The Portland daily press., 1896-10-22

Uniyersalism. which was formed in leoo'
was good In it's time. But 1t IL not up TO
the modern Thought Of Universaiism.
The second article OF that creeo
virtually Trinitarian, although IL mas
been claimed to be otherwise. NOW ene
oniversalists of today are Un i1arinn''
Mr.. Carroll of the census bureau, acting
on this article of the creed, classed UNI
veIsailsts as evangelical. To-Day ohlser-
salists consider Jesus the teacher, 1rleno'
brother, not the lord and sovereign on
throne, as the makors of the creed con-
oeived him. The creed speaks OF 'restor-
Ing mankind to holiness and happiness
while we Of this day do not believe man
was ever In suoh a state. To keep hucn
creed Is intellectual dishonesty, as bad
as that of the churches which keep the
Westminster confession, but mentally
reject the doctrine of predestinat1on.
Many ministers refuse to subscribe to
our creed. The ethics Of the creed Is be-
lieved by many to be bad. There II no
place in it for the great doctrlne OF
human brotherhood.
The new creed, which the progressives
favor is as follows:
Article I've believe in the universal
| fatherhood of God and In the universal
brotherhood of man.
| Art. 2.-We believe that God, who
hath spoken through all His holy
prophets since the world began, hath
spoken unto us by His son, Jesus Christ,
our example and saviour.
Art. 8.-We believe that salvation con-
sists in spiritual oneness with God, who
| through Christ, will gather in one the
whole family of mankind.
The old creed, which was adopted in
1903 and is now established. is:
Art. I've believe that the holy
scriptures of the Old and New Testa-
ments contain a revelation of the
char acter of God and Of the duty, interest
and destination of mankind.
Art. 2.-We believe there is one God,
| whose nature Is love, revealed In one
grace, who will finally restore the whole
family of mankind to holiness and happi-
ness.
Art. 3.-We believe that holiness and
true happiness are inseparaDly connected,
and that believers ought to be careful to
maintain order and pratioe good works:
for these things are good and profitable
Rev. DR.. r. Eddy of Massachusetts,
represented the conservatives. He said
that from 1903 to 1878 no one proposed to
change the Winchester convention. Then
an amendment was proposed bnt de-
feated. In 1879 another amendment was
proposed, but lost. In 1882 the mum Der
of amendments proposed was larger but
J none succeeded. In 1886 committee
was appointed to revive the creed. They
} did go and 1t was ultimately recommitted
to another committee. Finally in 1896, a
creed was reported which goes to the con-
vention of 1897 for settlement.
There are several objections to the
creed. They say that the clause. "God
will finally restore the whole family OF
mankind to holiness and happiness, -
} cannot mean any thing, because mankind
was never In state Of holiness and
} happiness. This the speaker com batted.
He believed, from his own experience,
that sin was lapse from previous holi-
ness, and that the creed was perfectly
> right in using the word restore Nc
, man, except such an one as Artemas
} Ward described as believing in total de.
, pravity and living up to his belief dare
affirm that any human beings If sound
mind, have not sought after sons degree
. of holiness, to which they wish 10 be re.
stored.
DR.. Eddy after discussing the variou.
points at length, declared with emphasis
that the Holy scriptures contain arevsla.
ton of God and the final destin! and
duties of mankind. The new creed would
have no fewer difficulties than theo old.
DR.. Emerson, of Boston. said that in
view of the theory of evolution, tie idea
: of the creed as expressed by the word
'restore" was evidently out of place. he
liked the ethical, Humanitarian creed,
: which Brother Hall had given; it would
suit all mankind: but would not do fol
the Universalists. The Univerallst
denomination is theological body; not
merely an ethical and humanitarian.
Therefore he favored that tho Universal
lists should keep creed to themselves.
Rev. b. W. Perkins of Hartford,
Conn.,, believed the present creed was
tludllj utl6Ctlv6 duu Cuutu uub U0
scribed on the banner Of a moving
church
President Capen of Tufts college, laid
that all parties could unite in saying 81
believe in God," and this was the arsl
step that ought to be taken in the creed
The next step ought to he declaration
of belief in Christ All did not believe
the same. He was willing to let the
: radicals make up this statement. Blu,
: do not let it be mixed up with heolc
ideas of restoration. It was cowardly moi
to face the situation and put the belief II
modern form. The ethics of the THIRD
article of the present creed ia abomniabls
: ethics. 1t is utilitarian philosophy, snt
that has gone into the limboes. No On,
now should teach people to do thlngsbe
: cause it Is good for them. (Applaure.
= The modern idea is Righteousness: tt