The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-05-30
"What Universalism Is Rev. L. NJ.
Andrews.

"What Universalism Is REV. L, NJ.
Andrews.
Universalsm is that form OF Christian
civilization and religion foreshadowed by
prophecy and revelation, and exempli-
fed by Jesus Christ. 1t is not of a
dreamy vagary. but built upon the
broad foundation Of Gods clearest prom.
ises to mankind. The Messianic gospel
was foreshadowed in the Mosaic law re-
garding the Sabbatic year. which gave
liberty to ALL and in the hopefulness Of
the Psalms of David. Universalism
takes the prophecies as foreshadowings
of what was to come and teaches that
Jesus did come to fulfill all the promises
made to man, his mission being to bless
all the jewellers upon the earth with the
revelation of the eternal and universal
fatherhood Of God in his dealings with
men.
In obedience to the design OF creation,
Jesus was sent into the world as the
perfect example to men. He came, not
to condemn the world, but to save it, and
Universalism teaches that there shall be
no failure in the divine plan: that all
souls shall ripen into perfection.
The great fundamental doctrine of the
Universalist Church is the fatherhood
of God, and it is the only church putting
this forth as its foundation. The frame
work of the Gospel extends into the life
beyond, for personality continues
through eternity, and the future of the
human race is portrayed by Christ him.
SELF as he reveals his knowledge that
the green and imperfect fruit on the
branches of the divine vine will ulti-
mately ripen into glorious perfection.
His resurrection proves that there is no
lapse in the existence of the spirit, and
Universalism now stands for all that his
Gospel teaches OF the principles of life,
and asserts as its beliefs that the Holy
Scriptures of the Old and New Tesla
ments contain a revelation of the char
acter of God, and of the duty, interest
there is one God, whose nature is love,
revealed in one Lord Jesus Christ, by
one Holy Spirit Of grace, who will finally
restore the whole family of mankind to
holiness and happiness; that holiness
and true happiness are inseparably con-
nected, and that believers ought to be
careful to maintain order, and practice
good works, for these things are good
and profitable unto men.
Truth and the Future. Rev. Chas. A.
Garst.
Truth belongs to man by divine
right, but it is not always received with
out question. The future will see the
harmonizing of opposing claims. Truth
and love must be one, or life is an in
complete delusion. Justice and mercy
are forces in the government of God ar d
both hinge on love. The world should
be done with the thought that mercy is
for this world and justice for that be-
yond. They center in the same thing,
and both are working in harmony now.
Faith and reason have no quarrel, for
when reason reaches gifts bounds, it's
complement, faith, leads on. There
is no conflict between the basesof the
mountain and it's summit in the clouds.
Essentials of Church Membership."-Rev.
Asa M. Bradley.
The test of membership should be
faith in the work and in the persons al
ability of the new member to do what is
required as we'll as lively interest in
the church itself. Conversion is prac-
teal experience. and God is the most
practical being in the universe. The
spirit of brotherly love is not the result
of membership in the church, but should
precede it as the natural result flowing
from change of heart.
Different systems of religious thought
are developed by the differences in men,
tally. Those with similar mental en-
dowment work togetherlharmoniously.
and thus the desirable result of mini
mum of friction is reached in practical
business way. The only danger to
church is from internal strife; differing
principles neutralize each other, and 80
only those who can work in harmony
should become members of the same
church, as an abstract principle be-
comes forceless unless emphasized in the
lives of those who profess it.
A lraadx Il Ia clainad for the Rnant.