The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-12-14

our duty to God and to man; and an
adequate foundation for our faith in
universal salvation. For, as DR.. Hen
son, of the Baptist denomination ad-
mits, grant the Fatherhood of God
and it follows as an inevitable con-
clusion that all men will be saved ;
that is, that they will fulfil their d.
vine natures. In these clear and sue
cinct statements of fundamental
ideas which properly belong to a
creed, the proposed creed is i'm
measurably in advance of the present
form.
The superiority of the Meriden
creed is demonstrated also in its de-
finition of the nature of salvation.
The common idea is that men are
saved by getting into place, called
heaven. Hence, when we teach uni
versal salvation many understand it
to mean that all men good and bad
alike are saved. OF course this is a
travesty on our teaching; but, never
theless, it is fact with which we
must reckon that we are so under
stood by many. 1t is highly import
ant, therefore, that we should in our
creed define the nature of salvation.
In this the old creed is deficient and
the proposed creed adequate and also
felicitous in its expression. This is
most important addition to the old
formula.
To sum up: the present creed is
obsolete in some of its ideas, mis-
leading in many of its expressions,
wholly inadequate as a statement of
our fundamental positions. To put
it into the hands of any person not
acquainted with our position is, on
the one side, to mislead him; on the
other, to give him no sufficient know
ledge of the groundwork of our
faith. It's use compels us to be vast
ing our energy in attempts to explain
away its obvious meaning and sub
jects us to the charge of intellectual
dishonesty. If, on the other hand,
we openly repudiate it, it is of no
use. Every one admits it does not
say what we mean, unless we twist it
out of its natural and original mean
ing. What good reason can be as
signed why we can not have creed
which will state what we mean and
free us from this dishonest method of
Interpretation or save us from open
reputation of its plain meaning and
at the same time give us statement
which will be help and not him
drance in propagating our ideas?
The proposed creed will answer
this demand. do not claim that the
form proposed is ideal; but all things
considered it is remarkably good
statement, far superior to the old. 1t
is practical and not a theoretical
question that faces us now. 1t is not
what better form might there be; but
as a denomination we are in '97 to
pass on this form as it stands. For
one accept this as much better than
the Winchester creed. Adopt it and
we may look for new progress and
more fraternity. There will be less
of the heresy- hunting spirit in our
midst. It contains nothing which
radical or conservative can not &C
cept; it leaves as unessential many of
the questions over which there has
been much pickering in the past.
Reject it and we are thrown back on
the present creed with hope of moth
ing better. Adopt it and we shall
with harmony in our ranks go on to
larger achievements. With modern
statement of an eternal faith we shall
have greater influence upon modern
thought ard modern life. Accepting
all of truth which our fathers had,
let us add to it the clarified results of
the discussion and experiences of a
hundred years.
OAK PARK, Ill,