The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-05-04
CHURCH EXTENSION PAPERS.
BY REV. L. j. DINsMoRE.
No. Ill.


sonal and confidential to every earnest
and loyal l-hearted believer in fundamen-
tai Universalism. for it is to ask and an
swer the question, What can the individ-
ual Universalist do for his faith?
l. One answer is easy: He can live it.
The answer is easy, but the task is diff
cult. For to live Universalism, in any
true sense, is tax upon the very highest
powers of human nature. 1t demands
idealism. What is true life for child
OF the heavenly father. destined TO end
less progress, and endowed with spirit
ual faculties fitror such lofty fate? 1t de-
mands courage. For the prospect is not
one of lazy self indulgence, of easily
floating with the tide, of unprotesting
acquiescence in low and unsatisfactory
social conditions. Not any vision of that
kind opens before the idealist, which
every true Universalist must be. But
rather a prospect Of struggle. of self re-
straint, of self direction and self con-
quest. Easy it is to get inspiration, easy
to climb lofty mountains and take large
views, and form noble resolutions, and
dream great things.
But it is more difficult to live daily
these broad, noble inspirations. Univer-
salism as theory is easy; as life it is
difficult. 1t means SO much positive
good, and such constant repression of the
base and evil elements of human nature.
So that when we ask Universalists, first
Of everything else, to live their faith, we
are making a demand upon them that
challenges all their will, courage and
persistence. If Universalist stands no
higher in the estimation of the commun.
ity than his neighbors of the popular
churches. then his faith is to him and
to that community of no greater moral
and spiritual value than other faiths.
And by his own lack of courage and 10y
atty he belittles it. l know that, take
the country over, our people stand we'll
in every community.
But not SO we'll, that they may not
wisely take heed to themselves and
mend their ways. Universalsm means
generosity, charity. kindness, purity,
love, spiritual insight, moral earnestness,
sympathy with all good works. cooper
alton with every rising tide of the spirit
of humanity. Dare any man call him.
self Universalist who is not living for
these things and in their spirit?
2. And, as before intimated, every
Universalist should feel the obligation OF
CO operation with all others of kindred
faith. Fraternity, union for practica al
good, cooperation in winning the world
to the highest ideals of faith and life
and the faith we love becomes a lever to
move the world. But shut in to inde-
pendent, self-reliant, and self sufficient
souls, with no bond of brotherly union,
and no inspiration of the melting and
mingling of many lives in one great
order, ,-and it remains to the end, bar
rem and empty doctrine with no life to
give and no force to stir the world. And
SO, next to living the faith, may we not
put the necessity of cooperation? And
co operation means church mem bership,
and Sunday-school work, and Chris
tian Union labors with the young people
and ready hand to social enterprises,
and favorable responses to State and gen.
eral appeals, and the circulation of de.
nominational literature. 1t means a
hundred things not to be mentioned
here. But one thing it always means
and that is a spirit that is generally will
ling to take hold of church enterprises,
and do something for the sake of the
church Put that spirit of cooperation,
of sympathy and willingness to take
hold and help along.-let a church show
that kind of spirit, and its success is
beyond question. And there is nothing
that can take its place. Numbers can.
not do it, Social standing is not enough.
Wealth is the most pitiful substitute of
all. A willingness to do and sacrifice.
and readiness to cooperate will sue
ceed against most desperate conditions
when nothing else will.
3. If the individual Universalist is
fortunate enough to be actively associ-
ated with some organized church. that
has a name to live, he should feel the
obligations of the partnership between
the church and himself. For the church
is partnership for the transaction of
religious business. And each member
puts what he can into the common fund
with which business is to be done. One
brings wealth; another. song; third,
ability in the Sunday school, fourth,
winning social manner-each gives what
he has, and it all unites to form the ideal
church that is to save the world. So let
no man despise his offering because it is
not marvellous in the eyes of the world.
1t is necessary. The church cannot be
what it should be without it. Let each
man do what he can (he can do some.
thiug) to make his church strong and
useful to the religious life of the COM
munity. And instead OF bewailing it's
littleness and insignificsnce, let him
thank God he is able to do SO much.
4. AS to his relation to pastor and
parish. the same observations hold true.