The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-11-13
CHURCH's WORK.
Able Exposition Of the Pur-
poses Of Unitarianism.
TO FEED BOTH BODY AND SOUL,
Care % the cfsy's Pesr DweIs On By
Mr. Garrsts-rhs ESghs Cssy
GovernmenG

church tn aiding its own members sad
those not members BY It's charitable work.
beth the givsr and the recipient Of charity
beng equally benefited. Mr.. Eliot also
HIade warm defense Of the denomination
81 which he 10 pastor, but in such man
ner a. 20 give no olfenss 20 the most ersho-
dox. He sasd:
when ono comes into difficulties or
discou.agements In some work or design
for the tuiGEiment OF which he is tosling
and hoping and praying, be does vel 70
stor, nay, he 10 often forced 30 stop. and
ask himself What is IL worth % mef'
Have you never found this 70 be trne7
ask any one Of you who may be desoting
yourself 10 some good work or cause. Have
you not ia the midst OF obstacles some
times asked yourself, Is is worth while =
And then. as the old vision cams back and
the ideal worth Of the cause you sspoused
became clear before yoHs mind. have not
The obstacles Become Inspirations and in
the renewed vIgoF Of your effort and IN the
renewed hope of your miad have you not
realized that the cause wss worth the toll
and the waiting7
Some Of ron may have asked yourselves
the same question in your struggles 20
make for yourselves nome. the daily
anxiety, or verse yet. the weary search
for employment. Is Il worth while7 Stop
and ask yourself. All. vess The fathers
home coming. the wife waiting 10 welcome
him ct the evening time when the work is
done: the evening by the Preside; the
noisy children, the praise. blame. kisses,
tears and smiles yes, the illnesses. and
the births and deaths. the deprlyations
and the srlefs. tho tender compositions
and deep congratulations. Yes. all these
are worth the daily worry and anxiety,
the daily patience and honest toll.
Here We are. human beings. souls and
bodies joined in such wondrous conflict
and communion, living together here on
tiIis planet, 10 battle with It's elements a.
best We can until We go away. Have you
ever thought how strange ID IL that we
are on this planet and not somewhere
else In the star space; that We are human
beings and not animals, that we are liv-
ing now and not in some other timer
After saying that perhaps the change
would not be SO great after all were the
human race on another planet, Dir. Eliot
gave q detailed statement of the reasons
for the existence of the church as leader
OF the people, saying in the course OF the
statement that after all there was bus lit
tie difference IN denominations. and then
continued IN the same strain as follows:
"To be witness of divine things. those
things which are changeless and eternal,
forever uplifting and creative, nay. to
teach those truths and reveal those spirit
God, the human child and the Infinite
Father IN the blessed sacraments of adora-
tf0n. petition, communion, love and SER
vice, are the divine things 20 which the
church is asked 10 bear witness. 1 need
not say that mean the church ideal, the
church Invisible: do not forget that the
ministers and the people OF the visible or
carnations, and until that perfect day
shall come il Is the duty of every one To
work for that perfect church, and join that
one among the churches that are which
serves him best and which he best can
serve.
What the church can do for Us and
what we can do for the church THAT Is
the question which members of any church
must sometimes ask themselves. OF
course the church serves different use 10
every member. because We have varied
needs. And yet its general service to oil
of Us may DO stated In this definite way.
IL 10 the place where all sorts and condi-
tions of men may meet upon common
ground for devotion and instruction.
am much inclined TO forget oil the differ
ences OF opinion and expression, even inn
portant differences, when | think Of
what happens every Sunday on this world
OF ours. When each church in its own
way strives 10 lead the soui in prayer, in
resignation, self-surrender and commun-
ION; each church in its own way 10 nm
press the eternal serities Of life and of
truth and OF character.
Mr.. Croker, In a sermon upon Coop
Grafton for Holiness has said that the
ringing of the fire bells is signal for COM
nag together and united action, while the
ringing Of church bells IL signal for divi-
sions. The analogy il true in part but
like almost oil anaiogies Ii states the
truth only in part.
Dean Stanley in his famous Sermon
upon Our Common Christianity points
out the hopeful side Of the matter in
showing as the things which are common
10 all Christians and, indeed. he might
add TO the number of things which he sets
forth. IL Is no small thing TO come to-
eether on Sunday for common devotion,
% seek repentance and communion with
the Father. aud after the solemn moments
otprayer and praise. To mediate fhought-
iutiy and feel strongly upon some theme
OF spiritual and eternal import. The
church thus sets apart n day, the chief
use OF which Is To refresh the body and
Inspire the soul for the intervening week.
"But the church serves another purpose
IN ITS endeayors 10 conseeratc not only the
daily lite with its monotonies and varieties.
hai also the special crisis Of life. Here
the little babe Is brought In parents arms
and given hy the pledge Of the parents to
life OF purity and truth. They publicly
recognize the giit of Almighty God and
promise before the Most High and their
below men that they will endeavoF 10
lead the little one Alright. Here the ma
turing child, or the adult, in joining its
Membership gives taken OF his desire 70
live a holy life. Here the founder of the
church Is remembered and his inspiration
soaght Here the sacred bond of mar
fiage is solemnixsd, tts instoahle VOWS
and declarations made. Here the dead are
fenderly and gratefully remembered and
ibe afflicted are eomfor.ed and the vic
tins OF san and despair rescued"
At this point Mr.. Eliot made q com
rarson of the church with a stock CON-
pany. saying that the church was the one
cooperation which paid dividends 20 al
mankind, whether or not stockholders,
sne then said.
The supreme privilege Of church mem.
besship and church adherence IS tue mui-
npaeauon OF opportunities for service. A
true church not only insp lres passion for
hslpfalusSS and teaches Ia what the high
est helniulness consists. buS Is Also offers
manifold opportunities for heipfalness."
Here Mr.. Eliot made Q plea for more
fnsnesai aid fer the churches, and then
eontinuod:
What have said thus far would apply
sitn egaas trath 10 almost any church or
any denomination. ongat we net scms-
tmes se ask ourselves the worth OF our
ewn church aud denomin aiioE--s chaEch
slth name not altogether Of cur own
ssetce, OGs gr0wn very dear TO Us through
many battle and many an added slgnit-
eaton 1.-The name Unitarian. Ia it not
sorta something 60 Us 10 be free from all