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

organization of two General Conven
tions, with some fifty churches and some
forty ministers. hardly enough to make
ripple in the great stream of the relig-
ious activities of the times; and yet
enough, under Gods help, to revolution
ize the world. 1t had great thoughts.
the noblest ever presented to the world.
1t had strong men in its service. 1t in
spired great enthusiasm. And the names
of John Murray, Hosea Ballou, Zebulon
Streeter, Walter Ferris and Elhanan
Winchester were of men far above the
average in mental attainment. intellect
ual activity and an inspiring and conta-
gious enthusiasm.
The Philadelphia Convention held its
final convention in 1909; and the gen.
eral work of the new denomination fell
into the hands uf the New England Con-
vention, which indeed for several years
had absorbe the life and vigor of the
rising church. In 1903 it had adopted
the Winchester Profession of Faith-an
epoch making document. Written as it
was in the very beginning of the century
under the influence Of social and relig
ious conditions quite distinct from what
prevails in the world today, and prepared
for special purpose, it has yet such
elements Of permanent value, thar it re-
mains the best expression Of Its spirit,
purpose and thinking that the Univer-
salist Church has ever promulgated.
Ninety years have passed away, aud this
simple Confession of broad faith comes
more nearly expressing the average
thinking of the great mass Of the Uni
versalist people than any similar declar-
alton that has ever been framed. And
some of the best minds of the church
have for years labored to improve upon
its comprehensive notions of God and
man, and human life and destiny,-but
all in vain.
The year 1905 is scarcely less memora-
BILE in our UNCONVENTIONAL annals, for in
this year Hosea Ballou gave to the world
his great Treatise on the Atonement.
affirming Unitarian views in advance OF
the Unitarian secession in New England
It greatly modified the views of tbs Uni.
versalist people upon the nature and
character Of Jesus Christ, and exerted
vast influence upon the theology of the
day.
The Universaist Church, as thus or
ganized with General Convention exer.
cising no more than advisory powers. and
local associations dealing with all matters
OF fellowship, ordination, discipline, and
missionary enterprises. held on its way
until 1870; when certain radical changes
in church administration we're proposed
and established. The local associations
became advisory, and the General Con-
vention legislative in it's character. The
new order has exhibited not only decided
advantages, but also certain positive
weaknesses. The advantage is in the or
| derby and systematic arrangement Of
church affairs. The danger is in the
| loss of life and missionary enthusiastically
removing the centers of UNCONVENTIONAL
responsibility too far from the people
who make upthe church.
To avoid this danger of paralysis, the
people need to be taught always that
they are the church; that conventions
and agents and associations and papers
are only the instrumentalities through
which the people of the church are to
work to their own upbuilding.
During the last twenty-five years the
denomination has made decided pro
gress in certain important particulars.
Many of our local churches, particularly
in the Middle-West, have been greatly
| grown; our colleges have added to their
working force and teaching capacity;
and not few of our preachers and
teachers have won wide recognition for
commanding ability. A Christian de-
nomination that has such masters Of
| Biblical criticism as Cone, Stafford,
Forbes, and Sawyer; such enthusiastic
students of comparative religion as Blan
chard. Flanders and Grove; such pulpit
orators, as Rexford. Garfield, Eaton,
Pullman. and Shutter; such pastors as
Tuttle, Miner, Harris and SAKE; such
missionary workers as Shinn; such
! adopts in elegant English as Gunnison.
Bolles and Dodge; such earnest. pro-
gressive and broad minded young men
among it's ministry as Nash. Adams,
! Robin. Johonnot, Perrin, White and Nc
Collester, with such churches as the
Boston Columbus avenue, the Minneap-
oils Church of the Redeemer, the New
York Church of the Divine Paternity
and the Chicago ST. Pauls, need neither
blush for its standing among the de-
nominations, nor question it's own flu
ture.
1t is fact which ought to be recog-
nized. together with the responsibility
which it involves, that the Universalist
Church, though small in numbers, and
just emerging from prolonged conflict
with the great churches of the land, has
character and standing in wealth, So
cial activities. and religious enthusiasm
far beyond the criticism of it's enemies.
Think of some of its many activities:
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