davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1894-12-29

"WELcoME the coming, speed the
parting guest" The year 1894 is almost
ended. Before another issue of this pa
per, the new year will have come in all
the manifold mystery that enshrouds an
unknown period of time. May it bring
prosperity and peace to all our readers
and abundant blessings to their homes.
The year which has closed has been one
of great trial and loss to many of our
friends. Worldly prospects have been
clouded, and many dear ones have gone
away into the silent and unseen realm,
leaving their places vacant and their
love only a memory. In the year that
has gone, many have needed the special
ministries of faith, hope and love, and
the beautiful inculcations of the Chris
tian faith as Universalists understand it.
May these ministries remain to cheer and
bless us amid the untried experiences of
the new year. AS the years come and
go, passing rapidly away, the most i'm
pressive lesson they bring is the absolute
need to all human life of that divine
spirit of TRUST, which assures us that all
our times are in the hands of One, who is
too wise to err and too good to be un-
kind. Under his administration, per-
vaded by his ever present care, Life,
amid all the mysteries Of the years, is a
perpetual Providence Of Love.
The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1894-12-29

In our Universalist churches the
special religious observance of the Christ
mas took place on the previous Sunday,
and large congregations, fine music, and
appropriate sermons marked the ami
versary. In another place. we record
the Sunday school festivities of the
Church of the Redeemer. The Kinder
garten and Industrial School of ST.
Paul's also held fine entertainments and
a very happy time was enjoyed. The
churches are always mindful at this sea
son of the special obligations that rest
upon them and meet the occasion i'll an
admirable spirit. In all the children
are remembered and made happy and
the Christmastide signalized by special
gifts. The churches receive full re-
turns in good measure for their outlay
in behalf of the special work of the hol-
iday week.
The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1894-12-29

WE devote important space this
week to review of the work of Rev.
Edgar Leavitt, of Santa Cruz. Cal. 1t
is due to this brother, who has been APP
pointed to the japan mission, that the
recognition of his valuable service for
our church in the pastorate, should be
made a matter of record. Bro. Leavitt
has done good work in Santa Cruz
under embarrassing conditions and we'll
deserves the kind words which are spok-
en- of him in other columns AS we send
this paper to the press, letter arrives
from Bro. Leavitt, mailed at Honolulu,
where the Japan steamer touches on her
outward voyage. By this time the new
Missionary has reached the scene of his
future labors, and we may expect to hear
from him with approximate regularity.
We shall print his letter next week.
The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1894-12-29

lation to these things, as he is
brought to quiet trust in relation to
the seasons. "God is Love, mot
because of sacrifice, or atonement, or
prayer. The divine character is just,
gentle, honorable, loving, saving.
"And nothing can be good in Him
which evil is in me-" The religious
man therefore has supreme confid
ence in God, that he is able to save
unto the uttermost those who put
their trust in him. This faith is of
the same nature precisely as that be-
tween child and mother. There it
saves the boy from many evils. Here
it saves the man from much loss.
There it began; here it ends; mother
and child, friend and friend; citizen
and government; man and man; man
and God. Out of these relations grow
the only sublime powers and worth
of human souls. Underlying all the
philosophy of Jesus was the idea that
there is only one way to overcome
sorrow in this life and the anticipa-
sion of sorrow in another life. 1t is
the future that mostly distracts. From
east to west, from pole to pole, where
ever man exists or ever has existed,
the world has been racked with terror
about the unseen tomorrow. What
is to come out of the dark before us?
Distrust-a lack of faith-has peo-
pied the future with frigbtful de-
mons, prodigies, judgment-days, i'm
pending disasters to the soul, and
fearful, hopeless doom. Jesus sweeps
away the whole of this with one word
faith. Believe in decent, we'll
meant, well-administered moral gov
eminent, as you believe in we'll
meant physical government. God is
one. He rules both sides of the
grave with equal tenderness. This is
the supreme power of the Galilean
teacher-childlike trust in God,-
faith.
Unfortunately, the history of Chris
tianity shows in many points sup
preston of this grand principle of it's
founder. 1t shows record of dis
trust and fear, of terror and bells.
Let tomorrow take care of the things
of tomorrow. God who cares for the
sparrow, Will much more care for you.
Jesus emphatically advises, not the
suspension of any industry, but to
work in the spirit of unfinished con-
fidence. "Seek first the kingdom of
God and his righteousness and such
things as ye need will be added unto
you" PROFESSIONALLY, this is the
secret of strong life, sound from
centre to circumference. This is the
faith that saves.
AS we go into the New Year let
these words be needed:
Build little fence of trust
Around to-day;
Fill the space with loving work,
And therein stay,
Look not through the sheltring bars
Upon tomorrow.
God will help thee bear what comes
OF joy or SORROW
Il
The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1894-12-29
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 80.
EDITORIAL.

