The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-07-04
CHURCH UNITY.*
Or Cooperation from The Uni
versalist Standpoint.
BY REV. L. d. BOYNTON.

SSSSSSSSSSSSSS
1t seems to me that the history of the
Universalist Church from it's inception
| to this present hour is the best and suffi-
| Gent exposition of it's relation to the
| broad subject of church unity which
ing firmly and squarely upon historic
Christianity as a basis. 1t stands for
the affirmation of the great, fundamental
doctrines of the Christian religion,-the
Fatherhood of God, Divine Christi
the Brotherhood of man. The deadly
cha racter of evil and the enduring and all
conquering power of good, are truths set
forth not more clearly in it's creed than
have they been reiterated in its pulpits
and amplified in it's literature. Among
the numerous sects into which modern
Christendom is broken it occupies posi-
ton theologically and in the matter of
church polity which is unique. 1t stands
as golden mean between the extremes
of conservatism and agnosticism. We
have not discarded the great principles
of truth, duty, and destiny as set forth
in the holy Scriptures, but we have
stripped them of the gross errors and
superstitions which ruder and pagan
age naturally enough but most mistak-
emily engrafted upon them. 1t is no
new gospel that we preach, but the old
Gospel of the Nazarine, interpreted in
manner more worthy of this intelligent
and rational present. With such faith
the fathers in our Israel felt that there
must be place and a mission for the
Universalist Church in the federation of
sects. And Certainly, with our hundred
years of history now behind US, the
most unwilling must admit that in this
instance at least. wisdom has been justi-
fed of her children. We may not have
/ attained overshadowing proportions as
distinctive religious body. Methodists
and Baptists and various other sects far
out number US. and yet, we have GER
tainly enjoyed growth which has been
permanent and respectable. We have
our churches and our ministry, our col
leges and literature, our missions and
the ecclesiastical machinery necessary
for our regulation and government.
While far beyond all this, our broader,
sweeter nobler thought of God and man
has had wonderfully modifying effect
upon the theology of all other Christian
denominations. 1t was DIR. Lyman Alb
bolt who sometime ago said, while
am not guilty of the charge laid at my
door, of being myself a Universalist,
cheerfully acknowledge the obligation
which our modern religious thought is
under to the preachers and writer's of
that progressive benevolent school,"
And not only do we thus find facts
warranting our existence in the past. we
as confidently believe that there is dis
tinctive work for US in the present. and
that the Universalist Church is church
with future and an important mission
to fulfill in that future.
While thus self-respecting and loyal
to the principles and polity of our own
denomination the whole course of the
Universalist Church has been marked
by the spirit of liberation and fellowship.
We have not always been recognized by
the people of other faiths; but, when or
where have we ever failed to give of our
cordial sympathy and respect to those
who honestly differ from ourselves?
There are other platforms to which our
ministry has never been admitted, but
whore is the Universalist pulpit whose
door has been closed to Romanist or Pro-
testant, Jew or Pagan? Joseph Cook real
ly paid us the most royal of compliments
when, in intended sarcasm, he referred
to US as "a church profuse to prodigality
in her courtesies." We have stood con-
sistently and fearlessly for the rights of
the individual conscience. We have in
sisted not only that men may differ but
that they must differ in their religious
opinions. We have argued that the peo-
pie of this world can no more think alike
than look alike, we have taught that
every mans first great duty is to be true
Address at Minnesota Uniyersalist Conven-
ton, Anoka. June, 1896.