The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-10-19

fortunate. Acts of kindness and benevo-
lence are good deeds certainly. But we
should protect ourselves from the un
founded notion that this class of actions
monopolizes good deeds. The regular
and faithful performance of duty is the
great field for good deeds. The farmer,
stone-cutter, housewife, teacher. student,
artist, statesman, is doing good deeds
every day that the service performed is
faithful and conscientious. 1t is mis-
fortune that the theater of good deeds
is narrowed to small class of unusual
acts. For in that way it came to pass
that many people undervalue the home
ly, everyday duties on which the order
and compact of human society rest; and
at the same time make claims for great
merit because they bestow their goods
to feed the poor.
The subject of better relations be-
tween the different denominations has
great vitality. This is an inference
authorized by the fat that it continues
to come up for consideration in the great
religious and UNCONVENTIONAL gatherings
in spite of the rude setback it has re-
ceived in the house of it's supposed chief
friends-the Episcopal church. That
denomination of Christians has had
more to say on the subject in recent
years than any other. and has on one or
two occasions formulated basis for
union among the sects. But when
pressed for an answer to the question,
whether the Episcopal body could or
should recognize the validity Of the or
ganization and ministry Of other than
Episcopal bodies, the reply was an al
most unanimous negative on both prop
ositions.
The idea of any union of denomina-
tions on such basis, or rather of the
union of the other twenty millions OF
church members with the half million
Of Episcopalians, must be dismissed. The
terms are impossible. But the impulse
to Christian union is strong in the best
representatives of all the sects. 1t is
felt that more perfect union" OF in
terests, sympathies and activities is not
only desirable but possible; and spon-
taneous movements toward such an end
are springing up on every side. Our
own church is not an exception. The
proposal of the New Jersey Association
of Congregationalists has been favorably
acted on by the Rhode Island. New York,
and Massachusetts, Conventions, and it
is likely that it will receive fraternal con-
sideration at the approaching General
Convention in Meriden.
The Secretary of Agriculture, j.
Sterling Morton, justifes the second
term in his name by his views of the
money question, as presented in the In
dependent. He is a hard money man
and sound money man. His thesis.
that Congress can no more create value
than it can create human souls by en-
actment," is forcibly illustrated and
supported by his citation from the his.
tory of the Confederate government.
The bills scattered by that government
as money are now worthless except as
mementos. But the gold coins minted
by that government in denominations
of one, five, ten, and twenty dollars, are
still, if of the required weight and fine
ness, worth their full face value.
"A Catechism of Liberal Faith" is
what the Rev. G. F. Dole names his ser
les of questions and answers about re-
ligion. Why not name it catechism of
the Unitarian faith? Mr.. Dole is Uni
tartan. So are those his catechism rep
resents. There are religious people,
some of them Christians and some not.
who have as good claim to the title
"liberal' as Unitarians. The liberal
Jews are of this number, but they would
not accept Mr.. Dole's catechism. The
obvious objection to affixing title SO
unauthorized to syllabus of religious
opinion is, that it fixes and defines, arbi-
trarily. from its own point of view, who
are "liberal" This adjective would be
wholly obviated by calling it a catechism
of the Unitarian faith. The amend
ment is respectfully referred to the able
and learned author.