The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-07-11

not the Universalist Church grow
more rapidly than it does9
The question is very pertinent
and important one, and deserves con
sideration.s 1t is easy enough, OF
course, to lay the blame on the peo-
pie, to say that if they would think
deeply and seriously, or if they would
act according to their real convictions,
if they would be less influenced by
social or business considerations
they would join our churches. No
doubt there is something in all this. l
am quite prepared to believe that
many people are intellectual towards
and are influenced by unworthy mo-
tives in joining or remaining in
churches whose dogmas they do not
believe. But am equally as strongly
convinced that there are certain de-
fects in our churches which prevent
them from growing, and will continue
to prevent them from growing as
rapidly as they should. 1t is not
pleasant, of course, to point out such
defects. 1t is far more pleasing to
congratulate ourselves-to emphasize
the beauty of our faith and the spread
of our thought and the grandeur OF
our work. But any one who really
believes in our church and wants to
see it grow and prosper will point out
its weakness as we'll as its strength,
not because he wants to criticize, but
rather because he wants to see its de-
feots remedied, so that it may achieve
the conquest which it should achieve.
At any rate, what I shall say in this
paper will not only be an expression
of my sincere convictions, but it will
be said in the hope OF arousing more
enthusiasm for our cause and bene-
fitting our church.
a. The first great need of our
churches, then, is more loyalty on the
part of nominal Universalists to the
church as an institution.
Undoubtedly, there are IN every
parish, even small parishes, few
good people who are enthusiastically
devoted to their church. They are
ready to make any sacrifice and do
any amount of work in order to make
their church a success. These peo-
pie are the salt of the church. With
out them it would die in a very short
time, aud we, the clergy, know full
we'll how much they are worth to us
and to the cause we are working for.
But, while we gladly recognize the
presence of such people in every con-
gregation, yet no one will deny that
there are many more who profess and
call themselves Universalists-whose
names are even on the church records
and the subscription list-who really
care little or nothing for the church
as an institution. They come to
church if they feel like it, but they
don't often "feel like it," They would
Just as soon attend an orthodox
church, especially if its minister hap
pens to be somewhat liberal .. e., if
he only ignores the dogmas of his
church and breaches sentimental or
practical sermons. They would just
as soon send their children to an or
thodox as to Universalist Sunday
school. Indeed, they would almost
prefer to do so, provided they would
thereby get into little better society
than they would by attending the
Universalist Sunday school. In fact,
there is a serious question in the
minds of such people whether the
Universalist Church has not accom-
plished its work and is no longer
needed. "The other churches (they
saw are so liberal that the Universal
ist Church's work is done" II I
could have my way, l would compel
such people to attend the services
and prayer meetings of the orthodox
churches about three times week.
and | feel sure that, at the end of
year, they would need no persuasion
to bring them back to the Universal
ist Church, All their excuses for ne
elect of their church duties are the
result of pure Indifference toreligious
work. Such people don't care to sup
port any church, and they use their
Universalism as an excuse for their
indifference.
But there are others who are not
thus indifferent, who are yet disloyal
to their church. They may have
attended the church for years. They
may have had their children baptized
and brought upin the church. They
may have spent hundreds or thous-
ands of dollars on their church. And
yet they often allow some trife to
ALLEVIATE them from their church.
Perhaps minister happens to be en-
ployed whom they do not like. His
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