The Symposium which we print
this week, entitled, What of the New
Year," embraces contributions from
several distinguished writer's and briefly
discusses many important topics of pub
lie interest at the present time. We have
the Higher Criticism frequently ex-
plotted in our columns. In our view,
the "Higher Citizenship is topic of
even greater Importance. and the writer's
in the Symposium touch many salient
points of this great subject. Our readers
will enjoy these special contributions and
accept them as evidence of the feast that
The UNIvERsALIsT of 1895 will from
week to week spread before it's readers.
The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1894-12-29

the voice of conscience. The matter
is even susceptible of physical dem
onstration. The human mind is en-
dowed by nature with faculty of
conscience, or consciousness, which
spontaneously and inevitably con-
dennis the wrong and approves the
right, and it has corresponding or
gan in the brain through which it acts
that science has located and meas
ured. This is simply physical fact
of observation. Whether any partic-
ular act is felt to be right, or wrong,
of course depends in some measure
on education; but the affirmation of
right and wrong, of merit and de-
merit, is natural and constitutional.
How came we by this moral sense,
and what is it's meaning and relations?
Whether it was organized by original
creation, or by evolution, makes no
difference, SO long as it must be re-
lated to its object, and imply it's real
ity. Just as the existence and struc-
ture of the eye implies and proves the
existence of light, and the laws of
light, and as the ear proves the-exist-
ence of sound, so the existence of
moral sense, the conscience, and it's
organ, implies and demonstrates the
existence of right and moral
ity and immortality.
Taken in connection with the fac
ulty of generation, which also has it's
organ in the brain, the Office of which
is to lead us to venerate something
higher than ourselves, it proves the
existence of God who approves the
right and condemns the wrong; and
this is the only conceivable basis of
morality.
If there is no such God, morality can
not exist. But it is recognized in the
normal human constitution, as clearly
as light is by the eye; therefore God
of holiness must rule the universe.
The theism of the Bible, then, is not
contrary to nature and reason, but
imperatively demanded by them. 1t
is as necessary in order to explain
the constitution of nature and man,
and the normal action of the human
mind and conscience, as the Coperni-
can system of astronomy is to explain
the positions and motions of the
stars. And the agnostic system breaks
down as hopelessly in endeavoring to
explain the moral phenomena of the
world. as the Ptolemaic theory did
in endeavoring to explain the phe-
nomena of the heavens. Christianity
makes the throne of God the center
of the moral universe, round which
all things revolve, as the planets
round the sun; but this false system
makes self interest the center, around
which all revolve, as the ancient as
tronomers made the stars go round
the earth; and all harmony is de
stroyed in the one case as in the
other. Where harmony does not ex-
list, truth cannot be found. J.B.s.
The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1894-12-29
FRANK II. VALLETTE.

The announcement of the death of
Mr.. Frank H. Vallette, at Pasadena,
Cal, was received in Chicago. where he
was widely known, with sincere sorrow.
He passed away, quite unexpectedly, on
Friday morning, December IA. aged 46
years. Mr.. Vallette was the son of Col.
H. F. Vallette, of this city, and was born
in DuPage Co., Ill. After graduating
at the Normal School he entered into
business, and founded the Abstract
firm of Haddock, Vallette and Records,
retaining the position of second Vice
President until his death. He was sue
cessful in business, and five years ago
removed to Pasadena, mainly on account
of the health of his wife.
In Chicago Mr.. Vallette was identified
The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1894-12-29
PERSONAL.

