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

But let me place myself unquali-
fiedly in the ranks of the unsatisfied.
We could have done much more than
we have. We ought to have done
mach more than we have. MY eau
tion is only that we place the re-
sponsibility for our shortcoming pre-
cisely where it belongs, as the only
course toward actual improvement.
I think I can best assist you in the
needed study, by calling attention to
early conditions in the associated
work of our church.
The Universalist Church owes its
birth to the INDEPENDENCE of thought
of its founder, and we have cause for
gratitude that that characteristic of
the fathers has been perpetuated in
the sons and daughters. Whatever
we may desire or seek, we certainly
do not desire that our church shall be
regarded as finished and fortified
establishment, with it's own defence
as chief mission.
The fathers intensely hated the cur
rent theology of their time, but they
had not less intensity of hatred for
what they deemed the tyranny of the
ecclesiasticism of the same period.
Even some of us here present have
| been witness toa distrust, as to meth
DDS, which had no foundation other
than in the fact that such methods
seemed to be in imitation of those in
vogue in the older churches. Even
the celebration of the Easter and
Christmas anniversaries, which seem
to our young people of today almost
as much matter of course as is the
Sunday service, have been strenuous
ly resisted even in my time.
But such characteristics of the older
time represent the sturdy but honor
able stalwartness of our pioneer faith
ers. 1t was inevitable that such men
should not take kindly to any form
of organization whose effect seemed
to them likely to be cramping of
their perfect freedom in their battl ,
with error.
But the sturdiness of the conserva-
tism of the olden time YVES not more
marked than was the determination of
the men of 1S60-7O to move forward
and to provide the equipment need
full to such forward movement. As
comparatively young man, was
witness of the achievement of that
period, overcoming obstacles that
none but brave men could have borne
up against. | shall never cease to ad-
mire the record of the work of our
sainted heroes, Miner, Ryder and
Brooks in construction of the machin-
cry which made our later progress
possible. Not few of their brave CO.
workers still remain with us to enjoy
their we'll earned laurels, but pro-
priety seems to forbid me to call their
names. Their work can be fully APP
preciated only by those who know
the conditions on whose basis they
had to build. They led us up to
Gloucester and inspired in all of us
the determination to be worthy of our
leaders.
In recognizing the fact that the
General Convention has never, since
it's reorganization, enjoyed the full,
hearty support of its entire constitu-
ency, | am conscious that earnest
men and women, seeking the same
object, and perhaps equally intelli-
gent and honest, almost always diff
fer widely as to methods. | cannot
doubt that this condition ought to be
recognized as in large measure evi
dence of life and zeal. True, it is an
inconvenience at times, and seems to
be hindrance to growth, but it is
immensely better than apathy. We
cannot change it if we would, and |
am by no means sure that We ought
to want to change it if we could.
But whatever its justification, the
Withholding of full support is part of
the record of the General Convention,
and important as limitation upon
its efficiency. | note first that under
the lead of some of our most devoted
and loyal men, the Northwestern
Conference for a considerable time
maintained its independent work, and
withheld its powerful support from
the Convention. Again, assert that
l make no criticism upon the position
nor do / estimate the value or impor-
lance of the substitute work. | only
say that the Convention was sufferer.
If you will refer to the Gloucester
reports you will see that, at that
time, the Convention had 25, 500 mis-
sionary boxes, actually placed, en-