The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-04-20
ls2i-ieee.
DIR. BIanchard's Sermon at Congress
Square Church.

Rev. DR.. Blanchard prea ohed sermon
yesterday morning at Congress Square
ohur CHI on 1.-THE Progress of Universe.
lism from 1921 to 1885, in oommemora-
ton of the 18th anniversary of the orga.
nization of the society.
A very large congregation was
present.. The text was taken
from Deuteronomy xxi chapter,
7sh verse; Remember the days of old.
consider the years of many generations
ask thy father and he will show thee
thy elders and they will tell thee.'
DR.. Blanchard spoke substantially az
fellows:
On the 18th of April, 1921, the FRS,
| UniVersalist Society in Portland was or
2anlzed AS yesterday was not a con-
venlent day for oommemoration, the ser.
vices OF This morning and of Tuesday
next Will celebrate that event. 1t is good
TO look back into the past; to remem Der
the Gays OF old; to ask the fathers and
etdeIs what they achieved. 1t Is good tic
mink OF the unity and prosperity of the
Present; to look forward into the future
With q ounding hope.
II 1871 Maine had been state for
OILY single Year. In 1921 Portland had
0nly about 5000 Inhabitants. In 1900
lhere were only about 80 UniversahsU
o!ergymen in al the United States and
d 'o"t as many sooieties In Maine there
WAS only one Dnivtrsalist Clergyman
hev. Thomas Barns living i'll Poland
ana supporting hilnself by his farm.
a ii incident Will illus rata the times. A
jouhR nan U; brilliant promise became
.llsana. Kept under restraint awhile,
te "as hfterWa ards allowed large freedom.
o'ie uay he hung himself in the barn.
lie disoonsnla,e father went to see his
Cobsie gatlonatlst pastor: Il know not
ct u"e ORD of consolation for you in the
en&p"i, and ihy feelings will not allow
~ TO preach as uuty would require on
uo.. an o5casion." "What shall do?''
ssl.l the agoniz0d father. $50 and sue
IS oGaer - in tha town ------. He
Is comparative stranger to you and
your family 10 him then, went the
.;tther, but he to-, refused, and recon-
il ist. II there che text, one word of con-
ISOLATION tor you N the Bible, he will
Alu 1t y 10 him the father sadly went
and made known his request. Gladly
diu Nil. Barns comply. frsaehlng in the
Cong regatiOnalist church, he look the
lext,l Corinthians, Two therefore judge
10 hing before the time, until the Lord
| fUll1fs, WIZ EOtn W III uEIuE " llSut UiIo
hlddeu thipg.- OF darkness, and will
make manifest the councils of The hearts
ana ;hen shall every man have praise OF
God f" scarcely had the text heen pro-
| nounced W hen tie aged orthodox pastor
clipped his hands in ecstacy, crying
aloEd: Hes got il, he's got it. the very
text of all the Bible fer the occasion !"
All men and women sitting in these
lews to-day, you cannot undt rstand the
misery of those days.
| Dr.. Blanchard then proceeded to show
the rroRrsss of UniVersalism In ecclesi-
astical organization, in educational insti-
tutions i'll charge of doctrines, and in
charge of spirit
From 1893 when the Eastern Assooia-
ton wns formed of little companies of
believers in Norway, New Gloucester,
Gray and Falmouth, to 1865 when the
General Convention, as it now exists,
was organized, the way WAS long, the
steps difficult towards better organiza-
tion. A good one now exists. 1t can
be well used. Cniversalists should be
loyal to it.
n 1914 the Nichols Academy was es-
tablished in Massachusetts. Then came
ths Clinton Liberal Institute in New
York and Westbrook Seminary in Maine
Now the denomination has Tufts College
in Massachusetts,, St. Lawrence Univer-
sity in New York, Buohtel College in
Ohio, Lombard University In Illinois
Tufts Divinity came latsr. The speaker
praised it very highly and also Canton
Theological School. he eulogized very
warmly the present Universalist minis
try.
The speaker then dwelt at length on
the change Of doctrines. The great change
from Trinnitarsim tot Unitarianism oc-
CURED before 1921. Hosea Ballou was a
Unitarian in 1875. He converted nearly
all the ministry and laity to his Unitari-
an faith.
By this time the so-called "Death and
Glory Universalism, was the prevailing
belief. Hosea Ballou could find no
word in the Scriptures concerning sin
in the hereafter. He refused therefore
to preach that there would be punish
ment'in the future. But this system was
opposed BY Drs Sawyer, Chaplin, Brooks
and others. The Restorationist party arose.
Now the denomination emphaszies fur
ture punishment. Rev. Russell Streeter,
first pastor Of this church, believed and
preached this doctrine.
Then came change of opinion concern
ing the Scripture and the nature OF
Jesus. The very great minority believed
that the Scriptures are only literature
and accept the teachings of the Higher
Criticism. The majority now believe in
the natural birth of Jesus.
In later years, the doctrine of eternal
consequence is urged. There will DO
final holiness and happiness for all, but
the largeness or the littlsness of life in
the other world Will be largely deter
mined by what men do in this. 1t is q
solemn doctrine. Last of all, the chang
es. The speaker dwelt on the change of
spirit. In former days the denomination
was in strong antagonism to other de-
nominations. Today it has fraternal ap-
probation of the reasons for opposing
doctrines. 1t believes that the other de-
nominations do noA understand the ma
ture of the Scriptures. 1t is profoundly
convinced TINT they do not wisely inter
pref these. But since the object Of all
preaching is to make men like Christ,
it holds doctrines and denominations in
respect, however strongly it differs from
them. To gain this great end of preach
ing, 1t would gladly unite with other
bodies, but 1t does not wonder that diff
ferences of belief keep these aloof. 1t
values its own doctrines because 1T be-
lieves they are best fitted to bring men
to Christ, to make them love God and
man and reveal the true greatness of
the Scriptures.
This church then, ioyously celebrates
its 7t5h anniversary. 1t sees the faces
of it's noble founders. 1t glories In the
great company of it's helpers in these
Vanished wong Tt xrs.ba. IL