The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-11-09


remorseless despot; and no one need
doubt that this true and hopeful doc
trine of ours, which makes us strong
er, more joyful and happier, is the
doctrine on which is founded most
easily and naturally, the simple, true
and hopeful life.
There is nothing person believes
but has some influence upon him. 1t
is religious maxim that man is
according to his faith; that his way
of thinking is his way of acting. This
is only saying that thought moulds
life and shapes character, and so has
everything to do with our conduct.
Try and think right, and then you
will doubtless act right. Get the
world to thinking right, and we need
not fear but that it will act right for
GAS man thinketh in his heart so is
he." 1t is safe to say that the opin-
ions and convictions that have settled
down deep into the very heart and
core of our being, determines what
we are, by constituting the formative
power of our characters.
Other denominations seem to un-
derstand these things better than we
do and are alive to the necessities of
the situation. The average wealth of
the Methodist Episcopal Church,
probably does not exceed, per mem
ber, that of the Universalist; and
yet with its perfect system of method /;
its unitary organization; its thousands
of tireless itiDerant and local help
ers; its immense Book Concern; its
army of teachers and millions Of Sun
day-school scholars; it is marching
strongly and grandly on. 1t is ex-
pending it's hundreds of thousands
of dollars per annum, to build
churches, parsonages, academies, col
leges. etc.
There are great many wealthy
Universalists all over this western
country who could give to the plant
ing of our religion their hundreds
and thousands of dollars and not feel
it at all, and their numbers are con-
stantly increasing; and it would be
such standing reproach, such a
burning shame and disgrace that we
should never get over it, if we should
allow it to be crippled for the want
of any amount of necessary means
for it's support.
What is asked of us is mere baga-
telle, if undertaken in earnest, and
each shall do his part. We should
be ashamed to say it cannot be done.
1t can be done easily; only let all be
resolved to give something. Those
who have large sums should give of
their abundance, and those who have
little give little. It is to do what we
can, and do it now; and by and by
people will come to regard this cause
with increased interest; with the
same pride they do their families and
homes, as holding prodigious place
in their affection, and confidence.
When will Universalists respect
themselves in this matter as they
oughts We turn in and help others
build their churches and let our own
go. We support their preachers and
send our children to their Sunday
schools. Now this is great mistake.
1t is all wrong. We must stop giving
to others and support our own insti-
tutions and God will bless us. 1t is
for us to wake up and do more, and
give more money and time and infu-
ence. This shiftless policy of ours
upon which we so frequently act, let
ting everything go at loose ends,
leaving everything to care for itself,
is not the policy for us to thrive by.
1t never did anything, and the
strangest thing about it all is, that we
should ever expect to succeed by it.
We fold up our arms and sit still
thinking that God is going to pour
out blessing upon us. But from a
dream SO idle and mischievous, so
foolish and wicked, may the good
Lord deliver us.
Some are forever disparaging doc
trine. But it stands written in the
nature of things that one doctrine is
as much better and more salutary
than another, as it is more hopeful
and optimistic. Instead of saying
that no one cares for doctrine, as
some are saying, it seems to me that
it is just what we all do care for,
doctrine or theology that shall lot
curse the world, but shall bless hu-
manity. Let man think that God
is not a Father, but tyrant; that
man is not a brother, but a iiend;
that virtue is not good, and does
not nav 70 ha tora cfioad hut an evil.