The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-12-28


If / am member of church or
society, and things go wrong, | am
partly to blame for it. If, in spite OF
all personal trouble, / came to the
front; if, in spite of some inconveni-
ence and sacrifice assumed my share
of the burdens; if l sometimes put
my hand into my own pocket and
helped my neighbor who is putting
his hand into his pocket, everything,
to that extent, would be just SO much
better. IL most of the wires in this
chandelier were to try to make three
or four do the shining for all, we
might possibly be able to get along;
but when each one transmits light to
the full measure of its capacity the
result is assured. Many churches
might be more successful than they
are, if each individual in the pews
recognized his personal duty and did
it. There would be a great revival,
in the best sense, if everyone con-
nected with church or interested in
it, would ask, not, "Hoa0 can 1 best
be entertained here?' or "Whdt aUiU
others do to make THIS place attractiUe
to me?" But, "Ho,U can 1 myself
help this church?" "What can l do,
to make it attractive to others?" not
"What can get selfishly for myself?"
but "What can l do unselfishly for
others?" A mans character is indi-
Gated by the kind of question he
asks; his whole aim and purpose
and disposition is concentrated in the
word "GET" or GIVE" Which is it?
When each one asks, "What can l
give! What can l do?" there will be
a revival of activity and usefulness in
our churches, that will distribute the
crushing burdens of the few upon
the willing shoulders of the many;
that will make the paralytic limbs of
many crippled and hating cause
thrill with new life and power that
will gladden. the hearts of those who
long have toiled unaided and unap-
preciated, that will be more convinc-
ing to the world of the reality of
Christianity than all the defences,
apologies, and arguments, from the
days of Athanasius and Origen to
the days of Butler and his Analogy.
The world is still waiting to see
whether we ourselves are yet finally
convinced that those words of the
Master are true,-words which might
be written in letters of living light
over all the other words which he
spoke, "It is more blessed to gice than
to receiUe"
2. Take another example: PoR
tics.
We hear almost every day, the ex
preston, "What vile thing is poll
ticsl How corrupt political life has
become! What detestable things
men will do to get office, and how
vilely they will prostitute their posi-
ton after it has once been attained"
1 am afraid there is too much of
truth in these charges. But why are
they true? Why is politics corrupt7
Because good people and competent
people have neglected it. Because
they stay at home, and turn every
thing over to the machine and the
rabble. Every man, to the extent of
his ability, is interested in politics.
Every man, to the extent of his infu-
ence, may help purify it. Why does
a pool of water become stagnant?
Because the clear streams are cut off
from it. They do not run in and they
do not carry out. What are the rea-
sons for this neglect of responsibility?
st is too much trouble! 1t takes too
much time! l cannot leave my home
or my business" l am usually of
pacific disposition; but when l hear
excuses like these, l become, like
Jonah, "angry; and l do we'll to be-
come angry" On what foundations
do home and business rest? On wise
laws, wisely administered. Upon
what do wise laws and wise admins
tration depend' Upon party policies
and party leaders. Upon what do
the policies and the leaders depend'
Upon the voters! And when these
shirk their responsibilities, corruption
comes in like food.
| call upon good men everywhere
to believe in and work for the triumph
of righteousness in politics, as in
every otherregion of life and thought.
Think of your position and your priv
ileges. Think of the power that is
wrapped up in your ballot. Think of
the history and traditions behind
you. Think of the toll and sacrifice
that have built the republic. We
need to hear, over and over again,
the exhortation of the prophet: