The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-03-23
METHODIsTs AND UNIvERsALIsM.

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a suggestive theme for an evening
sermon on Sunday, March 11,-an
instructive theme, also, no doubt it
proved to many in the large congre-
cation. The topic was "How some
Methodists misunderstood Universal
ISM" The sermon was not intended
to be in any sense controversial, but
merely explanatory; yet it was good
example of the polite style of distinct
lively Universalist discourse of which,
if our pulpit had more, Universalism,
would be better understood and
larger hearing would be given to our
preachers. The local circumstance
that called out the sermon was that
minister in one of the Methodist
churches of Columbus had set forth
what he regarded as Universalist
views. The gist of that representa-
ton by the Methodist brother was
that Universalism holds that all men
are saved Internationally and indis
criminately, without regard to their
conduct in life.
DR.. Rexford asserted, and most tru-
ly, that this is not Universalist teach
ing at all. No Universalist minister
in the United States, and no Univer-
salist authority of any description,
teaches such an idea, nor can an ut
terance or line be quoted from any
such authority to prove it. On the
contrary, Universalists uniformly
hold exactly the opposite of this.
The sermon, as reported in the Ohio
State Journal of the following Mon
day morning, shows how DR.. Rexford
explained the teaching of Universal
ism and how he cleared up the Metho-
dist misunderstanding on the import
ant question at issue. We now fol-
low with the report:
The Convention held at Winchester.
n. H., in 1903 solemnly declared as one
of the three prime articles of their faith,
"that holiness and true happiness are
inseparably connected;" and since then
Universalists have everywhere held
that no man is ever saved until hs has
accepted the conditions of salvation,
those conditions being to turn from evil,
to do what is right and to do right from
right spirit. No man is ever saved, &C.
cofding to Universalist teaching, either
in this life CT the life to come, except by
the abandonment of wrong and evil, vice
and wickedness, and the building up for
himself character that is upright, hon
est, just, pure and true. Man may at
tain to that true happiness which every
soul that is saved enjoys, and none other
enjoys, but that happiness cannot be en-
joyed without personal holiness, the two
being "inseparably connected" so
long as there are wrong and sin in the
universe" said DIR. Rexford, "just so long
will those who commit the sin and do
the wrong, be unsaved, and so long will
suffering and punishment fall upon the
wrongdoer.'
In the sermon upon which DR.. Rex
ford was commenting, it was said the
Methodist church holds that men shall
reap as they SOW, but Universalists do
not. This, DIR. Rexford declared, was
radical and total misunderstanding of
Universalism. The cardinal idea in al
most every Universalist sermon that is
preached is. that no man can escape the
consequences of his acts and character;
that if he sows the seed of righteousness
he will reap the fruit of righteousness;
and if he sows the seed of evil he will
inevitably reap the fruits Of evil. Nay,
the Universalists hold this doctrine so
thoroughly that they refuse to admit
the saving efficacy of deathbed repent
ance after life Of wrongdoing, injustice,
heartlessness. uncharitableness, vice and
crime; nor will they admit that such a
man may at the last moment shift his
responsibility upon the shoulders of a
substitute and go straight to paradise
and eternal happiness AS he sows so
shall he reap-bliss and happiness for
right living, condemnation, punishment
and suffering for wrong living.
Dr. Rexford repeated that he had no
controversy with the Methodist church;
he merely wished to set the Universal
list church right from the misunder-
standing of the minister upon whose
sermon he commented. He paid high
tribute to the Methodist church as a
live organization. anxious for the saliva
ton of men, and accomplishing much in
that direction. He predicted. such is
the zeal in the Methodist body for restor-
ing Gods erring children to their loving
Father on high, that 80 years hence the
Methodist church will be the leading
liberal church of the world, and no
Methodist will be contented in future
years until he thinks he sees a way by
which even the last sheep gone astray
may be restored to the fold of the
Heavenly Shepherd.
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