The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-07-11
The Dispatch follows this statement


with strong arguments against such
methods to secure obedience, conclud-
ing as follows: ut may seem compar-
atively innocent or simple mode OF COM
handing obedience. to scare child with
visions of supernatural and terrifying
things; but such impressions are lasting
and work havoc with the nerves and i'm.
agination of the victim"
While we are in hearty accord with
the Dispatch, in condemnation of such
methods of controlling children, yet we
cannot consider it to be wholly just to
visit such severe punishment on the
teachers, when they have the authority
of the partialist churches for belief in
a personal devil who is going about con-
tinually seeking whom he may devour."
The teachers who attempt to secure
obedience by telling their pupils that
1.-THE devil will get them" if they are dis
obedient, are acting consistently with
the instructions which the great major
ity of them receive themselves every
Sunday from their pastors, their church
papers and other literature.
If the preaching and teaching of the
doctrines Of an endless hell and a per-
sonal devil are profitable in church and
Sunday school in making mankind bet
ter, no fault should be found with teach
ers for using the same methods in day
schools.
We thank the editor of the Dispatch
for his strong protests against such
methods, and if he will now be bold and
consistent enough to condemn in equally
strong terms the teaching of the same
doctrines in church and Sunday school,
he will be doing the cause of humanity
great service.
And just here we would call attention
to the Inconsistency of Universalist par
ents who encourage or permit their chill
dren to attend Sunday-schools where
such doctrines are taught. The effect
is to lead them away from the faith of
their parents. or to induce them to be-
come skeptical. At home they are
taught that the doctrines of an endless
hell and personal devil are false; in
the Sunday school they hear positive
assertions that the Bible teaches as
truth, both of these doctrines.
Hence they either become fanatical
believers and advocates of the doctrines
their parents condemn, or become skep.
tical and Indifferent to any form of re-
| ligious thought.
We are also grateful to the editor of
the Dispatch for his article because it
| affords direct contradiction to the de-
fusion entertained by so many Univer.
salists that 1.-THE day for preaching their
distinctive doctrines has ended" The
old and terrible doctrines Of personal
devil and an endless hell have firm
hold upon the minds of the majority OF
the people, and until they are entirely
uprooted, and better thoughts of God
and his purpose in creating man are re-
ceived by all, the preaching of pure
and unadulterated Universalism will be
necessary.
ANEYE-OPENER.
There are those who believe that Uni
versalism has became so popular that
our people are welcome to positions any.
where. But the facts are to the con.
trary. There is not college under par
tialist control where Universalist could
obtain a position. In several iustitu-
tions nominally under control of States
in which they are located Universaiists
are ignored as teachers. We have known
number of instances where persons
have been refused positions as teachers
in pubic schools for no other reason
than that they were Universaliste.
Our church makes nothing by "toady-
ing" to other denominations. We do
not believe In cultivating and fostering
sectarian luminosity, but we believe in
cultivating and maintaining a decent
respect for our own household of faith.
AS an example of the hollowness and
hypocrisy of the professed liberality
which seems so attractive to some of
our people, we give the following letter,
which was addressed to young lady
whom we have known from childhood,
and who was reared in the Universalist
Church. She applied for a position
which she was eminently qualified to
fill. After several letters had passed in.
quiry was made in regard to her church
relations. She promptly responded that
she was Universalist. To this she re.
ceived the following: 1--WE quote letter
head entire)
"Oak Cliff College, Dallas, Texas, Nom
UNCONVENTIONAL. NOn-Sectarian. TIE Leading
College in Texas;
Miss - --, Cincinnati, o., Yours to
hand, and in reply we co not like your be ng
Universalist. We like your letters except this.
M. THos. EDGERToN."
This ended negotiations. 1t is chiefly
because of this prescription of Univer-
salists in educational institutions under
control of partialist churches as pro-
fessedly non .sectarian, ETC., that we
advocate the employment of Universe.
list men and women in colleges and
schools professedly under our denom-
national control. especially when we