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

T0V0lS VI JH0 lule It'll duu WOAuOio
how much human Justice and human
damnation a week of their squander-
ing represents. 1t looks over the
hordes of the voorhees,, denied the
right to earn bread and punished for
stealing or begging it, and shoulders
at the thought of divine vengeance
which hangs over society when such
things can be. It asks how prisons
are administered, declaring that even
there must the iron hand which pro-
tects society remember that it is laid
upon beings that are human.
1t scans the books that pour in
multitudinous streams from the
printing pres land repeatedly shakes
its head in sadness while it presses
its demand for pages that are clean
and wholesome, even though not
laden with the moralist's purpose.
Industrial systems it studies, and
wakes indignant at the injustice and
tyranny they permit, compelling the
while even the humane and unwilling
to conspire in expressing the impo-
tent. 1t confronts the hundreds of
trusts, every one of which has an
agent at our 6resides exacting trib-
ute to swell the golden stream
which flows into the vast Golfers of
the few, and it's frown grows dark and
threatening. 1t goes to our great
metropolis and as it grazes upon Bar
tholdi's emblematic figure, rubs its
eyes bewildered, for Liberty's beauti-
full form seems to change its lovely
outlines and in their place appear
the gross shape of the cunning and
merciless Manipulation, in one hand
manacles, and in the other in place
of the unpraised torch, whip to
lash the cringing figures at his feet.
Ideal, sick at heart, goes into a
church for comfort and rest, but can
find little as it seeks vainly for evil
dence that those are coveted and well
come the Q, serving whom the Master
declared was serving him.
Yes, an exacting thing is the Ideal
Christ, and wondrously active has he
grown of late in human society.
Thanks to the Most High, this search
ing activity, fitting the need, is our
hope. Danish his stirring judg-
ments, smother his utterances, turn
away from his cry, and our doom is
sealed.
For, this Ideal determines for us
the degree of reverence and forbear-
ance we must have for things as they
are. We realize the necessity for
stability. Left to itself, however, it
degenerates into demand for
fixedness. 1t is ingenious, too. 1t
will dress up fixidness in the
robes of venerability, and standing
beside the imposing figure, recite
the long chronicle of the aforetime
services. Ideals are not without ven
Grafton and they pause. But they
cannot hesitate. Remembering that
their mission is to keep the faces
turned toward the future, they must
unAinchingly apply the common test.
Is this venerable thing right9 Time
makes ancient good not only uncouth
| but inadequate, yea, dangerous. 1t
may prove jailor or train -wrecker.
Stability Yes. Nothing can be
accomplished that is not projected
from a stable basis. But stability is
not to be COMPOUNDED with fixidness.
This earth is stable but it is not
fixed. The forms, modes, laws, sys-
TENS, institutions, standards of So
ciety are all to appear before the
Judgment of Christ, who de-
mands of them, Are ye equal to the
growing needs of these, my brethren?
Prove to me that ye are helping to
its realization my glorious dream for
man." And whatsoever fails to stand
the test and meet the demand, no
matter how patriarchal in years, or
seemingly indispensable, is sentenced
to exile and extinction. The pro-
gressive element of life, the spirit
that prevents the world from being
overland and weighed down with
dried and useless venerability, is in
the Christ ideal of righteousness and
manhood. 1t has thrown off forms
and standards thatwould have proved
its shroud and casket; it stands forth
in the strength born of freedom; it
expands into increased might with
each succeeding period; it feels itself
invincible; for it knows itself to be
the changeless and unacceptable bias
of God and the universe.
But the reforming power works
through human beings, and Chris
tianity produces that indispensable