President Standsh of Lombard was
among our callers last week. The next
term of the University opens Jan. 8,
1895.
Rev. S. HI. M'Collester, DID,, is max
ing a trip through the Southern States
and in January Mrs. M'Collester joins
him and they go.with a Raymond Party
to Mexico.
DR.. Fluhrer preached his farewell SER
mon at Grand Rapids, Sunday, Decem-
Der 16. The church was crowded with
leading citizens and resident members of
the society. AS already we'll known DIR.
Fluhrer goes to Albion, n, Y. as pastor
OF the Pullman Memorial church.
A dispatch from Albion, N. Y, Deem
Der q, says that George M. Pullman,
wife, daughter, and private secretary
and the Rev. r. HI. Pullman, of Balti-
more have arrived in their private car
to make final arrangements for the fur
nishing and dedicating in January of the
Pullman Memorial church.
The return of Rev. @. E. Rice natur-
ally evokes questions, and even appre.
tensions, bearing upon the Japan Mis-.
sion says the Leader. He writes from
Watertown, N. Y, in explanation as fol-
lows:
NJ 70 foly
the United States on account of ner-
vous trouble that was chiefly climatic.
This affected my ewes so | was in dark
room for the most of the time for several
months, and when / was not in dark
room,wore very dark glasses. l was ad-
vised to receive treatment in San Fran
cisco. | therefore consulted two of the
most eminent oculists there and was adj
vised to drop all literary or brain work
and get into the country or woods and
do some hard manual labor. accord
ingly tried southern California, working
in the orange orchards, but found the
climate so hot and the sunshine so
bright that my eyes did not improve.
then came ON to my fathers here where
l have been over week. am digging
away on my fathers farm. Already
am greatly improved. The cold air and
vigorous exercise is just what need, and
l hope that couple Of mouths of this
will see me we'll enough TO return to
Tokyo"
The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1894-12-29

it's depths. This terrible conclusion is
not in accordance with the methods he
pursues. He does not fill his mansions
with books of remembrance, nor carry
the burden of mans sins through ages
to meet him with the record on some far
off judgment day. But all with him is
present, and "al his ways are Judgment
He outwits the shrewdest sinner by
weaving every wicked action and every
impure longing, selfish thought, into
lash to scourge him to obedience. Did
not the perjury of Peter, the perfidy of
Judas, and the cowardice of the other
ten, afterward work out for them more
resolute virtue than was then in their
hearts? Most surely the remorse OF
guilt enters into Gods plan of instruc-
tion to make men wiser and better.
"Best men are moulded out of faults,
says an immortal poet; and another, not
less illustrious, says, There is forgive
ness with Thee, that Thou highest be
feared Instead of treasuring up our
faults to weigh our souls down to the
regions of despair, God is so weaving
them into our experience as by and by
to make the ugliness sufficient in our
sight to sicken us of all our sins. Our
sins will not wear out his patience, but
our own. We will sometime weary Of
the burden and seek freedom from it's
weight. Sick of defilement. we shall bow
in penitence, seeking the rest which
Christ has promised to weary, heavy
laden souls.
The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1894-12-29

with st. PauPs church and Sunday
school and warmly interested in the
work of that parish. His friends are
many In that congregation and his
death is keenly felt and mourned. Mr..
Vallette was man of noble impulses
and affectionate disposition and a good
friend OF the Universalist Church. In
California he became one of the strong
and earnest friends of DIR. Conger's con-
gregation, and under him and Rev. Miss
kollock, worked nobly and we'll for the
prosperity of the parish. His loss is
greatly deplored in Pasadena, as it re.
moves most faithful worker and a
strong friend of our cause. Rev. Miss
Kollock pays the following feeling trib-
ute to his memory. 1t must comfort the
bereaved parents and the widow and
daughter to know how we'll beloved this
friend was in his new home:
The death OF our beloved friend and
brother, MIR. FRANK H. VALLETTE, has
come to us with serious shock. We
knew he was not strong. Many of us
saw him slowly failing in bodily strength,
but none thought the end so near
The Pasadena church has lost one of
It's best men; one strong in spiritual
power, in moral influence, loyal to it's
truest interest, generous in meeting it's
needs In every possible way.
Mr.. Vallette was our beloved, honored
and most efficient Sunday school super
intendent. In his death the school has
lost true friend, an inspired leader and
noble example in Christian manhood.
L want his church friends in st. Paul's
to know how nobly, Loyalty and efficiently
ne has worked in the church here. I
want his mother and father to know
how true and devoted he has been to
the faith in which he was early in
structed, and l know how this faith
wrought character that endeared him
to rich and poor, young and old. 80
much so that not only the UniversaIist
church mourns beloved brother. but
the entire city an honored citizen. a
true friend, thoroughly representative
man in every particular that makes a
man loved and honored by an entire
community.
Our loss is indeed genuine one.
Others will take up the work he has
laid down, but none can fill his place.
He brought to the work in which he
most delighted. that of superintendent
OF the Sunday school, rare qualities of
heart. soul and mind. He put himself
so wholly into the work that even the
least of the little ones felt his influence
and loved him. His simple, presence in
the school was benediction from which
the pastor went into the pulpit with
more courage; the teachers to their
classes with greater earnestness, the
children to their task with greater love.
God be praised that such an one has
lived and labored with us! Eek.
The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1894-12-29
FAITH THAT SAVES.

