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

the most sympathetic heart and tothe
acutest mind; because it is the most
rational belief, satisfying the crav-
ing of the soul and fulfilling the
highest ideals of life; because it as
cribes to nature harmony, to man
dignity, to Jesus a beauty, and to
God goodness which places 1t above
its peers; because it is an intellectual,
and moral, and humane religion;
because its system is harmonious and
stable; and because it "sees good in
everything" and recognizes the pow
er of that good to overcome evil; be-
cause its system is of much practical
value, appealing to a life OF virtue
and righteousness for their own in
herent worth. This, briefly, Is why L
am Universalist.
To substantate these assertions is
now my purpose. To do this, the
fundamental doctrines of the church
will be presented, which, upon analy-
sis will be found to fully warrant the
averments made. If many points OF
Importance seem to be rapidly dealt
with or ignored, it is dueto the limit
ed time allotted me.
Universalism is no new doctrine.
For the first four centuries of the
Christian era it was the prevailing
belief among Christians. Of the six
Theological schools, four taught
Universal.sm. The great Alexandrian,
Clement, and his greater pupil, ORR
gen, Theodorus, of Morpsuestia,
Gregory, of Nazianzus, and others
equally as great held this view. The
German church historian, Gieseler,
bears testimony to its prevalence in
the fourth century: "The belief" he
saws, Gin the inalienable power of am
endment in ali rational creatures, and
the limited duration of future pun
ishment was general" Through the
early medieval period this belief was
superseded by the cruel dogmas of
hate and vengeance, creeds of dark
age,-man- made, not heaven born.
The Emperor Justinian, in an edict,
about A. D. $40, wished to show his
authority by condemning Origen and
his belief. The imperial edict said:
eff any one says or holds that the
punishment of the demons, and of
rungodly men is temporal, that is, that
after certain time it will come to an
end, and there will be restoration of
the demons and ungodly men, let
him be anathema." The prelate who
would not approve and obey this de-
cree was banished. Can we wonder
that the doctrine wanedi The
"broader hope" was revived when
freedom of thought and speech were
established.
The doctrine has been preached in
America for over century, and it is
not too much to say, ameliorating the
religious thought of Professionalism.
ITS influence is far short of being rep
resented by its number of avowed
followers.
In 1903 was adopted our Profession
of Faith, which still represents the
belief of the Church, though inter
preted with broader meaning than
the trainers of the Creed had in mind.
1t is as follows:
1. We believe that the Holy Scriptures of the
Old and New Testaments contain revelation of
the character of God, and of the duty. interest
and final destination of mankind,
III. We believe that there is one God, whose
nature is Love. revealed in one Lord Jesus
Christ, by one Holy Spirit of Grace, who will
finally restore the whole family of mankind to
holiness and happiness.
III, We believe that holiness and true happi-
ness are inseparably connected, and that be-
levers ought to be careful to maintain order.
and practice good works, for these things are
good and profitable unto men.
Following somewhat the outlines
given us by our Profession of Faith,
we will now more fully state the be-
liefs of this system of Theology,
called Un;versalism.
l. The doctrines of the Universalist
Church are based upon the Bible.
"We believe that the Holy Scriptures
of the Old and New Testaments con-
tain revelation of the character of
God," and that this system of Theol-
ogy is in accord with that revelation.
The Bible contains revelation of
God but not all his revelations, for
through men of every age he has
spoken, prompting them to the per-
Torrance of noble deeds, and the
utterance of inspiring truths. He
speaks to us through our emotions,
our consciences, ourreason. Through
the same mediums the writer's of the
Bible were inspired; the recording of
their thoughts was simply finite act.
This fact banishes the idea of a pie
nary and verbal inspiration. To in
terpret the Bible, we must have, in