The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-06-22

today. Some believe in the ultimate
humiliation of the wicked; some be-
lieve in DIR. Farrar's theory of Eternal
Hope, and none preach the old doc
trines about hell in all their crude
ness and harshness. And yet they
do not accept Universalism nor recog-
nize Universalists as Evangelical
Christians. Even if DIR. Carroll
condescends now and then to bestow
upon us this title, he does not express
the opinion of the majority of his fel.
low clergymen; and if Universalist
ministers had not denied his state
ment as soon as it was made, dare
say his orthodox brethren would have
done so in due time. Certain it is
that the doctrine of the endless pun.
ishment of the wicked is not only
found in all the creeds, articles, con.
fessions and liturgies of the orthodox
churches, but it lies back of most OF
the preaching of our time. Preachers
do not preach fire and birthstone as
strongly as Jonathan Edwards and
his contemporaries did, because their
congregations would not listen to
such preaching. But the vast, vast
majority of preachers declare that
this life is the only probation for the
sinner-that now is the accepted time
and now is the day of salvation. Where
you find man who, like Archdeacon
Farrar, holds out hope for the
heather or other sinners beyond the
tomb, you find a man who is consid-
cred hereto by his church, and his
authority is utterly rejected by his
orthodox brethren.
From all this we conclude that,
while the orthodox churches un-
doubtedly contain more liberal peo-
pie than they formerly contained,
while they are growing more and
more tolerant, and while we rejoice in
their gradual progress toward true
liberalism, yet they are still far from
Universalism and Unitarianism; and
SO, even from the doctrinal stand
point, our church still has a great
work to do. Unfortunately Univer-
salism in the popular mind means
simply and only denial of endless
punishment, and because SO many
people, even clergymen, in the ortho-
dox churches reject this dogma, the
conclusion is drawn that the Univer-
salist Church has accomplished its
work, and there is nothing for it to
do but to fold its tents and move ST.
lently away! But, as has just been
shown, Universalism is much more
than negation; it is as complete a
system of theology as orthodoxy is,
and differs from the latter in its ideas
of God and Jesus and the Bible and
man and the future life. Therefore,
we must make this clear before people
will understand what great work
still lies before us. I constantly meet
intelligent and otherwise we'll in
formed people who say they supposed
that Universalists held the doctrine
of the Trinity and confined punish
ment to this life! They know that
some of the early Universalists were
Trinitarians and they think that the
modern Universalists hold the same
opinions! They do not even know
that such a man as Hosea Ballou
ever lived, much less that Universal
ism has changed since his day. This
reminds me of the discussion which
has arisen in our church over the
sold" and the New Universalism."
This discussion has amused me con-
siderably. 1t reminds me of the story
of Diogenes, the famous Cynic phil
osopher of Athens. 1t is said, you
know, that this sage lived in a tub or
cask connected with the Temple of
Cybele, and ON one occasion, when
great excitement arose in Athens and
all the citizens were rushing hither
and thither, Diogenes felt that he
must do something, and SO he began
rolling his tub over and over, to the
infinite amusement of the observers.
Now, l suppose that we must roll
our tub. The Congregationalists have
a school of 'New Theology;" SO have
the Presbyterians, and 80 have the
Episcopalians. There is "New
Chemistry" "New Psychology" and
even "New Woman" and, of course,
we must have "New Universalism."
1t would never do in the world to let
others get ahead of us; we must roll
our tubl For my part the "Old Uni
versalism," as l have just explained
it, is "new" enough for me. ] con-
stantly meet people who tell me, in
the most benevolent and condescend-
ing manner, that they like Universal
f.. k,.k 49,, L.,