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

cal and vital phenomena, who run with
er-willipg feet to the side Of unbelief.
If the convolution of brain that repre-
sents faith has not yet formed in them,
they should not be too ready to declare
against faith. The evolution is probably
going forward and they will come to it.
The positiveness with which they are
now inclined to deny may be i'll inverse
ratio to the zeal with which by and by
they will wish to affirm. How much
wiser not to declaim out of ones ignor-
ance, only to be forced at length by
growing knowledge to demolish the
wordy fabric. Doubts, uncomfortable
and not easily resolved, haunt the un-
folding mind. But they are defects, not
gifts; and to exhibit them is an unseen
ly display of milk teeth.
How much more could be done
with every church in the Universalist
denomination if the whole congregation
were in the church relation? But in
every congregation are numbers of per-
sons who are not committed to the in
stitution. nor to the cause, nor to the doc
trine. They are part of the apparent
host, but not an integral part. When
ever something is to be done and the
pastor counts up his forces, he becomes
aware that here are elements of uncer-
tainty. They may respond and they
may not. They are able to assume the
attitude of outsiders in an emergency
and thus paralyze endeavor. 1t is q
capital point in practical church admin
istration to identify as many as possible
with the fortunes of the institution. One
Lord, one faith, one baptism.
The Chicago Theological Seminary
mauifests disposition to draw its theo-
olcgians if not it's theology from Scotland
Prof. Douglas Mackenzie, of Edinburgh
has been called to the chair of Systematic
Theology, and Prof. James Orr, of the
same city, though from different school
and denomination, is delivering course
Of lectures before the Seminary on pres
ent Phases Of German Theology" In
one not unimportant respect the Scotch
mind is superior as source of religious
inspiration to the German. The Scotch
are religious race. The things of the
spirit are not far-away matters of specu
lation but the most real things of com
mon life. In scholarship, too, the Scotch
Universities are now fully abreast the
| German.
Mr.. Kidd's "Social Evolution" con
tinues to be written up by one class oi
critics and down by another. There il
somewhat too much of the flavor of fac
tion in this Mr.. Kidd chanced to sup
ply ammunition to the arsenal of super
natural religion. That seems to ration
alists a sufficient reason for attacking
with elaborate depreciation book that
has the stamp of sincerity and is marked
by unusual knowledge and strength. II
is equally an error to suppose Mr.. Kidd's
is an Orthodox book. 1t is study of g
living question, under bias no doubt
but without any apparent intention ol
affording aid or comfort to any school oil
party in science or in religion.
The Rev. Henry Blanchard writes the
Outlook to say that he has the authority
of the biographer of Whittier, Mr.. S. T
Pickard. for asserting that the poet died a
believer in the final holiness and happi
ness OF all men. This corresponds to infor.
nation coming to us quite directly year
or two before the poets death. The opin.
ion quoted by DIR. Abbott and by several
other writer's in the religious press be
longs to an earlier period. He seems to
have pursued the path of natural and
inevitable religious evolution in coming
to the faith proclaimed SO unreservedly
in the eternal Goodness.
In referring toMr. .Blanchard's letter
as to Whittier's faith the editor of the
Outlook remarks. What is Unitarianism
or what is Universalism it is sometimes
difficult to determine in the present fluid
condition of theological opinion" 10 the
circumstances it would not appear to be
either Unitarianism or Universalism
that it is difficult to identify, but Ortho-
doxy. AS to its cardinal and definitive
doctrine, Universalism is fluid" only in
the sense that it seems to be flowing
widely beyond it's own denominational
borders. There is really no halfway to
that doctrine. One is either Univer-
salist or he is not. The law of excluded
middle applies here perfectly.