The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-08-10
people which every Protestant church
loses, it is worth considering whether the
Catholic policy in this particular is not
the wiser.

With the more liberal FrOte6tanC
bodies attention has been turned almost
wholly from the non-religious classes to
the opportunities Of making converts
from the older and more conservative
bodies. The circumstances of their orr
gin determined their tendencies in this
particular. They were converts from
orthodoxy; it was natural for them to
look for recruits from the same source
and by the same means. 1t does not ad-
NIT of debate that the area Of their op-
erations has been much circumscribed
by this habit. They have made noise
and stir in the world, and affected the
thought and somewhat the life of the
other sects. But they have not made
increase in any reasonable ratio to their
ability and influence. May not chief
cause of this lie in the fact that they
have so uniformly neglected their op-
portunity with the non-religious class
and 30 indifferently cared for their own?
While we would not put the chief
emphasis on self management and self
development, we hold that it is first
concern of every religious body to in
struct and train it's own people. If we
cannot care for our own it is unlikely
that we shall be permitted to try our
prentice hand" on many other people.
If our religion is good for anything it
is good for home use. II it makes good
parents, children, families, citizens Of US
that will be the conclusive reason for
pressing it on the notice of others, and
the strongest persuasion with them to
adopt it. We were lately told by
member Of long established parish in
an old section of city that his church
was composed largely Of recruits from
other, churches of the neighborhood.
He thought it a mark of credit. We
were led by it to reflect on the value to
the community Of emptying church of
it's own legitimate inheritors and filling
it up with "pew holders from the
neighboring parishes. Is that the pro-
per work of Christian church? Is it
useful work? What is gained by taking
people out of ten churches and putting
the agglomeration into one?
Our experience and observation,
which have extended over many years
and to many places, run to this conclu
sion: that it is of much more moment
that the men and women Of all our com
munities be made Christians than that
they be made "liberal' or evangelical"
The religion OF Jesus, as we get it in our
Testaments and find it in the hearts of
those who have derived it hence, is 30
simple and usable that we take no risk
in urging it on the acceptance of every
class of our fellow men. To teach it
and to preach it is the most direct
means we know of getting it practiced.
But il we put our strength in inducing
men to take a certain view of religion
we shall more likely make debaters and
religious prigs than devout and faithful
Christians. At the best we shall make
them our disciples rather than disciples
OF Christ. Better bend our energies
to making Christians than making pros
elytes.
1t was graceful act in the pastor
and committee of the Church of the
Unity to offer the use of their spacious
and eligible temple to the Young Peo-
pies Christian Union. The building
was we'll suited to the uses OF the Con-
vention and is said to be larger than
either the Every Day Church or the
Columbus Avenue Church. We were
assured it was the question of accommo-
dation solely which determined the use Of
that rather than either of our own
churches. The feeling was general,
however, among the delegates. that they
would have preferred to be in Univer-
salist church. The prestige Of the oc-
casion was worth strong bid from any
church to secure. 1t will be worth
more as the years pass. 1t would have
been better generalship to hold the Con-
vention in one of our own churches,
even at the expense of crowding and &C.
casional overflow.
One would like to know whether it
were Gov. Greenhalge, Ex-Gov. Long
and Mayor Curtis who we're at fault for
non appearance on several occasions at
the recent Convention, or somebody else
II they gave assurance of being present
and then disappointed the expectation
thus created, let them have the full
credit of their handsome behavior. If
the too enterprising or too sanguine
management advertised the celebrities
without due authority, let them be re-
minded that the exact truth is always
safest and best. Once the impression
gets abroad that you do not perform as
you advertise the public will conclude
that your performances are principally
advertisement.
IT is the capacity for the life eternal,