The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-04-13

OIJen III Snlnetn IN the udThneS5 anu
the darkness comprehendeth it not
Such are the true believers who con-
stitute the Church, the relations of
which to our Y. P. G. U. we are here
to consider.
The object of the church is moral
instruction for all the world. There
is but one standard for such instruc-
ton by which the kingdom of God
can be established in earth as it is in
heaven. That standard is found in
the Golden Rule and in the first and
second great commandments of the
law. This has been revealed to the
world by none other than by Jesus
Christ. Accepting the reconciliation
which he has given, even as free gift
from heaven, we are content to abide
in his law.
Giving credit to whom credit is
due, his name is recognized by our
Union as the standard around which
the church militant stands; so only
will it stand forever. The relations
of such church to our Y. P. G. U.
must not be mistaken. We are or
gained under the patronage and
favors of the church to which we give
invaluable aid, but the church gives
life and power to our Y. P. G. U.
Our name, YOUNG PEOPLES CHRIS
TIAN UNION means loyalty to Christ
and effective work for God and man
by the Young people of our faith.
The final and greatest object is to Sc
cure church membership; to help
young people to enroll themselves
before the world as those who know,
and do, as far as they know, the will
of God.
Incidentally the members of the
Union are given social opportunities
of the most helpful and pleasant
kind in the pursuit of their work.
Our Y. P. G. U. is body not de
voted to the elevation of itself above
the church, nor is the application of
the Golden Rule confined to it's mem
bers.
The social and literary side of our
life is not neglected, but should be
directed by the true faith of the
church; thus only can it be purified
and uplifted, securing the greatest
happiness and the highest degree of
spiritual growth which can be at
tanned.
Society and literature are attrac-
but are not the strength of our
Union; to make them so would sever
our relations with the church and
our power for doing good would per-
isb.
Broadness and wisdom in friend
ship, moral instruction for all the
world without money and without
price, and undying devotion to our
high standards of morality, is the
cita lei of our Y. P. c. U. Outside of
this is seltishness leading straight to
envyings, strivings and destruction.
Upon this ground stand and work
the true believers in our Union; to
them we look for all the good that it
will ever do.
Many members have not attained
the status of true belief, but earnestly
desire to do SO; to help them is the
most hopeful view of our work. Be-
tween earnest and honest young peo-
pie outside the church and those
within there is natural bond of SYM
patty, to strengthen which we have
formed our Union SO that young peo-
pie of the world might have ample
opportunities to grow in the grace
and refinements of Christian love in
youth when such opportunities are of
value that is absolutely beyond meas
ure; to them we say in the name of
our church: Take my yoke upon
you, and learn of me: for | am meek
and lowly in heart; and ye shall find
rest in your souls, for my yoke is
easy and my burden is light"
There is another element of youth
full thought which of necessity finds
expression in our Union. This comes
not from the youth of Christian cul-
ture, but from the world. This ele.
ment seeks the society, the respecta-
bility, pleasures and honors which
are the ornaments of our Union, but
avoids the morality, the love and the
earnest seeking after wisdom and
righteousness which is our very life.
It is possible that our Y. P. C. U.
might be submerged by this spirit of
worldliness, even in the tide of its
greatest popularity. Local Unions
have thus been lost, not because the
worldly element was great, but be-
cause our relations to the church were
forgotten or misunderstood.
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