The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-02-08
MICHIGAN.
THE LANSING FAREWELL BAN
QUIET.

The Last Social in the Old Church.-An
Interesting Time.-Addresses by Gov
ernor Rich and Justice Moore.
The Universalist church at Lansing
was on Friday evening, January 24tb,
the scene of an interesting occasion. 1t
was the farewell supper and social in the
old church which has now been sold,
and will soon be vacated. The new
church will be built this coming spring,
and Universalism in Lansing will date
new era from that erection.
The farewell banquet was largely at
tended. From six to seven o'clock, the
trustees held a reception in the audi
ence room, and when this pleasant fea-
ture was at an end the entire company
repaired to the room below and partook
of bountiful supper. The tables we're
conveniently arranged and handsomely
decorated, and for over an hour the zoo
guests discussed the substantial menu
prepared by the ladies of the society.
From one of the papers of the city we
condense the following account OF the
several addresses which followed the
supper
1t was shortly after eight o'clock
when Judge @. A. Smith, who officiated
as POSTMASTER, raped for order and de-
clared that it was time everyone present
was full. Judge Smith said few
words of welcome, and spoke feelingly
of the fact that the gathering was large
ly in the nature of farewell to the old
structure they loved so well, and which
had been the church home of many
present for long series of years. In
announcing the toast, The Liberal
Church, Judge Smith took occasion to
extend to the person selected to res
pond to it, Justice Joseph B. Moore of
the Supreme Court hearty welcome
to the city.
Justice Moore's Speech.
After acknowledging the kind words
spoken of him, Justice Moore said that
there is no denomination in the great
religious world that has not it's mission,
or that did not aid in the work of lead
ing mankind to higher and purer life.
Each and all supply needs in the mental
characteristics OF large portion of man
kind.
But it has come to pass. he said, that
the orthodox churches do not supply
the needs of many, so the liberal church
has it's mission to perform. The infiu-
ence of the liberal church. the speaker
thought cannot be measured by the
number of its members simply. Form
erly the terror OF the law was held over
men as a reason why they should be-
come members of church. Now it is
no longer the rigor Of the law. but the
love of God.
The liberal church is needed to teach
higher and better conception of God,
to teach the new theology and give
better Interpretation to the word saliva
ton. 1t stands for character and life
itself. pure thinking. righteous living,
and doing the very best one knows how.
No man. it was declared. by the mere &C.
ceptance of an intellectual belief, and
relying on some one else to do that
which he should do himself, could help
to escape condemnation. Justice Moore
eaid that the liberal church had robbed
death of its terrors, God never having
brought into the world an atom OF in.
telligence to be utterly destroyed or
made to endlessly suffer. Death. he said,
was simply transition and the opening
up of greater opportunities than the hu
man soul has ever conceived Of
Gov. Rich's Address.
In responding to the sentiment, Fra
ternity Among Churches" Governor
Rich spoke Of the fact that all churches
of whatever name, were working for the
same object. This is an age of frater-
nifty. Never before has there been as
many fraternal organizations as now.
There is more reason. he said, for trater-
nifty among churches than among men;
all churches have but one object in view
and they should not exhaust their re-
sources in contention. The thought was
expressed that the Sabbath schools