The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-10-23
THE UNIvERSALIsTS.
The PrOceedin gs Of the Conference
Closed Thursday.

S~
An Interesting Paper and Discussion In the
Forenoon on Methods of Promoting
SocieI Purity.
The third day of the Universaiist Con-
ference Of the New England churches,
began wit more smiling skies than
have hitherto greeted the delegates.
After the usual devotional service Rev.
Fife K. Jones, of Barre, Vt, iuade the
first address of the morning "The Church
in Social Publication. Mrs. Jones' is a
charming speaker, and the first woman
to speak TO this conference from the
platform, although Rev. Ada G. Bolles
spoke in previous days discussion.
Rev. Mrs Jones said that with the
progress of society there had come new
way of regarding the mission of the
church. The old idea that it was simply
Choking office for Heaven" was slowly
giving way, and now the idea is gain
ing rapidly that the mission OF the
mitigate the present evils which sur
round mankind. A few individuals here
and there are not alone to be made per-
feet, but all Human society is to he
purgsd. Being convinced that the goal
of human society is purity and perfect
agencies by which this end is to be at
tanned.
Christianity came into the world when
truth and virtue had well nigh disap-
peared. Humanity was seething with
distrust and despair. Art and pastime
were corrupt. The family had deterior-
ated. But the Christian IDEA worked a
great reform. Family life was purified
Vice began to stink into secret places
When the early Christian spirit gave way
to the spirit of theology, something of
the high standard was lost. But the
church has always had within itself the
means OF reform. The church Kept alive
the ideas of righteousness and purity,
when the rest Of the world were forget
ting them and whenever it fell away
itself. there were men like Hildebrand
and Luther to point the way to paths
of purity.
The tide OF Christian love and brother
hood has worked through many agencies
Howard, Wilbsrforce, and many others,
have dealt hercuIsan blows at the evils
of society. The overthrow of slavery
throughout the British empire has been
attributed to the work OF the Christian
Church.
Many OF the abuses which flourished at
the beginning of Christianity, have dis
appeared. But our civilization. today is
yet long way from complete salvation.
Our present methods of reform are
bic societies, soup kitchens, do only a
partial work. They snatch only here and
there one. We simply alleviate. The
part of wisdo.. is not 10 save one while
many go down, but to hold them back
until the gulf itself shall disappear.
Some think legislation the great pana.
osa. True legislation may do much, but
1t cannot reach the motives. Educational
methods are another great msthod OF
getting at the internal trouble. Scien-
tsfc temperance instruction in the
schools is q method which is much III
favor and Ia doing good.
Another method, deemed by some t he
only legitimate method of church work,
is the holding up the vision of the ideal
manhood before mankind. The church
may find in this it's glorious, noble field
of effort. Argument will not save a
man. You may convince him but be
will be of his own mind still. But when
he has seen thu vision, he will be moved
as argument never could move him.
Rev. DIR. Patterson, of RoxDury. Mass,
said that the proceedings of the conven-
ton might give the idea that the church
itssf, it's upbuilding and its majesty,
Was the end The address just given had
recalled the true idea that the church
was simply the means. He cared not to
build up church simply that it might
appear on dress parade, but wanted one
thas would go out into the world and
give battle to the forces of evil.
Rev. F. W. Hamilton, Of Roxbury,
Mass, made the point that all such social
questions were personal questions.
Soeisty is never at any time better than
the individuals that compose it. And
this condition being understood, it will
he saen how she great efficiency of thu
church as means of reform comes in.
The socialists make a mistake in trying
to deal. with society in mass They
get the cart before the horse. Washing
ton GLADDEN. says thut before Eve can
have cooperative society we must have
cooperative man. The church is making
the cooperative man.
Rsg. Mr.. Afford, OF Kinafeld. told
how a minister in his county had gone