The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-11-09

founders would have most pltCeTiY
denounced Murray and Ballou, today
present to applauding audiences the
truths proclaimed by those brave
pioneers although the old creeds still
exist, reposing in dust covered OBJ
security. This transition from past to
present is not altogether character
lied by bravery, and to some OF us
seems lacking in the spirit of justice.
Many fashionable churches, avowed-
ly evangelical, hold doors wide open
for our entrance, without any burn
ing anxiety on their part as to our
relations to their creeds, but the Y.
M. G. A., perhaps more consistent, has
not yet manifested the organic cour-
age to break down the foolish bar
riers that very few of its own mem
bers today respect.
The characteristics of change to
which | refer are, of course, not uni
form in their manifestation in differ
ent sections of our country. Unrest
first expresses itself in the highest
circles of intelligence, while bigotry
and ignorance may long remain firm
in their alliance.
I refer to these considerations not
by way of complaint, but because we
owe it to ourselves to consider all the
reasons why the gradual fading out
of old credal distinctions is not more
fully represented in the numerical
growth of that organic body that in
the battle for Christian reform &C
cepted the post of duty, and the re-
proach, obloquy, and ostracism at
tendent upon it. But it has ever
been thus. The glory of reform has
ever been slow to attach itself to those
through whose sacrifices the reform
was attained.
Alongside with theological agita-
ton in the church has come a won
derful revolution in methods, indicat
ing growth in reason and common
sense. Except where ignorance is
dense, revivalism has so amended its
methods as to command the respect
of thoughtful men generally, and
even when belated exhorters forget
that the world has moved forward
and rely upon their threats of hell
fire as revival weapon, few but the
ignorant are moved thereby.
| believe it to be true that the
gains to the so called evangelical
churches through their supposed lib
erality have not included many who
have really studied the actual signifi-
canoe of Universalism, or been actual
workers in the Universalist church.
They are rather from that easy-going
class, whose members are content if
only their complacency be not dis
turbed, and to whom fashionable
associations are an almost irresistible
attraction.
But it may be timely to listen
again to the words of our noble broth
er from Maine, who, at Gloucester,
told us: I'm the Christian church
there are two fundamental ideas;
only two; there is room but for two.
Gods love unlimited is one; Gods
love limited is the other. And there
are essentially but two churches, rep
resenting or expressing respectively
these ideas. They are as distinct as
two nations can be-"
l pray that we may not forget these
words of Israel Washburn if we are
ever tempted to think of our work as
likely to be performed by others.
Assuredly, it is not yet time to sum
up in columns of figures and properly
classify the net results OF that theol-
ogical and ecclesiastical revolution
that has been in progress for the last
twenty-five years and of which the
Universalist Church has been chief
promoter.
am conscious that there exists,
among Universalists feeling of dis
appointment that in the visible cur
rent record of development of relig-
ious truth and overthrow of religious
error, they are not equitably accredit-
ed, and | confess that | share that
feeling. But | am convinced that
the brave pioneers whom we are SO
proud to follow cared more to estab-
lish truth, than for any form of rec
ognition of their agency therein. We
can most assuredly afford to emulate
their good judgment in this regard.
But in our possible disappoint-
ment that we do not occupy the posi-
ton in the family of churches to
which we are justly entitled, we
have been slow to learn of and truly