The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-10-10
CHRISTIAN UNION ADDRESS,
"Testing the Faith"
BY REV. t. b. II. FISHER,
HooPEsToN, ILL.

Young feOple CnrlSlldn Onloh anu
of this work l am glad to speak.
It is to my mind the most delight
full and the most encouraging ele-
ment of the young peoples move
ment. In these devotional exercises
the young people are not only realiz-
ing great benefit and joy themselves,
but are ensuring the future efficiency
of our denomination. Seeing this
spiritual culture among them we
have a reasonable hope that there
will be sustained strong, progress
sive Universalist Church; and so low
ing our church it is but natural that
we should rejoice in this religious de-
velopment of our young people. And
that such spiritual realization is the
stay of our church it is especially
easy now to demonstrate. We as
one body and as separate congrega-
tions are now passing through finan-
cial difficulties more or less severe.
We expect in the end to overcome
these difficulties, and be the stronger
and the wiser for the effort, but in
the meantime we see everywhere,
and especially in our respective
parishes, the fidelity of our people
put to the test. We are in the midst
of conditions that are sitting out the
Indifferent and bringing the loyal to
the front. The ship is tested by the
storm. Temptation and trial reveals
the man; difficulty is ever the touch
stone of discipleship, and SO we note
now particularly those who stand by
and lift. and those who fall back and
complain; those of the parish who
elate you by saying our church" and
those who depress you by guardedly
ly inquiring after "the," or your
church" We see, therefore, where the
real life and power of our church lie.
1t is with those who stand by; those
who are always on hand; those who
without waiting to be asked press
forward, eager, glad to do their utmost
whether it be much or little. Present
difficulties make it very plain that
the real strength of our church is
never more than the strength of these
faithful ones. Upon this alone can we
build in security; in this is all our
hope. Naturally, then, we ask, What
is the secret of their fidelity? that it
may be taught to others, and so our
sure foundations be widened for
larger temple, and one that will en-
dure? And what is the secret? Who
are those most faithful ones in our
parishes upon whom we have learned
to depend in time of need, and
whose numbers must be increased
ere ever we can do larger works
Well, as rule they are not the ones
who say, 81 guess l am as much of
Universalist as anything" for when
it comes to the pinch, such people
generally prefer not to be anything.
And fidelity is not always with
those who can talk loudest against
everlasting torment and orthodox by
pocracy, nor with those who compla-
Gently believe that all will eventually
be saved, but have never caught the
faintest glimpse of hoaC it is to be
done. These are not the ones upon
whom we depend most for constant
attendance, regular giving, hearty CO
operation in the real life of the
these are not the ones we
turn to first in crisis. But the faith
full ones to whom we would turn, the
faithful ones who to the very last
do gladly stand by the church, these
faithful ones for whose army we
would seek to train recruits, are of
quite a different class. How shall
we characterize them? Is not this gen.
orally the truth about them7-they
are those who have fallen in love with
our faith; the great truths we profess
are no longer to them mere matters of
pleasant speculation. but at last have
been received into their very lives.
Our Christian doctrine is become their
daily food, their daily strength and
Joy. They walk by its word; they
Judge and determine by its asser-
tions; they hope by its promises. In
short, they live by our faith, and they
love it; love it for its reasonable
ness, love it for its large assurances,
love it as an almighty potency for
good over all, and whenever we find
people who are thus putting our
Christian doctrines to daily use and
realizing somewhat their complete
efficiency, there we find the people
who cannot be driven from our cause,
even by the darkest and most pro-
longed encouragement. These are
the friends, loyal and true, who, as the
need increases, draw closer to the
church. Such friends are ever zeal
80 - s,stain Our faith hefore the