The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1893-02-11

creeu to-day; 1t expresses our views OF
the truth, and yet that creed is different
from what it was yesterday or from what
1t ever will be again"
Charming had tried to find Unitarian
ism in the Bible, but Theodore Parker
cast the Bible aside and tried to found his
Absolute Religion, (which belongs to
mans nature" He himself says of the
Unitarians of his day: ''Their creed
was only denial, always trembling be-
fore the orthodox"
But how permanent was the influence
of Parker? Charming had been thrown
away and Parker crowned; but how long
did he wear the laurel?
The fact that his books did not reach
even second edition tells the story.
Joseph Cook, in his Monday lectures,
made II clear as starlight that Parker con-
fused Intuition with instinct and inspira-
ton with illumination; that in short,
Parker's positions were illogical and
superficial.
y. Is. rockingham puts down the name
OF George Ripley with Charming, Parker
and others as teacher and prophet of
Iranscendentalism. He writes the life
OF George Ripley, and more sug-
gestlye book bearing on the history
of Unitarianism it would be hard to
lind. 1t is the saddest book have read
in many day. Certainly the drift to-
ward Unitarianism" did not set in in his
day.
George Ripley tried for fifteen years to
bear up against the discouragements con-
nected with getting Unitarian concep
tons before the people and quit, forsak-
ing the ministry.
While the biographer says she left the
ministry himself, not because he had lost
talth IN 1t, but" etc. (p. 100, yet on page
Ill he says, "a man wearied by the toll
and disappointed in the results of long
ministry" so after all rockingham con-
fesses that Ripley gave up because he was
discouraged with the results
t.The story of George Ripley and his
enthusiastic wife, woman of fine educa-
ton, in trying to realize their ideas at
Brook Farm, their failure, the sinking
down of Mrs. Ripley in her utter despair
into Romanism and the struggles of Rip
ley in journalism is one of the saddest
but most torcible prophecies of the out
come of any system which has as its
central idea "faith in the divinity of
natural impulse"
But must not forget to say that the
peculiar force of this book, life of George
Ripley, lies in the fact that so prominent
a man, and he Unitarian, wrote it. 1t
is picture of Unitarianism painted by a
recognized Unitarian.
But o. B. rockingham himself
paused" How did he speak when he
poliSOu4 IL Olu lIl6lllS 1O1lOM-
ers who may feel grieved, the creeds of
to-day do not seem, in my eyes, to be so
wholly groundless as they were then
the previous year,, and while believe
the next hundred years will see great
changes in them, do not think that they
are destined TO disappear. To sum up the
whole matter the work which 1 have
and may have been grounded upon mis-
taken premises; therefore it is better to
stop"
He then goes to Europe and is gone
two years after which he speaks again as
follows: 1.-The situation, therefore, when
stopped preaching two years ago and
went to Europe was about as follows:
and the churches were better filled,
there was more of the religious
spirit abroad than when I began
twenty years ago. Such men as
came forward as teachers in the free
thought movement were out and out
materialists. Lastly, my own position
was unpleasant and my health was fail
ing. AS to the fact that revealed religion,
as we call it, is stronger to-day than it
was twenty years ago, l have no doubt
it is stronger here and in Europe"
Certainly these manly words by recog-
nized Unitarian author indicates that
''the drift toward Unitarianism" did not
set in in his day and that is not far back.
These were the palmy days of Unitari-
biographer of George Ripley points back
to the days of Charming and says: "These
were the palmy days of Unitarianism"
He goes on to tell about Charming and
his assistant, Mr.. Gaunett mot Garnettl
and others in their missionary work. Ac-
cording to this author Unitarianism died
"aborning."
-,
lished in the RECORD UNION OF February
18th, bearing on this subject to this effect,
LAS though numbers constituted signifi-
cancep' We will pass by the ludicrous
situation of that sentence, used while in
the very act of numbering the Unitarian
hosts. to make it evident that there is
often very great significance in numbers.
When Germany saw her rationalistic
universities losing their students and the
evangelical universities filling up with
students, it was considered quite signifi-
cant.
If the Cunard line of steamers should
carry thousands from New York to
Liverpool, while others carry dozens, 1
think it would be significant. 1t would
tell something of what people in general
thought concerning the safety and accom-
modations of the Cunard steamers as
compared with others.
The fact that the attempts like that of
Brook Farm have been so few is very
significant. So there may be very great
significance in numbers.
1t is significant that when the Unitarian
body started in 1926 with 122 churches.
that they have only $40 now, or as nearly
now as we have been able to learn. 1t is
significant that with such able men as
Claiming and Emerson, and the MANY
mentioned so proudly in the RECoRD-
UNION of the 9TH inst, that so few per-
sons in this great nation of over sixty
millions of people train in Unitarian
ranks.
What is the significance? 1t signifies
that Unitarian ideas do not meet the
needs felt by the people; that this system
does not commend itself to the people.
Mere negation has little weight. Des-
truction will not take the place of con-
struction.
Unitarianism is negation and destruc-
ton. 1t has no house creed) of its own,
but seeks to burn down those of Others.
Its work is all critical, striking at dog
MAJ so-called, but it originates nothing,
Well may the writer in the RECORD
UNION say, 1T is only of late years that
this new thought has shown much mis-
sionary activity" 1 doubt the wisdom
of his using the term much" even now,
in view of the wall of the Ch7fStid,,
Register. The occasion of it's wall is that
The Unitarians are asked to raise the
modest sum of $, 500 to build a theologi-
cal hall for the Unitarian Missionaries
and students in Japan and the money is
not forthcoming, whereupon the