The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-01-20
Unitarian.

Unitarian.
Rev. Adelbert L. Hudson preached
yesterday morning in Unity hall upon
"a Business Mans Religion. He first
considered the question which is often
asked, half in jest and half in earnest,
whether a business man can have any
religion, and urged that if we recoS-
nize any vital truth in religion then it
must be in a religion which takes its
place in the very midst of the act1v-
tiles of life and not in religion which
buries itself in the seclusion of the
cloister. That the world has no use
for a religion which finds itself at
home only within the walls OF dim
cathedrals and has no message for the
market place. 1t is not the prayer
meeting saint but the earnest, busy
man of affairs to whom religion must
look for the upbuilding of its forces as
vital power in human life.
He then passed on to consider the es-
sential elements of a business mans
religion. The first requisite, he claimed,
was that it should be a religion of hui
mainly. The average business man
cared little for the building up of
sects. His sympathies reach out into
/ broader fields than mere denomination
al pride For creed and catechism he
has no regard, but he is willing and
/ glad to contribute his share toward
any cause which broadly benefits hui
mainly. In this connection Mr.. Hud-
son commended the action of the Uni
tartan ladies in joining hands with the
workers in the free kindergarten, the
Young Ladies Aid society, the Or
phans' home and other general char
tiles instead of narrowly combining
their efforts within the range of sec
tartan interests.
In the next place a business man s
religion must be honest. Men are not
perfect and he is least so who pretends
to be, But the thOrough-going bust
ness man comes of necessity to hold a
very high regard for integrity and
truth. The whole vast system Cf bust
ness credit rests upon confidence in
the honesty of men. When the bust
ness man turns to religious matters
he demands and has a right to de-
mand q standard of honor at least as
/ high as that required in commercial
transactions, and when he meets, in
stead, insincerity and false pre-.
lenses, he quite naturally turns his
back upon religion and stamps it az
unworthy and dishonest. One otter
hears it asserted that the average bust
ness man is Indifferent to religion. But
l
ference to true religion but deep
seated contempt for can't hypocrisy
and sham. The churches cannot afford
to ignore the deep demand of the bust
ness world for genuineness in religion
They must be willing to stand the tes
of honest inquiry and to prove by ac
lions, as we'll as by professions, theil
substantial worth. sincerity and truth
But with all the rest, a business
mans religion must be practical. L
must have to do with those things
which are vital in this present life
and not with empty speculation as II
some future state of existence. The
average business man has a pretty def
mite opinion that if we carry out il
our daily living those principles which
are adapted to the best god OF hu
mainly in this life we shall thereby bt
making the best possible preparation
for any future life into which we ma!
enter through the door which mel
call death.
But a serious question arises as Il
just what we mean by a practical re
ligion. A man with grievance is yer!
apt to think that it is the province o
religion to right his particular wrong
But religion cannot. in the very ma
ture of things, undertake to settl
specific controversies between men O
parties. Religion, as such, has to d.
with principles. It is the duty of re
ligious bodies to foster true End nobl
principles of living and to stimulate
love for these in the hearts of all
Such bodies should not undertake t.
influence directly the policies of stat
nor to dictate the affairs of individuals
This is not the function of religion.
At the same time religion is not OF
this account a mass of glittering gen
eralities. 1t does not lack in real AM
practical worth for man. For whel
we lift life onto its higher levels TIA
petty incidents will adjust themselves
This is the province of religion-to he'll
men to see life in its Wilderness and it
multiform activities in their true pro
portions; to lift mems minds abov
LIES small distractions and lead then
to eternal principles. A religion whic
can do this is profoundly practical an
Is sure to command the respect an
confidence of practical men.