New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-01-28

During the sessions Of the Worlds Parliament
of R.li.,ions In Chicago last autumn 1t WINS said
that its outcome might be the establishment
of 4 new Church the platform Of which would
consist ~ two pllnkS namely. " All religions
are tric" and ." All religions are false The
report WAS rceanlcd ~ hoax at The time; but
th. news from Chicago this last week shows
that there WAS some truth In H. SO long ago
~ last August a circular letter was sent out by
the Rev Dr H. W. Thomas. of the Peoples
Church. Chicago: the Rev. DR.. W. ;. Grove"
t'nivcrsai>t clergyman OF Newark y. j.; Dr.
Emil g. IIirSch. prominent Jewish rabbi. ana
the Rev. Jcnkin Lloyd Jones. w"llkno
{ nitarian clergyman. calling for conference
10 organize a Universal Church. The conference
WAS held. and rs II result Of lis deliberations
non Chri,tian crccilcss Church is 10 be started
in Chicago within Il few days. What the aim
and scope of this unique organization VIII h'
are clearly expressed 10y Mr.. Jones In Il recent
Issue Of Unity" Let us he said. 81 both
step out and on To II platform upon which
neither Christianity. Buddhism, BrahminiSm
nor asnosticlsm has any prr-cmpOn. ON that
broad plain of humanity let us build temple
Of universal religion Dedicated to the inquiring
spirit Of progress To the helpful services OF lON"
som. such Church as this already exists. II
science. letters and philanthropy have gone To
break down the conc,itS OF creed and III" pre-
tensions Of s.cts. We believe that in the So
called liberal forces Of America Tile Initarian,
I'nivcrsalist. Reformed Jewish Ethical Culture
and independent movements there j. found the
material for tile great prophetic free Church
Of America democratic. progressive. helpful;
n Church where hcrcsv hunters will be abSo-
mt.ly impossiblc because the spirit which
makes hcrrtlcs will be- the central Inspiration
Of It's life the spirit of inquiry. the spirit Of
individual responsibility in matters OF thought.
I'm that SANE, spirit let IniiariaDs say: II the
word unitarian gvrth offence, if 1t misinter-
prctS lls or we misinicrprct II. "" discard The
word that we may cherish the thing.
II does not need to be said that no conserva-
tive Christian will have any sympathy with this
proirct For IL not only rests upon denial
Of the fundamental tcncts Of Christian ortho-
doxv but is a broad recognition Of the prin-
ciplc that from one point Of view all religions
are false and from another point OF view they
are all true They are all false In 80 far rs
they claim to be exclusively true. while they are
all true in so far they embody the universal
instinct Of religion.
But the promoters Of the movement nave MS
counted the opposition Of the Churches while
they believe that in time all Christian demon
nations will be drawn into the movement. 'h'y
will address themselves more Immediately to
the liberals AMI radicals within ami without
the Churches They think that the time mas
come for the liberal forces in religion To get
together The widespread religious unrest III
the denominations. the increasing interest III
the study of comparative religion stimulated rs
II has been. by the Worlds Parliament OF Re
ligiols and The withdrawal Of so many n'rlli-
gent men from Church membership, III. seem
10 them 10 point 10 the success or II movement
that will conserve fundamental religion whll'
ignoring Scctaran dogmaS.
Whether or not their hopes are well founded
Is "A predetermined question. one may be iar
removed from Christian orthodoxy ana yet
recognize the enormous advantage of Il clearly
defined creed and compact organization. In
throwing away this advantage the proposed
Churchill IL can b. called Il Church taxes
bold step No religious or rcformatory move
ment has ever vet made any Roadway without
roofing itself In an organization ana rio'hinS
itself In dogma. The projectors OF TINS nj
ycrsal Church believe that the world has now
outgrown the necessity Of crcels ami dognlas
But this Is questionable. 1t Is doubtless true
Of those for whom thy speak; bat most p'o-
pie who look at men as they are VIII admit
that the world is much more powerfully swayru
by concrete than by abstract truth. The new
movement will. moreover. labor under another
disadvantage In the nature Of the ease II VIII
never have any fanatics and enthusiasts Tor
they could not exist In body which holus mat
truth and error are about equally distributed
in all religions. And, when all is said every