The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-03-30

done vast deal for the promotion of
Christian work. But Universalism &C.
cupies in their minds very small and
questionable place among the principles
of Christianity as they seem to see
them.
There is always one exception to this
judgment of the churches. The Unfair
ian church is noble movement, and
full of brainy large minded, and large
hearted people. And by many of them
our own faith is tenderly cherished. But
as a body, the Unitarians see their work
along very different lines. They are not
undertaking to do our work any more
than we feel to do their work. And
while large degree of cooperation is
desirable, it is far too soon to attempt to
identify the two denominations. Each
takes much of the color of the other.
But each for very many years to come
will have its own special field to occupy.
And before the two can be amalgamated
there must occur vast changes. A fra
ternal spirit should be cherished. COM
mon interests should be recognized, and
CO operation be fostered, but the coop
Grafton should be no one sided affair.
The dignity and the self-respect of each
should be fostered. And yet, when all
this is rendered that is possible. it must
still remain true that for long years the
Universalist Church must do it's own
work. No other church will attempt to
take up work it casts down.
And the same thing may be said of
those local and isolated organizations
sometimes called peoples or independ-
ent churches.
They present certain very attractive
features. But the very facts of their
organization are unfriendly to the Uni
versalist Idea. That idea involves
spiritual universe with a divine being
called God, the Father of all, and
heavenly immortality for all. A local
organization, undertaking to bring to-
gether all the scattered liberal elements
of the community, must of necessity
represent no more positive assertion of
religion than is acceptable to the least
spiritual among its conglomelate men,
bership. If Universalists, Unitarians.
Spiritualists, Agnostics, Ethical Gull
turists, Theosophists, and what you
please, unite to form a religious society,"
about all that is precious to the party of
the first part must be ruled out by the
necessity of having something upon
which all can agree. And the bond of
union is no more than rope of sand.
1t is said sometime 8, that all can ac-
cept the brotherhood of man. But of
what value is the brotherhood of man,
without visiJn of Divine Fatherhood
behind it? And when you say, God
our Father" then you are very far away
from all doubt and uncertainty in relig-
ion. 1t is not by any means meant to in
innate that Universalist ought never
to affiliate with one of these societies
Not at all. But it is asserted, that such
utilization should come, if it must come.
only after careful study. and the convic.
ton that the establishment of a local
Universalst church is impossible.
And work and courage and hope will
build Universalist church in many
community which faint hearted indiffer-
ence has abandoned as hopeless field.
And then Universalist ought always
to recollect, that if circumstances forbid
his doing anything for the church at
home, there is always opportunity to
do for the church at large. He can
help the State Convention in it's mis-
sionary enterprises. He can seek out
feeble and struggling churches and
send them contribution that will be
worth far more than it's money value to
them. And he can take an interest in
the wider work of the General Conven-
ton. No need of shutting himself up
in his shell, and saying he can do moth
ing for his faith because it has no Or
ganization in his community.
So, then, as stewards of great treas
ure. providentially committed to our
care, all who love the faith universal
ought to live and labor for the church
universal"