The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1894-11-24

tributed. We do our good sense grea'
injustice, when we assume that because
we are living now instead Of then, We
are nearer right. That we live in this
age of more things to learn, and are
trying to spread ourselves over all. ano
make fair showing of success in each
branch, and are operating b, the deeply
confusing agencies in our hands, Otter
more binding than enlightening, where
as they had less to divert and could put
so much more of their energies and time
upon these subjects, l say. with these
considerations, the reasonable suppose
ton would be that we are lacking their
attainment in the interpretations OF
many of the great subjects of only SO
short time ago. And If, then, in place
of calling attention away from these
masters, and indulging in deprecating
remarks concerning their present value,
these critics themselves we're to go back
to them, if they ever, indeed, consulted
them at all, and do more thorough work
in them than before, it would be better
for the church, and often vastly better
| for themselves.
There certainly would be nothing in
congruous and unseemly in this. The
most advanced musicians of today go
back and glory in the interpretations OF
| Mozart and Beethoven OF a century or
more ago. And sculptors regard as
priceless the debris of art of the Peri
clean age, twenty five centuries ago, and
bow reverently before the "idols OF the
thoughts" of those long centuries back.
In poetry and romance. certainly the
Carys, Mayos, Edgertons and Sawyers,
occupy no low rank.
In more recent years, our literature
has largely grown in volume and in finish
OF diction, and certainly compares well
with that of other denominations. Our
younger men and women show more OF
the schools in their work, while our sur
viving masters are also improving in
style and growing all the time more
masterful in their productions.
The elaborate catalogue of our Pub
fishing House shows us that we have
many writer's who Justly rank as masters.
not in theology alone, but in science
and fiction. The scholarship Of "Aion'
has been gratifyingly recognized by the
learning of England. Dr.Chapen's" Crea-
ton" has been justly celebrated abroad
as we'll as at home for it's merits as a
treatise on geology; while Mrs. Gather
wood, whom few years ago welcomed
to us from the Presbyterian church,
stands we'll nigh first in the list of novel
lists. She is not only Universalist. but
participant in the labors of the
church.
could not, if I would, omit reference
to our great weeklies by our Publishing
House. They are genuine pride among
the best weeklies in the land. They are
in volume, of the largest. in mechanical
execution, of the most perfect; in con
tents, most instructive and able; and in
UNCONVENTIONAL fidelity soundly reliable
and Acknowledgements which we can
safely lay upon our church and parlor
tables without first opening to see what
| is in them.
Our literature is just at this time in
| dispensable to safe issue OF the relig
| ious crisis we are passing through, for
many reasons. While it is extremely
valuable as statement of sound and en-
joyable theology, it's value in biblical ex
egesis is no less. 1t is noticeable that
in much of the New Theology" there is
no departure in biblical exegesis from
the old orthodoxy. 1t is taken for granted
that though orthodoxy could be mis-
taken in theology. it's soundness in ex-
egesis was beyond question. What they
had been taught. and were in the habit
of receiving as the teaching of the
Scriptures, they for the most part still
hold to- The resurrection OF the animal
body, and future general judgement
day." are inconsistent with the trend
| and postulates of the New Theology"
as generally formulated; and still few,
if not a majority, are found to be still
applying the Scriptures formerly cited
in support of those mischievous doctrines
without seeming to have looked further
for the meaning of those texts. A fair
exegesis, we we'll understand, would
leave those doctrines without any Script
ure support whatever. And without
this Scripture support, the Universalism
of this people might soon be easy and
complete.
1t is to this class that our expositions
of the parallels by Ballou and by
Whittemore; Bro. Tabor's END of the
World" Dr. Hanson's "Aion," Lewis
on the Resurrection" and kindred treat
ises. should go without delay. 1t is to
this class of Bible believers, more than
to any other that we owe this literature.
They, in heart are of and for us, and
would be useful when coming to US, be.
ing fitted to work with and by our
standards and canons. To recruit from
this warm believing class would be much
wiser than to seek our enlargement from
the constitutionally unbelieving and re-
ligiously dangerous.
A large class is apparent in the old