The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-08-15
THE INFLUENCE OF A OONGRE-
CATION.

Prof. George Adam Smith, the bril-
liant author of that commentary on
Isaiah which has already become classic
delivered a suggestive address the other
day on the influence of the ordinary
Christian congregation on human prog
ress. In the congregation lay, he main
tanned, thousand forgotten sources of
thought and life that continue to guide
the main currents of progress. The
Psalms of the Old Testament Psalter,
for example, which are now sung all over
the earth, we're composed for little con-
gregations in an obscure corner of the
world. Paul's epistles, in like manner,
we're originally written for small conven-
ticles in the Roman Empire, and dealt
with the troubles, the scandals. and the
duties of those small Christian congre
cations. The hymns of Luther and Isaac
Watts originated in the necessities of
their respective congregations. The
great poor relief scheme of Thomas
Chalmers, which paved the way for the
philanthropic activity that now charac-
terizes city churches, was devised and
put in practice in connection with his
own parish in Glasgow. Individual tes-
timonies from thes.makers of modern
thought are equally significant to the
value of the infiuence.of congregation.
Robert Browning was in the habit of at
tending small Congregational church,
and in his christmas Eve" he con-
trasts the proceedings of little village
congregation, first with theological sub
tleties of German professors class.
room, and then with the gorgeous cere-
monies of an. Easter service at st.
Peters, and comes to the conclusion
that in the simple faith of the village
gathering there is something greater
than in the intellect of Germany and the
ritual of Rome. His own experience IN
doubleday led him to the conclusion he
has expressed in such memorable Ian
guage. Readers of Thomas Carlyle's
"reminiscences" cannot forget the strik-
ing passage in which the famous teacher
looks back to the little church of his
boyhood, which. though severely simple
in its appointments aud services. was
grander and more sacred in his eyes
than any cathedral, because within it's
bare walls was sown all that was best in
his life.
In the days when the Importance of
public worship is minimized, it is we'll
to be reminded of the influence of the
congregation not only upon human prog
ress. but also upon the culture of the
common spiritual life. We sometimes
hear people whose Incidence and selfish.
ness keep them at home. argue that they
are as we'll occupied at their own fire.
sides on the Sabbath day as they would
in Gods house. That cannot be true,
since God has enioined his people not to
forsake the assembling of themselves
together. In the sanctury special bless
ings are offered which must be lost to
those who neglect public worship. The
testimony of all saints is unanimous on
the point that the blessing they get
along with hundreds of others is far
more plentiful and soul-refreshing than
what they get alone. II shower of fall
ing rain falls only on you. it would give
you some refreshment no doubt; but if
at the same time it saturates the ground
all about you, and makes every blade of
grass and every tree in your neighbor-
hood drop with moisture, the refreshing