The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-10-26

And later we have the councils of
Trent and bort; and with the Refor-
nation came Luther and Calvin and
Knox and Edwards with the old ira
ditions in new costumes. They lib
Grated thousands partially, but they
did not take all the burdens from
mems shoulders. So today we go on
in our effort to reform theology, to
clear up the grounds, to cut down
the trees which bear evil fruit and
cast them into the fire.
Our Christian religion was blessed
vessel let down from heaven into a
world of many evil impulses. Christ
shone with splendor for short time,
and left men the memory of some
thing divine. 81 am not Of this
world" were his words. He was
meekness, gentleness, love. He pro-
claimed a new theory. His theory
on its very face might appear to most
men to be absurd. Nothing like it
was ever before spoken. And what
was that theory? That gentleness,
meekness, love are stronger than
cruelty, resistance and hate-that all
the mild forces ale superior to the
lion-like impulses of the man; that
the gentleman or true lady embodies
principles of like nature that can
break asunder all that the world had
before known by the names physical
powers, valor, and revenge. MY
kingdom is not of this world" said
Jesus, and what the Caesars are fail
ing to accomplish by marching their
legions over the earth and sailing
their galleys over the sea, l shall
succeed in doing by these more mod
est virtues that all men have held up
to derision. 81 will draw all men
unto me-" No doubt many of the
Lords associates thought that this
was wild fanaticism, the deluded
work of an honest teacher. Time
has changed the verdict. The spirit
of the Lord mingled with the hearts
of men. In the men and women that
Augustine and Calvin have slandered
are hearts that throb in unison with
the melody of angels. The symphony
is lost and goes unheard in the tu-
multi of time. But Christ knows that
an affinity existed between the life he
lived and the precepts he spoke, and
the deep heart in man. The years
justified his knowledge. Did not the
friendly disciples who chung to him
from first to last justify the theory
of life which is no more theory, but
an abiding truth in the church, So
time is the Judge. Burns wrote his
songs in obscurity. In his desolation
music was enthroned in his soul, and
we pay our tribute century later;
and Poe died penniless, but the city
where he died builds monument
when he is gone. So time holds JUS
tice upon her bosom.
Great Britain learned a lesson
when she acknowledged the indepen-
dence of the United States. Her
lesson was that armies and navies
have not supreme power, but soft
answer turneth away wrath. So Eng
land has controlled her colonies by
instituting home rule. In Canada,
Australia, New Zealand, South Africa,
the British flag waves over loyal
hearts and England is to the modern
world what Rome was to the ancient.
Spain has never learned the value
and strength of mild dealing.
At one time the Spanish flag waved
over more than two thirds of South
America, and over Mexico and Cen
trail America. Where now does it
wave7 Spain is shut out from the
continent, and Cuba will be free if
the prayers of the Christian world
are answered. The stern, cruel hand
that takes the sword must perish by
the sword. Persecution never sue
ceeded for the "blood of the martyr
is the seed of the church" With that
mild hammered saint, President Lin
coin, we put down our civil war, and
he pardoned many men that martial
law would have sacrificed. He showed
the world how much better humanity
is than the cruelty of the law. And
General Grant, by his great kindness
of heart, showed the world what the
disposition of Christian conqueror
should be toward the conquered. The
rebellion was crushed, and recon
struction was successfully accomplish
ed, and not an individual was con-
demned and executed for the crime
of treason. This unexampled show
of charity in the discharge of public
duties has taught all nations lesson
by which the future should profit
IL l.