The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-10-31
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 81.
EDITORIAL.
The Western Conference.
OAK PARK, OCT. 2O-22.

The series of meetings ARA nged
for the Western District Conference
of the General Convention began in
Unity Church, Oak Park, ILL.,, on
Tuesday evening, October 20. This
service was Introductory to the more
formal services of the Conference
which we're held on Wednesday and
Thursday. At 8 o'clock the hand
some audience room of the Oak Park
church was we'll filled with a congre-
CATION composed mainly of members
of the local parish and the neighbor-
ing Universalist churches of the city.
The large congregation, with the
representation from the various par
ishes and the presence of twenty five
ministers at the opening service gave
promise of a successful Conference.
AS the congregation assembled the
new organ of the church, recently
placed in position, gave forth its
pleasing strains. The pulpit plat
form was decorated with plants and
white chrysanthemums and the COM
munion table was spread for the feast
of love.
The services began with a volun-
tary on the organ, followed by
"Praise God from whom all blessings
flow" the congregation making joy
full melody in the service of praise.
The invocation was given by DIR. A. j.
Garfield. Rev. w. S. Ralph, of Wis
consin, read the 18th chapter of Mark
and Rev. J. M. Getchell, of Iowa, Of
fered fervent prayer. "All hail the
power of Jesus name" was sung by
choir and congregation, and the Oc-
casional Sermon followed, Rev. DIR.
Garfield the preacher. Although
suffering from a severe cold, the
speaker interested and held his audi
ence from beginning to end and
many passages of the discourse were
given with his usual vigor and elo-
quence. The outline which follows
is only the shadow of the impressive
and appropriate discourse:
DIR. CANFIELD'S SERMON.
Faint Outline of Leading Thoughts.
DR.. Canfield's Occasional Sermon on
7 tuesday, evening lad for it's text. Mark
XII. II: Render unto Cesar the things
that are Caesars and unto God the
things that are Gods" Those who
are thinking of the politics of the
day may find herein a suggestion
of a double standard" and some
might consider Jesus answer in the
nature of an evasion. But when we
look deep enough into the text we will
find that Jesus did answer the question
addressed to him in thorough manner.
The tax of Caesar was the price of the
past indifference of the nation. Natl
onal prosperity could not be regained by
national obligations. There
fore loyalty to legitimate authority was
enjoined. The things that were Caesars
were to be conceded.
But the road to permanent social pros
perity lies far deeper than this. Its sign
post is, Render to God the things that
are Code" What are the image and su-
OF GodY Genesis tells us;
Let us make man in our own image
This image of God in man is to be pre-
served. Jesus parable of the lost piece
OF silver and the other seeking and
searching parallels Of the New Tesla
ment attest the value Of humanity and
the purpose of God and Christ to seek
and to save to the uttermost. The things
that are Gods are above all things else
in value; hearts stamped with his image
and souls created in his likeness are
owned and claimed as his.
Both national and individual pros.
perity depend upon obeying the injunc'
ton of Jesus. BY the soul only can ma
tions be great and prosperous.
Having thus glanced at the separate
clauses Of our text, we bring them to-
gether again. Cesarism stands for hu-
man organization. God is spirit. When
the divine spirit works through per
feet human organism, we have the ut
most possible social energy or enthusi-
asm.
For little time it was 30 in the early
church. which grew by personal contact
from local and independent centres
into the most powerful organism which
the world has ever seen. During the
middle ages the strength Of Christianity
was it's supposed ability to work mira
Giles, and thus to control superna-
turGI intervention. Religion became a