The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1894-10-27


ruins of many brilliant theory that
failed to recognize the known truth.
How many a social system has failed
because its promoters would not con-
serve the good of the existing order.
Many Legislative enactment has
wrought untold evil, because, when
put to the working proof, it has been
found to neglect past experience.
1t is so with distinctly religious
problems; the extension of the king
dom of righteousness is opposed by
those who look only to the past and
the strength of many of those who are
eager to advance is expended in ex-
ploring bypaths that lead away from
the fair fields of truth, into the des-
erts of chaos and doubt. AS Jesus
discerned of old time, there are many
prophets announcing "Lo here" "Lo
there" is the Kingdom of Heaven.
Many are expecting its advent
through some turn of the political
crank, through some readjustment of
the social organization, through the
achievements of modern science;
others look for it through the critical
study of the Bible asliterature; others
through redirection of the church's
forces in humanitarian enterprises,
while to all the church steadily re-
peats the Masters words, "the King
dom of Heaven is within YOU" 1t
sees in all these things much that is
worthy of commentator, Tut they
are means, not ends. Back of all of
them lies the problem of individual
responsibility, the problem of the
human soul, and it may find the way
of life under the most unfavorable
surrounding. 1t is superior to its en-
v.ronment, and finds its happiness in
! the conditions within. not without.
1t is not surprising that under the
influence of this spirit of investiga-
ton many denunciations are uttered
against the church, many entreaties
for her alliance are made, many are
the words of advice offered. Those
who are looking for some political
movement to cure all the ills of the
body polite, fercely demand of the
church that she shall enter the arena
of partisan politics and ally herself
with some party, and when she refuses
loud are their denunciations of her
cowardice and apostasy. Such APP
peal to the minister to advocate their
reforms from the pulpit and hotly
condemn all who do not accept their
views of temperance or single tax or
woman suffrage, or whatever may be
the movement in which they are in
terested. But the great body of the
church still refuses to accede to these
requests or comply with these de-
mands. The mission of the church
is not to prescribe modes of political
action. That it has and shall have
great influence on politics is true I'M
doubtedly. But that influence shall
come through the working of the
leaven of Christian truth and Chris
tian love in the hearts and consciences
of men. When a man shall sshave
learned to do justly, to love mercy, to
walk humbly, he shall not be long in
finding the right line of political ac-
ton. No true reform shall long linger
when the law of love shall rule in the
hearts of men. In all our provings
does not the truth stand out with
startling distinctness, that, "These
reforms all rest on the enlightened
action of the individual citizen" The
church holds fast to the TRUTH of it's
call to minister unto men, and it looks
for real political progress only as men
are won to the high character and
perfect manhood of it's Master and
Teacher.
The problem in which the church
ought to be interested is not "What
party shall control7" but What prin-
ciples? The success of any party
through corrupt means is a calamity
no matter how high sounding its
platform of principles. So long as
corruption shall abound, 80 long as
the office holder puts personal greed
before the good of the State, so long
as citizens of education and wealth,
shall be disloyal to their country and
their conscience by Sinking the du-
ties of citizenship, and seeking to
evade their proper share of the State
burdens, so long shall we need the
inspiration of religion that man may
do his whole duty in the fear of God
and the love of man; so long shall
there be room for the ministrations of
a church which puts the emphasis of
its teachings upon the Christlike life,
the Christlike character. Without
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