The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-11-02

our own IOlu are helping the poor to
help themselves. When more of this
work is done, the words OF John Bright
will cease to be true: "That the Church
has no part in the solution of the labor
problems of the present" and the senti-
ment of another labor agitator will have
| greater force: IF the church will not
help the poor to adjust the question of
labor and capital and assist in bringing
about justice to the laborer, then is he
indeed without friends" In these prac-
tical methods, my brethren, and in the
fact that we have been giving especial
attention to them i see the evidence, as
we'll as necessary condition of peace
and prosperity, and my prayer is that we
may say, in the future, with greater en-
phasis and with more and more intelli
gence, conservation and well.directed
effort, Bear We one another's burdens
and so fulfill the law of Christ"
In this most imperfect manner have
! stated what believe are the methods
by which we can bring ourselves into
harmony with all those who are cola
borers with God and the true followers
| of Jesus Christ, and as church ac-
complish our mission. There are many
others of Importance upon which we
might dwell with profit if time allowed
| such as the enrichment of our worship
! through some order of service that would
meet with general acceptance; the i'm
portance of proper ecclesiastical archi
lecture that should make our outward
surroundings not only the expression of
the genius of our faith, but valuable
assistance in awakening and perpetual
ing its spirit among our people, especial
ly the young.
There is the problem of reaching the
large number of men in our American
communities who seem to be under the
sway of practical materialism, the can
did consideration of the criticism that
the second and third generations of
those who hold our faith will have lost
interest in the church and the posses
sion of what Robert Collyer terms. "that
gracious thing, conscious religion
An effectual answer to which, by the
way, is furnished in the great army of
the young people who in our Christian
Unions not only meet for services of de
votion, but make such offerings to the
denomination as the beautiful church
n fob ioh -
philanthropic enterprises like the Fresh
Air Mission in some of our large cities,
to which they have given faithful atten.
ton and self sacrificing service, until the
task has been assumed by generous
public.
Our schools, too, demand now as ever
our solicitous care. for it is always easier
t begin good work, than it is to contn-
ue it. would gladly consider methods
of spiritual work by which we might
avail ourselves of those "tides of the
places such emphasis, to discuss the
best methods of strengthening our in
situations. perfecting our organization
and increasing church membership; and
there is one theme upon which l would
dwell at length-our missions and the
necessity of the missionary spirit in our
midst. / thank God that we have lived
to see the day when our church has
awakened to it's great opportunity, when
efforts are being made to plant societies
in large centers throughout the length
and breadth of our land and when for
five years missionaries have been sup
ported in japan through the generosity
of our devoted and willing people. tits,
indeed, the day, of small things as com
pared with the great efforts of sister
churches; but it is glorious beginning.
revealing the genuine spirit of the Cos.
pei, prophesying our permanence and
attended by such results as may lead US
to take courage. Brethren, they who
have called us to that work have made
no mistake. l AN we'll aware that We
have peculiar mission in Christian
lands. 1t is ours to spiritualize theology,
to restore confidence in human reason,
and to show the world that metaphysi-
cal statements and human assumptions
are no part of true religion" Ours it
is to protest against the spirit of perse
cution or the self-appointed tests o.
those who say. "Thinkest thou as l dor"
and not with Christ Lowest thou
me?" And l appreciate all that has
been said of concentrating our efforts
and means upon work that will tell.
But we should be provincial, indeed. in
this age when modern invention is fore
ing upon our attention the solidarity OF
the race, if we confined our sympathies
to America and, Greek like, counted all
others barbarians; and we should have
little realization of the value of our Uni
versalism it we believed it was not need
ed in non-Christian lands as we'll as at
home.
DR.. Gordon in his recently publ ished
book, "The Christ of Today" remarks
that as one comes within a mile of the
end of the Niagara River. everything
seems to mean something; there is hur-
rying and leap to the right and left,
setting of the current toward the one
grand center a rolling together in a sort