The evening times., 1895-10-22
THIRTY YEARS PROGRESS
Continued from First Page.

| are supplied directly by our five superin-
| tcndents, each In his own department.
RESULTS OF PROGRESS.
| I'VE have three sources of supply-the
| unsectarian Divinity School OF Harvard
University, the Unitarian Theological
School at Meadvillc, and the ministry of
other denominations. One of the incon-
venient results OF our progress is that the
change in other churches takes effect with
the ministry before it does with the laity.
The result is an increasing demand for adj
mission to our ministry and work under
our auspices. Under these circunsta noes,
we say to the faculties OF our schools that
the needs of the Unitarian church now re-
quire not many graduates SO much as grad
mates of high order.
"A new sense OF the need of unity per-
vades the relig ious life of the world.
Among the many indcatio which might
be cited are the Lambeth Proposals, the
Grindelwald Conferences, the letter of Leo
XIII, inviting the Protestant world to re-
! turn TO the Roman church. Less notable,
but nearer TO us, are the Liberal Congress
at Chicago in May, the one at Toronto in
July, and numerous meetings or ministers
Of different denominations. such as those
at Aver and on Cape Cod, Mass.
with the purpose OF these meetings your
representatives are most heartily in SYM
| pathy. but they hold that to succeed all
such plans must look toward a voluntary
| corporation of churches and individuals.
who are prepared for union. There can be
| no union under ompulsion.
THE last thirty years have given US
| revelation Of the laws of religious progress
| as notable as that " hich marks any relig-
| ious epoch in the history OF the " orld The
! application OF the law OF evolution to the
/ Institutions OF society remove many an
obstacle to faith. Religion is now seen to
! be not only one OF the mo. important prod
| uctt Of evolution. but also constant power
working in the progress OF civilization.
REMOVES A DOU BIT.
"a careful study OF this new revelation
| removes n doubt " hich pervaded our body
| thirty years ago. 1t W as then held by the
| yak majority OF Christendom, and admitted
by many OF our own most conscientious
FOULS, that loyalty 10 the Church Universal
implied an obligation TO accept her author
ity, submit 10 her discipline, ocnioIm o her
W or, hip, and repeat the words of her creed.
Now we learn that loyalty To the church
implies submission To the authority OF the
moral law for which the stands. acceptance
-, n" truth of v h,cI. he is The mouth piece.
and conformity in belief, dir cipline. and
y orr hip only in So lar as they Set Us Tree
To express the highest spiritual longings.
This conference agrees with the church
universal in believing that the kingdom OF
ii
larger kingdom in a spiritual universe. and
tnat our human duties and only hopes would
lose their meaning We're we not consciously
living In the atmosphere OF an eternal life.
We differ, however from the majority
of the church universal, and probably must
differ Tor generations to come. when we
say that the highest duty and the supreme
object for which the church exists is the
perfection OF human nature ini human
ciety upon this earth.
MAN ASSUMES A DIGNITY.
Putting this end first and highest. in-
stanuy new glory falls. upon this earth
Man ASSUMES dignity. The daily tasks OF
family life are ennobled. An impulse is
given to every work of benevoien OF re-
form, to education, culture ami social prog
ress- The church that is alive with this
thought must become the fruitful source of
everything which benefits mankind. Our
duties are simple but magnificent From
the religious kindergarten up to the church,
through all our institutions. one purpose
must run, namely, to put before every
growing child and undeyelupcd man the
ideal OF his own perfection and excite a
desire to attain to it.
Then, that this human being so striv-
ing may have comfort in bis sorrow,
strength in his temptation. courage for his
duty and the inspiration of progress, we
shall strive TO give him a happy outlook
into the universe OF infinite and eternal be
made to live alone, il will he our purpose
to set such human beings thus happily striv-
ing together in churches, that through their
accumulated power each one may act for
the bctterInent of human society with the
momentum of the concentrated energy of
many.
Believing these things, is it not possible
for us TO lay aside the sins that so easily be
set us-private creed-makinS and mutual
criticIsnI-and Join with one heart and
with one voice to say these things. and then
to do the works which shall manifest them
with power?''
MRS. FIFIELD'S ADDRESS.
Dr. Eaton then introduced Mrs. Emily A.
Fifield, secretary OF the Alliance of Uni
tartan and Other Liberal Christian Women.
She was greeted with hearty applause.
She explained that the Alliance was a
confederation OF groups. all of which man
aged their own affairs. There was no
general fund.
The purpose OF the Alliance, she said.
was the spread of the light, cooperation
and Fellowship. The sewing circle is still
one of the most potent forms OF work. The
Alliance leaves to the ministry spiritual
work and doctrinal teaching.
The Alliance has already worked a trans
formation in the activity of every church
where established, and has become a strong
bond among women from Maine to Cali
fornia.
She spoke of the post-office mission. the
religious study classes, ard other forms of
effort. The Alliance hoped to see a liberal
church in every community. and closed with
an appeal to all women to aid the Alliance.
The SONG of the Alliance katydid is not,
''She did. She did. she did" bat 'She must,
she can, she wiIl.'
INTRODUCED DR. HEREFORD.
DIR. Brooke Herford was introduced by
DR.. Eaton as both an Englishman and an
American. He is typical Englishman.
with broad. generous face. having strong
lines. He has short curly hair gray locks
and iron gray side whiskers that a little
recall DR.. Talmadge before he shaved. His
manner was very different. He was in
terrupt cd in his address by ba nd on the
street. He turned it off with a bright re-
mark.
He said the general trend of thought in
orthodox churches even is in the Unitarian
direction. The organization into church
life is, however, quite difficult. England
moves slowly, and English Untarianism |
has special obstacles. The great prestige |
of the Established Church. enhanced by the |
immense improvement OF its religious char |
acter during the past forty years, makes it !
a mighty influence against new doctrines. |
The scattering tendency of scientific |
thought is another difficulty. Oliver
Wendell Holmes said he was proud of Uni |
tarianism, because it alone had faced the |
new light of science with perfectly open eyes. |
But this made it hard TO keep together as |
working force. A third trouble was di- |
vided councils. |
But there was steady Improvement in /
shown by greater activity in |
educa tional and charitable