The Portland daily press., 1895-11-04
WHAT THEY DID.
DIR. Blanchard Talks of the Doings of the
Universalist General Convention.

Blanchard took for his text the words OF
Paul-"The glorious gospel of the blessed
God" He said that every religion as well
as nearly every nation has it's sacred
cities, and the place where the general
convention of great religious body is
held, is notable because of that fact He
proposed to speak of the work of the
general convention of the Universalist
church that was recently held in Meriden,
Conn.,, in church costing almost $780,
900, the generous gift largely of a, single
man and his family. DIR. Blanchard said
that if he could have found it possible to
have envied the church OF Meriden a
single thing, it would have been their
chime of bells. The Uniyersalist general
convention is composed of delegates,
clerical and lay, elected by the State con-
ventions. and meets as single body. The
Democratic idea prevails, but the dele
gates are not directly elected by the
several churches. DR.. Nash submitted q
resolution giving each church two dele
gates, the pastor and a lay delegate, but
that would make a convention of 1,700
members. The State conventions are,
however, elected that way, SO the general
convention, the legislative body OF the
church, is in all respects representative
assembly.
Three notable things were accom-
plished The convention voted to ask for
more money for the work in Japan, and
for the general missionary work of the
j
ton of the next convention substitute
for the time honored Winchester con-
fession. AS to missions the convention
will ask the A, GOO families in the church,
to give 800, 900 this year for missions.
The church numbers in it's ranks many
rich and generous men and women, and
it thanks God for the colleges and
churches they have built and sustained,
but at the same time it believes in the
people, and makes it's appeal to them.
The church believes that it has this
stglorious gospel" of which Paul spoke
and that it must proclaim it, The con-
vention was fired with holy zeal, when
DR.. Shinn spoke OF the general missionary
work, and when Rev. Mr.. Rice told OF
what has been accomplished in Japan, to
win that nation to Christ. In six years
the mission to Japan has cost the church
but $50, 600, and great has been the re-
suits. 1t is duty to help spread this
gospel. 1t is noble work, nobly begun.
and 1T must be sustained
Dr. Blanchard then passed to con-
sideration of the proposed change in the
creed, and the giving up of the ancient
Winchester confession. At the general
conventions held at Chicago and again at
Lynn, he united with DIR. Miner and
others in defending the ancient con-
fession feeling that the people loved it.
At the convention just closed, he was
obliged to join with those who asked for
a more distinct statement OF what IS to-
day held by the church at large. The ad-
dress of Mr.. Harmon was strong, and
that of DR.. Sweetsir, exceptionally so he
could but feel that the Universallst
church had set it's face to the future, and
that it must cut loose from all dogmas
that do not today express living and
vital faith The fathers of the church be-
lieved in the fall Of man. They believed
that he had been created holy, instead
that in the end there shall be with God
a sinless state. The convention confessed
again in the name of the church the faith
in 5he universal fatherhood of God, and
in the universal brotherhood of man,
right glorious confession, for according
to the so called evangelical churches a
large portion of all the creatures of God
must be regarded as children of the devil.
Then the convention affirmed the fai6h
of the church that God hath spoken
through his holy prophets, and especially
through his son Jesus Christ our example
and Saviour We do not believe that God
ever left himself without witness to his
truth, but that he spake through his holy
prophets first, and then in far higher
degree through Christ the LORD. Then
the convention affirmed the faith OF the
church that salvation here and hereafter
consists in spiritual oneness with God.
Not in an escape from pain. Not in
avoidance of suffering for sin, not in
place where psalms are forever sung and
where palms are forever waved, but in
ness with him. For himself he thanked
God for that sublime thought No
restoration to forfeited state, but an
uplifting of every soul to God. Rev. Mr.
Rose introduced still briefer creed, "We
believe in the universal fatherhood OF
God, and in the universal brotherhood of
man. We acknowledge the spiritual
leadership of Jesus Christ, and believe in
the final salvation of all men," but the
convention choose the creed reported by
it's committee.
We believe that as church, we have
committed to us the work of proclaiming
"the glorious gospel of the Blessed God, "
and we have q right to pray for a special
blessing if we have the missionary spirit
Much has already been done among the
colored people of the South; much in
Japan; but more remains for US to do as
individuals and as a church.
What is, Or can be grander than our
-.-.,,o1 ~, This ;dao Of ;,,,,,,an