The Portland daily press., 1894-06-18
AT CONGRESS SQUARE CHURCH.
The First American Congress of Liberal
Religious Societies.

Rev. DR.. Blanchard preached yesterday
morning in Congress Square church on The
First American Congress of Liberal Religi-
Gus Societies. The text was taken from
Isaiah LIS: "Thy Watehmen Shall Lift Up
the Voice." He said that one of the i'm
portant positions in society is that of the
Waterman who studies the signs of the
times in order to tell others what he sees.
The clergyman is such a watchman.' He
would report what he sees of a great move
ment in Chicago. DR.. Blanchard then gave
accounts of the call issued by DR.. Thomas,
DR.. Grove and DR.. Kirsch, an independent
Uuniversalist and Jew; of the meeting
is in Chicago which he attended; of the six
hundred signers of the call for the Con-
gress, of the great meetings in Lindal Tenn
pie. Chicago. He dwelt earnestly upon
the glory of the spectacle when Jew and
Gentle, Liberal Orthodox, Universalist.
Unitarian, Indepe ndent, Ethecal Cuturist
and others all united in the great, thronged
assemblies of la st May. He asked therefore,
that his hearers should understand this Con-
gress, sympathize with it and cooperate
with it.
Its aim is to unite all liberal bodies in one
national organization. Not,however. to de-
troy these bodies, but to strength en- them
Ito let them remain separate and yet con-
nected with the Congress. There is need
of such an organization. In some parts OF
our country men are Imprisoned because
they work on Sunday. To these are Sew
enth Day Baptists or Adventists. They
have religious services on Saturday bel1ev-
ing that this is the wish of God. A national
organization is needed to protect with pow
err against the laws which put such believ-
ers in jail. There is an attempt to put God
into the Constitution against which Liber-
ais must stand on guard. One of the latest
movements in this direction would give, ii
successful, too much power, to those who
think Christ is God. Liberals should be
united in a national organization to pre-
vent this. In many towns there are no lib
eral churches snow because there are not
enough Universalists, Unitarians, Jews
Ethecal Culturists to have churches OF
their own. All might combine and ma e
one independent church. This Congress
Will aim to secure such a result. DR.. H. W.
Thomas, honored and beloved, is it's presi-
dent; Rev. Jenken Lloyd Jones lis it's sec
rotary.
DR.. Blanchard was sure that his people
would sympathize, therefore, with this
Congress He was also sure that they
would be willing to cooperate. A wise way
to do this is to strengthen and broarde
the Universalist denomination. 1t should
cultivate fraternal relations with all Liber-
ais His own church will gladly welcome
all SUCH He commended the Maine Asso-
citation of Liberal Christian Ministers and
the Universalist League. Years hence
all Liberals may be united in one body.
Whatever.the name of asfuture organization
its great thoughts must be those of the
Universalist church. For these are that
there is one God who rules over all for
good-that the end of this mysterious life
of man in this mysterious universe must
be the final holiness and happiness of all.