The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-06-08

may be Unitarian. 1t is true that
the American Unitarian Conference
by the platform adopted last year
does recognize this relation between
God and man, but that is only pc
culiarity of American Unitarianism
and is not essential to Unitarianism
in its purity and simplicity. In fact
judged by its three principles Unita-
rianism is only method of studying
religion, and has little OF no coDnec
ton with religion as force in hui
man life.
Moreover we are given the startling
information that although Unitarian
ism had its source within Christian
ity, it has outgrown and passed be-
yond Christianity. 1t is something
better and greater than Christianity
or Buddhism or any of the historic
religions. AS we read the statement
of Mr.. MacCauley we get the i'm
preston that Unitarianism is in fact
the great religious ocean into which
all religious streams at last fow.
Christianity as such may die; Bud
dhism may die; but Unitarianism
alone contains the principles of eter-
nal life in durable form. After the
clash of opinions has passed and the
smoke of controversy has cleared
away, people will find that the three
principles of Unitarianism form the
only intelligent basis of religion. Now
religion or system of belief which
is to survive when all other systems
have passed away, ought to contain
all the essentials of religion. Such a
system must be founded upon the
eternal verities of religion. 1t must
correspond not only to the needs OF
the mind but also to the needs of the
soul. But we are not prepared to
admit that the principles of Unitari-
anism as stated above contain the es-
sentials of religion. Indeed we can
not see that they contain even the
first principles Of religion.
They may be true and good in
themselves but they have no close or
vital connection with religious truth.
They indicate in an imperfect way
how to study religions but they do
not point out the verities of religion.
We do not believe that they have
the power to satisfy the needs of the
soul. To offer these principles to a
soul hungering for the bread of life
is to offer stones instead.
We do not intend to quarrel with
Unitarians as to what constitutes Uni
tarianism. We recognize their right
to state and know wha, Unitarianism
is. But we have right to protest
when they make claims for Unitar-
ianism which go beyond the bounds
of good sense and sound reason, or
the teaching of experience. We do
not believe that it is reasonable that
religion should be reduced to the
three principles of Unitarianism. We
do not believe that experience teaches
that the human soul can be satisfied
with such dry food.
Moreover we feel like protesting
against the implication that Unitar-
ianism is something greater than
Christianity, or that it is better able
to satisfy the religious needs of hu-
manity than Christianity. We have
always had the impression that what
ever truth there may be in other re-
ligions Christianity represents the
highest form of religious truth known
to men. We are greatly surprised
therefore to learn that Unitarianism
goes at least one step higher than
Christianity. But we must doubt
this until better evidence than we
have yet heard is brought forward.
Meanwhile we cling to Christianity.
We have always believed that Uni
tarianism was an Interpretation of
Christianity. We regret to learn that
it is not.
Our readers ought to be able to in
fer from the above remarks that Uni
versalism does not stand in the same
relation to Christianity and other re-
ligions as Unitarianism. We believe
Universalism is true Christianity. 1t
is distinctively Christian. A Bud
dhist cannot become a Universalist
without becoming a Christian. Never
theless we have no hatred for Bud
dhists, nor are we moved by spirit
of antagonism to them. We readily
admit that there is truth in all relig-
ions. But we believe that Christian
ity contains all the truth of other re-
ligions and more. For this reason
we do not believe in removing all
the points of difference between Chris
4 Al - l. L.