The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-04-13
CHURCH EXTENSION PAPERS.
NO. III.
BY REV. L. j. DINSMORE.

BY REV. L. ]. DINSMORE.
This paper is int nded to present some
facts regarding the history Of the Uni
versalist Church, and certain sugges-
tions regarding it's place and work in the
life of today
AS an organized religious movement.
following the lines of it's own historic
development, it is almost contemporary
with the American Republic. Indeed
strange and suggestive parallels can be
drawn, not only between the conditions
attending the organization of the two,
but between their internal spirit and
purpose. The Republic is the last ex
preston of the natural dignity of man,
and of his inalienable right to the fullest.
freest and most harmonious development
of his individual life in the great fields
of industry. social relation. and political
activity. The Universalist Church
stands for the same thing in religion.
The processes of political activity culmin-
ate upon man as the end Of government,
not government as the end of man. The
church says, THE good Of man." not the
"glory of God.' In origin. history, and
primary intent, it is the only purely
American church on this continent to-
day, notwithstanding the hundreds of
sects and factions into which the great
Christian body has been rent on Ameri-
can soil, because it is the only one that
stands squarely and fairly for the full
application of the American Idea to the
field OF religion and the question of hui
man destiny. And as such it is entitled
to the sympathy and help of all who be-
lieve in the good of man as the end of
the moral universe.
The proclamation of the Universalist
Faith, it's organization into permanent
and aggressive form, and the intense
enthusiasm of it's early friends, founders
and members. WERE providential to the
evolution of religious reform of vast
benefit to the world. And when it came
the world was ready for its coming.
Calvinism had degenerated, either into
rigid fanaticism or a dreary dogma
tism. Methodism was systematic ap.
peal to an unregulated and unrestrained
emotionalism. 1t was time for the Uni
versalist Church.
Universalism in America has it's orig
in at least five different sources, but
we are accustomed to identify its denom-
national origin with the life and labors
of John Murray. This distinguished
man, destined to exertgreat influence on
the character Of American religion, came
to these shores in ITO, thinking to bury
himself in the silence and obscurity of
the New England forests. His thoughts
were too great for his peace of mind;
his faith too large for his environments.
But he was not permitted to sink into
obscurity. The times were ripe for the
building of the new church, and he was
to be it's Master Builder. So he was
prec plated into the work of an apostle,
and began preaching Universalism al.
most before he might be said to have
landed in America.
For several years he stood alone. But
presently he induced Noah Parker TO
enter the ministry. In 1779 Caleb Rich
and Y. Streeter began to preach. In
1855 was organized the Oxford AS eocia-
ton with nine laymen and four minis
tiers. Five years later the first General
Convention of the church was held at
Philadelphia, and it's deliberations were
participated in by ten laymen and seven
ministers. BY this time the Methodist
Church had grown to large proportions.
and rigid orthodoxy was strongly in-
trenched in custom, law and fashion.
But the new church slowly made way.
1t won prominent men to it's support. 1t
commanded the respect Of the broad
minded and the humane. Three years
later it was able to hold Convention
at Oxford, Mass. in which thirty-six SO.
cieties were represented.
The century wore away, and left the