The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1894-09-29

anonymous one referred to above.
The most potent cause of this still
present prejudice was, and is today, ig.
norance on the part of the orthodox
church people and others, of the beliefs
and motives of the Universalst Church.
Whether this prejudice was to be over
come entirely or not remains to be seen.
but it is hoped that this celebration will
do much in that direction.
The speaker paid glowing tributes to
his predecessors, especially to Messrs,
Forester, Laurie, Westall and Knicker-
hacker.
| "Reminiscences
Rev. DR.. Rexford, of Boston followed.
relating some interesting "reminiscences
OF two of the early pastors of the church
Messrs Forester and Laurie. and paid
high tributes to the sterling qualities of
both gentlemen.
The UNIvERsALIsT can only briefly in
dictate the further proceedings of this
Anniversary Congress as detailed in the
Erie Herald. Rev. DR.. Atwood. of Can
ton, addressed the congregation on "a
Half Century of Universalism."
The speaker said the principle of Uni
versalism is that good will eventually
triumph over all evil and be supreme.
The Universalist Church has for its
mission the dissemination of this princi-
pie.
In the first period from 1920 to 1910
the church had struggle for existence.
as it was radical departure from the
old established and orthodox beliefs. It
had to assume negative attitude and
1t was long time before it came to a
consciousness of a church existence. The
publication of little book. entitled
"Universalist Companion" by minis.
ters' association in Essex, Mass, was the
beginning of organic church growth.
"ln fifty years we have made great
progress in all material things. The
church now has not only more great
preachers than fifty years ago, but the
average of the ministry is better equip
ped for work now than ever.
"For the past twenty years very little
opposition has been experienced. Our
conquests are greater than could have
been believed. We have taken the
world and they are ours, or else the
world has taken us and we are theirs.
In either case it is Gods mightier work.
lie is working out the truth in the life
OF the world. Churches grow by reli.
gion. If you want to build religious
church dispense religion. If you want
to build Universalist Church in Erie
preach specific doctrines of Universal.
ISM"
Rev. F. A. Bisbee, of Philadelphia, and
editor of ITO Day." read a paper of un-
usual excellence on Progressive Ortho-
doxy and Universalism,' the speaker re-
marking that the world is better now
than it was in the time of Christ, and is
becoming better able to apply and inter-
pref his teachings. In the discussion
which followed addresses were made by
DIR. Cone, President of the Buchtel
College, Rev. G. e. Tucker, of Bradford,
who gave an account of liberal views ex.
pressed at Chautauqua during the sum-
mer, and by Mr.. Harris, of Brocton, N.
T., editor of the Grape Belt"
In the evening Rev. Thomas R. Slicer,
DID,. of Buffalo, Unitarian, gave an ad-
dress on "Unitarianism and Universal
ISM and delighted the congregation
with his wit and fraternal.spirit. Follow
ing this address "The Universalism of
the Future" was presented by DR.. Rex
ford, who as reported,spokeSin substance
as follows, the address closing with the
Bells by Tennyson.
II have been asked to indicate certain fea-
lures which. in my judgment will characterize
the Uniyersalism of the future. The conserva-
tive spirit would say: Know the Universalism
of the past transfer that toJthe future and the
problem is solved. The decision of Universal
list fathers at Winchester is UnversaIism:
change it and it is no longer Universaism.'
This is Ineligible. but inadequate.
"But new and large meanings develop in
older definitions if the element of lifebe in them.
If the mountains and the sea are not stable how
shall dogma pertaining to the infinite life and
biuSh ioiudln uICllduSeu forever IN InlS restless
surging sea of human struggle? Logically the
relation of the original exists, but practically 1t
is forgotten.
Unitarianism meant belief in the unity of
God in contradiction to.the idea of the trinity;
now it means a belief in a sympathetcbond be-
tween all things.
Universalism, too means far more than 1t
meant to the Winchester Convention of 1903
The clause in second article of the creed which
separates it from the common belief of the
masses, is who will finally restore the whole
family of mankind to holiness and true happi-
ness"
But UniverSalism has grown to broader i'm
port Universalism has the right to grow from
its original affirmative of a single characteristic
dogma to the far greater wherein it is seen as
the interpreter of the universe under the sway
of the infinite mind dominated by an infinite
heart of love.
Now that the Worlds Congress is over we rec
ognize that religion is not a matter of the Old
and New restaments, but that the religious
sense pertains to-an original and universal en-
dowment of mankind by the Universal Father.
Revelation closely allied with inspiration
will be regarded in the future more and more
not as limited to the particular province, but
process that perpetualy goes forward in the
word-not as great gift sent down from the
heavens hut as a slow and lahoriOuS task of