The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-06-13

glory that belongs to them. In these
days when the world is making Sc
much noise over the Thomases
Swings, and Vroomans, let us mo-
forget the men who made the latter
day heretics possible.
Down in the Keystone State there
is one of the most historic spots Oh
the globe. tits rocky ridge crowned
by a clump of laurel trees. 1t i:
known as the high water mark of the
Rebellion. There, by their clumI
of trees, thirty years ago, the
great secession. we've arose crested
with destruction. 1t was an awful
spectacle-awful in its own horrid
front, more awful still in what il
threatened! Then it rose, pausinR
4 for a moment, as if taking to itself
fresh energy before making the final
plunge. But, as all the world knows
the plunge did not take place.
Like tempest, the patriotism Of
the men along that famous ridge
bore down on that wave and drove
it back. 1t struck the rock, and the
rock broke it into fragments and froth
and scattered it to the winds. Pick
ett's charge was repulsed, and with
that the rebellion was practically
crushed. The star of revolt began
to go down, and already Lee was
preparing to sheath his sword. Now
| feel perfectly safe in saying to you
that we have repulsed the Pickett's
charge of the damnation hosts. We
have captured the leader, the rank
and file will soon lay down their
arms. Truth always works from the
top down-never from the bottom
upward
And let us rejoice that such is the
case. We say, sometimes, of our or
thodox brethren, that they are steal
ing our thunder. Well, it is what
we should wish them to do. What
if they do not call it Universalism?
We cannot afford to quarrel over
names
But as every intelligent friend of
our church knows, Universalism is
far more than the denial of the idea
of eternal punishment. 1t is an all
round philosophy. 1t is the doctrine
that the universe is founded upon,
and is being operated according to
the principle of equity and goodness.
1t is the affirmation that, structurally,
organically, and fundamentally, the
universe is a good thing. The thing
we call evil is good in the making.
The sour in the green apple will be
sugar when the green apple becomes
the ripened one. Sin is the result not
of innate and irremediable depravity.
1t is, rather, incidental to progress;
when the progress shall have reached
certain stage, the sin will have be-
come something else.
From this it follows that the only
lasting thing is goodness, and that
he who invests in anything else than
goodness is playing losing game.
Putting all higher considerations
aside, it may be affirmed that it is not
profitable to do wrong. In the long
run, the wrong deed turns out to be
bad investment. Do wrong and
the universe is against you.
On the other hand, every good man
is working with the eternal goodness;
the whole universe is with him, and
all things conspire for his assistance.
The heavens smile upon him, and the
very grass roots stir in sympathy with
him! Aud this better thing must ulti-
mately win. The divine order must
assert itself universally. Love will
be more potent than hatred. God
will save his glory, and his glory is
in his goodness"
Then, it is the mission of our
church to proclaim these great prin-
ciples to all men-that the only good
thing is goodness; and that the only
noble, lasting, and permanently sue
cessful life is the one that is built
upon and made beautiful by that
goodness. Goodness = character =
that is the one thing needful-that
is the thing we are to preach to men.
If it is fact, as it seems to be, that
we have driven off the ancient fear of
the eternal future hell, what does
it mean? l will try to tell you.
During the battle of Antietam Hooker
ordered a charge-a charge upon
which great deal depended. The
men sprang to the work with royal
good will; but all at once their pro-
gress was stayed and it was evident
that the line was on the eve of a panic.
What was the matter? Why their
flank was being attacked by the
| o,,o,,r onJ bonoa tho non fucion