smallest,
least important element. but it is not
20. This moral purpose is the unity
underlying all religious life, not as the
smallest, but rs the greatest, most
fundamental part of all. Ii is common
20 all true religion as life is common to
oil organisms
It's the vivifying, all essential thing.
However the theologians may have dis
Iuted throughout the centuries, as If
the items OF the creed were the only
things Of Importance, the humble dis
ciple has AZ all times lived in the light
OF this holy purpose rather than in 10y
atty to creed. This aspiration towards
the true, the good. and the loving Is so
simple that the tiniest child can COM
prenend its meaning; 90 sclf-evidently
worthy that one moe. indifferent to
moral distinctions can yet see that he
oughs to try for the things 1t suggests;
1t is go great that It Will outstrip the at
talnmeEts OF the Roblcst soul, so conf
prehensye that no nigh aspiration hut
Is covered by i; so earnest that no
height OF deyout conservation but IS in
harmony with Il; 20 fundamental that
no wrecked soul, struggling for some
moral support to cling to, but will ind
hold here, an IDEAL within its reach.
A DIGESTION Plainly Answered.
What kind OF n church will this sbe,
tha YOU mean that every member
must necessarily accept that meta
physical doctrine. Yes, If that Is the
istic whieh trusts the universe and Is
willing To risk the results OF all honest
thinking. Yes, If as most of us believe,
truth and righteousness and love are
the very attributes OF God. Is Christ
lam No, il we Judge OF Christianity
ty much OK is history and by most OF
It's efeeds. No, II loyalty to Jesus
means insistence on bis name. Yes. If
by Christianity Is meant that Christ
prinClDie OF love and service which our
ideal associates with Jesus OF Nazareth.
Is il agnostic? No. II by this is meant
the dogmstic assertion of the inpossi-
hriity of knowing anything. Yes, If by
agnosticlsm We mean the spirit which
humtgy, patiently waits to know the
truth when II does not feel that u can
be- sure. Isit ethical2 70, IL by ethics
i meant conformity to a cold system
of moral precepis. Yes, il by ethics Is
meant toe whoiesouled, ever fresh spir-
II of obedience 10 the highest ideal and
the effort TO n,ake that ideal grow TO
higher and better proportions. We do
not care for names II the spirit Is what
those names mean IN their highest spir-
itual usage.
But how about opinions? All must
have the n and how can We get on with
every keeping has own pet hobby Snail
W. give up these specia. theories which
esca NAV nave2 That would be Impos-
slble and very undesirable II possib bic.
In ceasing 10 make theory the test of
church Membership. we do not mean to
say thst i Is unishportant. Indeed, all
intelligent peopie must nave opinions.
One Of tie moral purposes we have ex-
pressed - - develop honest. reverent
thought IN ourselves and in the world.
And this thought must lead 10 certain
convictions: st least. that - quite desir-
able and eertsinly We all do have very
strong indvitusl convictions, and
these convictions dc not agree, but that
does not matter. Ne expect diHsren-
ess Of opinion. opr freedom means
tolerance towards those who differ
from va. Our unity means unity SO
deep that Il will slow all surts of ex-
tsrnsl multiplicity.
a ose.slas - Emphasis
Tt easy 60 exaegerate. however, the
difference "a opinion there is among
a.. Asa matter ct tact, the thought OF
intelligent PEOPLE st the present. day
has remarkable unity running
through q. IN she poetry, the essays,
Aha perfosssr.t HftF4furn Of the times