In regard to the necessity and val
ue of faith we are at one with the
most Orthodox. eve have faith in
faith" The soul must have faith in
something and somebody, or be
wasted and lost. We find this great
need creating that marvellous ideal of
moral beauty, love between mother
and child. 1t begins at the cradle; it
ends not with the grave. AS is our
faith SO is our strength. Religious
faith should grow with our growth
and strengthen with our strength.
There is no other power like unto it.
In morals it has the universally that
gravity has in physics. 1t holds to-
gether. 1t binds spiritual forces that
would otherwise fly asunder. 1t is
even the supplement that is needed
for all physical force. 1t is not water
and steam power alone that runs our
looms, and makes the harmonious
music of million spindles, but it is
also faith power. An intellectual and
moral confidence underlies all in
dustries. The farmer sows because
of the axiom of divine love that "the
early and the latter rain shall not
cease" The laborer holds to his
spade and the housewife to her
broom, because they believe in the
eternal law written all over the uni
verse, as we'll as in the pages of Holy
Writ, "Be thou not weary in we'll do
ing, for in due season ye shall reap
if We faint not" This world is not
we'll made for skeptics. The chronic
grumbler is moral fragment thrown
off by the revolution of sunny sum-
mers and fruitful autumns.
There is something wrong about a
man who does not grow peaceful as
he grows older. There is, even in the
most unfavored lot, so much more
granted than withheld, so much more
certainty than uncertainty; so much
more sunshine, if one will take it,
than there is storm.
Disasters are not always disastrous;
failures are at times the highest sue
cess; disappointments are the ap-
pointments of God.
Faith as a power to take hold of
the nature and refine it and ultimate
ly save it must be an ever deepening
confidence in the underlying moral
principles of the universe. Physical
science brings us to increasing con-
fidence in the stability of the laws of
matter. We do not pray, as some of
our ancestors did, for wind and
weather to suit our personal desires.
On the whole, we prefer that the Wis
dom that pervades Nature should
control us without private dictation,
So religious faith brings us to deep
ening trust in the underlying moral
law that pervades the whole of our
experience, testifying to the goodness
of God. 1t believes in what Jesus
calls "The Kingdom of God" 1t has
not only certainty concerning the
planets and their motions, but deep
confidence in justice, honor, truth,
love. temperance; and saving faith
brings man into quiet trust in re-
The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1894-12-29

college students of thirty years
ago. says the Springfield Union, ''remem-
Der with delight the historical lectures
delivered by DIR. John Lord, whosedeath
has just been announced. Before his
time history had been dull study, but
he threw the glamor of romance over it.
AS speaker he was uncouth, his voice
harsh and his gestures ludicrous, but
the listener soon forgot the lecturer in
his lecture. He dealt with all the great
epochs in history. and his portrayal of
famous characters was so clear aad life
like that the past was transferred to the
present, and the listener became
spectator of history as of current events
DIR. Donald Mcleod, the editor of
Good Words" who has been selected
for the post of Moderator of the next
General Assembly of the Scottish Kirk,
is brother of the famous Norman Mac
Leod. He was born in 1880, and is
minister of the "quoad sacra" parish of
Park, in Glasgow. He has been editor
Of Good Words" since 1872.
The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1894-12-29
THE BASIS OF MORALITY.

