The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-02-22

at his request, that work, which was
mailed to him. He is now pastor of the
First Universalist Church at Clifton
Springs, N. Y.
A young gentleman Congregational
ist), of Morrisville, sent me copy of a
Christmas sermon Mr.. Knight preached,
which was published in the Madison
County Leader, and in his letter asked
me what authority Mr.. Knight had for
saying millions of people lived one hun
dred thousand years prior to Old Tesla
ment history. l wrote him that such
men as Sir VIM. Thompson, Lyell, Jo-
seph LeConte, etc., we're authority. and
that text books in our schools and col
leges say "Man's time on the earth 100
900 years; it may be only ten thousand
years, but more probably the former than
the latter" He showed the letter to
quite number. l copy the following
from his letter: 81 think you answer
fully my letter. intend to study
geology in connection with my Bible
researches. 1 have shown your letter
to others, all of whom agree with it,
and like myself, think it sound l let
one of our school teachers read it, who
said she thought it strange that schools
taught children one theory of creation,
and Sunday schools another, and to the
same children. She read it over a Sec
ond time and felt we'll paid for the time
spent" Again he says: perhaps / am
peculiar, but somehow the preaching l
hear does not satisfy me; there is so
much in it that / do not like. l am I'M
able to bring myself to believe that my
Heavenly Father is the unforgiving and
ruthless being that he is painted by the
average minister, Sundayschool writer's
and teachers"
10 have charity is Christian virtue.
but what of playing fast and loose with
words and established truths of science:
asserting the infinite and eternal good
ness OF God, and in the same sermon linn
iting that goodness? l know a very in
telligent member of an orthodox church
who has told his pastor that he no long
or believed in the Trinity and to retain
his membership was not the thing, and
a patting on the shoulder by the pastor
with the approaching words,"Y You are all
right, you are all right did not raise the
minister's character in the mind of the
layman. since he had heard him loudly
dehounce the Unitarians.
Many intelligent persons whom orthol
dox pastors know do not believe the
creed are invited to unite with their
churches. This is not right and this
policy blunts the moral sense of the
clergy and lowers them in the estima-
ton of all thinking persons and calls
out from leading worthless such as the
following: "a recreant clergy, afraid of
investigation; preaching half truths;
presenting narrow Gospel; unwilling
to humbly confess error; clinging to
dogma, uttering cant and bowling the
knee to Baal is our great danger at the
present time" Such writer's we may al
low censure too broadly, yet hundreds
of Universalists who are not privileged
with Universalistic culture and who
mingle with the orthodox and hear or.
thodox preaching know there is much
truth in the arraignment.
l will copy the closing words of the
sermon alluded to: Good newsl God
is Love, God is Life, God is Wisdom!
God is caring for the world, and forever
lifting it to himself Good news, o
friends, what inspiration here to BE
perfect even as God is perfect in Heav-
en- Then go forth and enjoy merry
Christmas, indeed. rejoicing over the
beautiful life of Jesus, lamenting his
sad death, but evermore enjoying the
freedom into which he leads by Gods
eternal Truth" M. HoLRoYD,
GLovERsvILLE, N. Y.