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

The mightiest force in the world to-
day for the breaking down of ancient
limitations, false systems of thought,
oppressive standards and practices,
and reforming life and society in
accord with vaster and finer human
needs, lies in the awakened souls of
the people who cherish the message
that comes down the centuries from
the man of Galilee, aye are children
of the Father in Heaven"
BY every native spiritual instinct
the people are Christ's. Because of
their very limitations they need him
and greatly understand him. Go to
them, not with your speculations and
theologizings, but with the simple
figure of the great peoples man in
your heart, and, breathing through
your words, the spirit that ever cham
pioned their cause, and there is not a
modern multitude that will not re-
spond with a spontaneous whole
someness and simple profundity
which will prove that faith is still to
be found on the earth.
Through the zeal of capable
leadership and the earnestness of
the true-hearted people, Christianity
comes to make new conquests in each
generation. Its power is not in
things but in men. 1t insists upon
retaining all the subtle and elusive
quality of spirit. 1t goes wherever
men go, and touches with trans
forming finger whatever they have to
do with. Try to imprison it even in
what it has glorified and it resents
your grasp as insult. It says to all
the departments and institutions of
human life, "Ye are mine but l am
not yours; l will make you glow with
my spirit and energy, and will stay
with you while ye labor for my
ends, but ye must not seek to confine
me-"
"Lo, l will make art Christian,
and the canvass and marble shall
embody purity and truth, let them
treat of what they may. will enter
into the printers type and they
shall arrange themselves in lines of
virtue and power, fostering nobility
and justice in man. Twill enter into
your legislative halls and courts of
justice and they shall frame righte-
BUSINESS into law and parcel out hui
name fairness. l will become part
ner in business, cleanse it of trickery,
curb the unscrupulousness of the
heartless monopolist Get, call in the
regulative power of the humane
Help and the broad genius of Co.
operative. The realm of political
action may know me, and if l come
there, will put cool band upon
the overhot brow of partisanship and
make conviction tolerant. Hatred and
corruption shall be driven out of the
temple of Liberty as were the money
changers from the temple at Jerusa-
lem. l will become student in the
schools of science and halls of learn
ing, and confirm the spirit of fear
less fairness and reverent research.
| will take up my abode in the
church, and the creeds of hate and
fear shall shrivel like parchment in
the fire; for the zeal of proselytism
shall come up the spirit of brotherly
sympathy; and instead of the pride
of wealth, the ostentation of rank
and the boastfulness of intellect
shall flourish the spirit of humility
before God and love that can reach
down without condescending, that
can pity without despising, and bless
without awaking aught but the glad
ness of grateful affection. For l
came not to destroy the human life,
but to fill it full of divineness, that
the earth and its abundance, and the
world and its way, may all, all be
the Lords"