The English agnostics have pub
lished an "Annual" for 1895, in which
are given nine answers to the ques-
ton, "Why should men lead moral
lives?" by as many different writer's,
Mr.. Leslie Stephen among the rest.
The agnostic differs from the atheist
in this, that he makes no positive
affirmation. The atheist says, there is
no God. The agnostic only affirms
that there is no evidence of the exist
ence of God, which practically
amounts to the same thing. These
writer's deny that there is any basis
for morality except self-interest; and
this indeed would seem to be the
reasonable conclusion, if there is no
God and no future life. AS Prof.
Momerie says, Faith in God and
Immortality seems to me the only
rltional basis for morality. Ii there
be no Immortality, the universe is
rotten to the core, and therefore de-
votion to goodness is the browning
folly of the race" If you deny the
existence of Supreme Creator and
ruler, obligation is an absurdity.
There can be no such thing as fought"
AS there is nothing higher than man,
self interest is the highest ideal, and
must form the only basis for morality.
And as there is no immortality, self
interest in it's relation to the present
life is the only form of it. Mr.. Ste
phen does not shrink from this con-
clusion. He says: IA morality which
does not imply character is no moral
ity; but morality which does imply
character is morality which cannot
appeal to motives common to men
and pigs. If you want to be happier
or less unhappy, you must do this or
cease to do that, but if you are quite
content as you are, the agnostic NOR
atty has nothing further to say"
That is, what is meant by morality"
does not and cannot exist.
The Christian conception is fun
damentally different. The Christian
morality is founded upon the idea of
obligation, which the agnostic can
not entertain. 1t speaks with author
ity as to what we ought to do and be,
and assumes that we have power to
obey. We are moral to the extent to
which we render obedience to this
obligation, and immoral SO far as we
disobey. 1t assumes that even the
vilest man has power to respond to
the voice of divine authority. As a
writer in the Spectator says: "It
assumes, what none of these agnostic
writer's seem to be aware of, that the
pictures of hell and heaven are not
mere threats and promises addressed
to human self-interest, but shadows
of horror with which the human con-
science regards its own evil, and aug
uries of the ecstacy with which it con-
templates the prospect of perfect
union with the divine light and
purity"
Now which of these systems is true?
Which is indicated by the constitu
ton of human nature? If we allow
consciousness any voice in the deci-
sion of the question, the answer can
not be uncertain. Every man feels
and knows that he is under obligation
to do right and avoid wrong; and
whatever may be his theoretical belief,
feels condemned when he disregards
The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1894-12-29

We believe that the Holy Scriptures of the Old
and New Testaments contain revelation of the
character of God, and of the duty, interest and
final destination of mankind.
II.
We believe that there is one God, whose
nature is Love- revealed in one Lord Jesus
Christ, by one Holy Spirit of Grace, who will
finally restore the whole family of mankind to
holiness and happiness.
Ill.
We believe that holiness and true happiness
are inseparably connected, and that believers
ought to be careful to maintain order, and
practice good works, for these things are good
and profitable unto men.
The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1894-12-29

AGAIN think what a monster this
conceit makes of the God you worship.
The pit of endless woe were a reproach
to him though but one soul cried from
The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1894-12-29
Ube Wniversaltst
j. S. CANTweLL, D. D., EDITOR.

THE EDITOR is assisted by able writers
in all departments The Interior and Western
States are represented by regular correspond
ents. News from the churches solicited and
always welcome.
**sAn articles intended for THE UNIvERs ALIsT
should be addressed Editor of The Univer-
salist, Chicago, ILL.,"
**sTERMs: $3.50 per year, 81 20 six months,
postage paid. Sample copies to any address free
on application
The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1894-12-29

ton for five years as Missionary of the
General Convention at Tokyo. May he
serve the japan Mission as we'll as he
has served Santa Cruz was our parting
wish. They left for San Francisco Dec.
l, 1894, from which port they sailed the
following Tuesday on the steamer Oce-
anic for japan. Mrs. H. B. JEwETT.