The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-04-29
THE LlBE RAJ CHURCH.
Ye Shall Know The Truth and the
Truth Shall Make You Free,

The Rev. Napoleon Hoagland preached
an interesting sermon before the Fourth
Unitarian Society, yesterday, in Unity
Hall. The subject was 1.-THE Use of q
Liberal Church." John viii ;32: "Ye Shall
Know the Truth and the Truth Shall
Make You Free" During the sermon the
minister said:
VIVA Is the uselor function OF the
liberal church. First let us get clearly be-
fore our minds what a liberal church is. In
what does 1t differ from those churches not
called liberal? Well the radical differ
ence is that n liberal church is one that is
characterized by liberty Of action and
freedom of thought. Aliberal church is one
that Is not bound hard and fast by old
creed or ancient custom. 1t affirms a
progressive revelation suited to the pro-
gressive growth of man. 1t does not
consider 1T an act of piety for us to
know no more about religion or nave
no larger thoughts of God-than our
ancestors. 1t does not believe that it is
necessary to build n wall of creed
about the truth in order to preserve it
from the free sunlight of investigation. 1t
believes truth is a wholesome plant and
that 1t grows better in the sunlight than
in the dark. A doctrine that car only be
preserved by keeping it in the dark must
be a dead or noxious thing.
The liberia, church means q church that
Is dedicated 10 the love of truth-any
truth that makes for righteousness
and larger life. Besides its o%ppenness
toward its truth and its freedom in its
interests of progress the liberal church
naturally stands for liberal ideas concern
ing man and God.
II believes that human nature instead
OF being about the worst thing in creation
is really the best. 1t does not teach the
worthlessness OF man, but his worth.
1t afiirms his divine capacities for
growth. 1t teaches him self res pect
and respect for fellow man because it
tries to show we are not reprobates, ire
trievably depraved. Then as to God. the
liberal church does not teach that he is
mans worst enemy, but his best friend.
IL does not believe that God will treat us
any worse than we treat ourselves.
Though the liberal church believes in
it believes that it comes as
he result OF wrong doing and is for the
sinners good. The same logic that con-
dennis "hells on earth" must condemn
them anywhere in God's universe.
'The liberal church then is necessary to
insure stability and progress to religion.
is necessary TO insure stability.
Then, too, the liberal church is useful
TO the better life Of people, because II
Is in most complete harmony with
he wiser methods of civil government
md with the better methods of dealing
wrong doors. 1t educates people to
appreciate and Loyalty support the free
government, the free school and the free
press and platform.
"The views IL teaches OF the universe
ire not such that must be unlearned
Or discreditod by the public school
md modern knowledge. Finally its
conception OF Gods relation to us
yives support to our own highest sense of
Justice and moral obligation in our deal
nCs with one another, social, civil, in
iustrial and domestic and SO makes for
he security and progress of our best life.