The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1894-10-13

tlNitlCo, anu luotlJ w ito CSOlOOiooeiShi
machinery. In the consideration of
these topics that curiosity which
every intelligent mind naturally feels
in tracing and comparing the ideals
of other minds should be dignifed
and rendered practical by the appli-
cation on the part of each listener to
his own particular work and opera
tons in this great field.
I. Our DENoMINATIoNAL PURPOSE.
First, in regard to our denomina-
tional purpose. The word purpose"
signifies that which is proposed or
intended, an objectto be kept in mind
or subserved in every enterprise or
course of action. Whether denomi-
nation, as such, can be said to have
any conscious intention or proposed
course of action may perhaps be
questioned. Nevertheless, we fire.
quently speak of the purpose of a
bank, railroad, factory or gov
eminent, meaning thereby the object
for which those secular institutions
were established and are maintained.
Manifestly the will or purpose re-
ferred to is lodged in the minds of
their founders and administrators.
This should be the case with religi-
Gus operations. The question then
is. how shall the mind or will of re-
ligious organization be determined?
This is a question very much easier
asked than answered. One of our
Chicago unsectarian critics, who stands
outside every church sect, for prefer
ence, being whole sectin himself, has
recently remarked and published that
"the corporate life of any sect is an
adequate expression of the spiritual
power and mental attainment of it's
individual members" This take to
be fine philosophical statement,
though it's versatile author has neg
lected to inform us how to obtain a
knowledge of this corporate consc
fence and intellect.
I can see how it might be easy
enough to measure the capacity of a
sect consisting of single person, like
that to which our friend belongs, but
in the case of denomination of any
considerable numerical magnitude,
even though no larger than ours, it
would be exceedingly difficult to OBJ
tain an adequate expression of the
spiritual power and mental at
tainment of all it's individual mem
bers. AS I have remarked, peo-
pie differ widely in respect to their
individual idiosyncrasies; they differ
still more widely in ability to ade-
quately express their thoughts-to
tell out that which is within them.
Take, for instance, our own denomin-
alton, it's members, its writers, its
authors. How difficult it is for even
the best educated and most eloquent
men and women among us to express
themselves so as to be understood
| was reading the account of the Lib
eral Congress held in Erie, Penn, the
other day. At that magnificent meet
ing one of the ablest expounders of
some phases of our faith undertook to
to tell his audience that the Univer-
salist Church stands for vastly more
today than it did when the Winches-
ter Confession was formed in 1903.
Now, an unsophisticated person who
had never attedded a div Unity school
might imagine it easy enough to say
that without stumbling, and yet the
herculean rhetoric with which our
friend labored to express that simple
idea was something fearful. l think
I could give you his language, if 1
could see better. | have written 1t,
but think I can repeat it pretty cor
rectly. "The modern mission of Uni
versalism," he exclaimed, "is to be the
interpreter of the universe under the
sway of the infinite mind dominated
by an infinite heart of love. It's word
now is, let us go, led by the infinite
within us, to find the infinite every
where" Very likely that sounded
mysteriously eloquent when he said
it, but in point of fact and sober sense
what possible meaning is there in ex-
horting Gagged infinite within us to
roam through the universe in search
of another uncaged infinite which is
everywhere? The invitation to at
tempt such an aerial fight reminds
me of several things. Tomorrow,
gentlemen, shall make you a God"
said metaphysic enthusiasm, speaking
through the lips of celebrated Ger
man professor. Certainly Fichte was
as we'll qualified to engage in that
species of manufacture as any OF our
modern liberal orators. Carlyle once
| tOld of on amhitioua CLERGYMAN who