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


a tower, a story of which is built by each
generation, 30 that the last occupies a
higher place and looks over ampler
fields than any of it's predecessors. That
is certainly an interesting law underly-
ing human progress, by which the living
enter into the labors of those who have
preceded them, and "the greatness
which the nations have enshrined in
tradition becomes part of their present
life." This beautiful provision of Provi-
dence, by which the present is literally
heir of all the ages" finds forcible il
Illustration in the progress of our own
church.
The Universalist Church of today may
fifty apply to itself the language first ad-
dressed to ancient Israeli "Ihave given
you a land for which ye did not labor,
and cities which ye built not, and ye
dwell in them; of the vineyards and
olive-trees ye planted not do ye eat" A
century ago we numbered small COM
pany of ministers, many of whom pos
sessed no special equipment save clear
heads and consecrated hearts, and a few
feeble societies in New England, truly
apostolic in the sense that they were
composed of the common people and
that all the world was against them. To
day we find ourselves the representatives
of denomination numbering thous
and churches and nearly as many we'll
trained and devoted clergymen. We
possess church buildings and education
al and philanthropic institutions repre-
sentipg millions of dollars, the grateful
offering of devoted people; we have an
organized and successful mission in
Japan, a land far removed from the
knowledge of our fathers; we are en-
trusted with large funds for the educa-
ton of the ministry, the publication of
literature and the extension of the
church throughout the land. This is the
inheritance into which we of the present
generation have entered. 1t bears wit
ness to the faithfulness and generosity
of those who, to change word in Lo-
wells tribute to the brave, so loved
truth that they lived for her, tasting the
weetness of her divine completeness
and proving that faith in salvation that
comprehends the entire race does not
cut the nerve of missionary effort.
Whatever degeneracy some observers
may think they find in morals and in
stitutions at this end of the century, it
would require most decided pessimism
to discover in the growth and present
condition of the Universalist Church
any alarming signs of decay or any indi-
cation that it's mission is ended and that
the time has come for "its opponents to
dance over its grave, or it's friends to
pronounce it's eulogy and put on mourn
ing for it's DEATH We are here. we'll
furnished for our taske, and there are
plain indications in the spirit of the
times and mental restlessness of many
who have discarded old interpretations
while they cling to old institutions, to-
gether with the common needs of hui
mainly, that a sublime task awaits us
and that the world has much to hope
from the extension of our principles and
God rewards his great
servants by giving them more to do, and.
with our inheritance, we hear also the
plain commandment to enlarge our Dor
ders.
Standing in the midst of these beauti-
full surroundings, with the reminders OF
past faithfulness, the memorials OF the
good on every side and the opportunities
for usefulness at hand, we may say out
of hearts as loyal to our church as was
the Psalmist's to Jerusalem-"Peace be
within thy walls and prosperity within
thy palaces" We would build a spiritu-
al temple composed of living stones. and,
as David's prayer was the expression of
great ideal which he sought to make
reality through the observance OF those
conditions upon which success depends;
so, in the same spirit, we may most APP
take for our serious consider
alton on this occasion, the theme which
occupied his mind when he w:ote the
noble Psalm from which our text is
taken, namely, the things that make for
peace and prosperity.
First of all, then, let us ask What is
meant by peace and prosperity in
Christian Church?
/ think it is plain that great numeri-
cal increase is not always identical with
genuine growth. All Europe is nominal
ly Christian. Yet, when we remember
that thousands of men are taken from
their homes and the pursuit of peaceful
arts and kept in training. at an immense
expense, to shed each others blood at a
moments warning; when we recall the
and ignorance that prevail
throughout a nominal Christendom. or
Thick of those who, living in pomp and
splendor and possessed of great wealth,
nothing to the welfare of the
masses, we can hardly count such num-
bers as any real evidence Of peace and
prosperity. We're the form and profess
sion of our faith universal. and yet I'M
by the creation of Christ
like men and women, it would be far
from fulfilling Paul's vision OF a time
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