News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1896-08-06
The unlversallst Church.

| UniveTsallst pulpit last Sunday. The
subject of the sermon was The pres
ent need of Universalism, the text
being Romans 1:16.
Universalism is regarded by many
people of the present as an out-of-
date religion. This view was pointed
ly expressedin New York City paper
of recent issue. The writer of the
article alluded to commented upon
the fact that the Young Peoples
Christian Union of the Universalist
church and the Christian Endeavor
of the orthodox churches were holding
their national conventions simnl-
taneOusly. After speaking of the
antagonisms formerly existing be-
tween the churches represented in the
two bodies, and their present har-
monious relations, he said that the
Universalist church is an example of
the persistency of an organization
when the reason for it had passed
away"
To suppose that the Universalist
Church will have nothing to do when
the doctrines of endless punishment
and partial salvation are no longer
taught in the orthodox churches, is
simply to miss the mission of the Uni
versalist church altogether. Just so
long as there is human soul which
has not heard and needed the mes
sage Of salvation, so long there is
work for US to do. When we need not
divert our efforts and enthusiasms to
repudiate the teachings of endless
evil, we can use all our energies with
singleness of purpose, in the work of
building men up in Christian life and
character. We yet have need of a
faith which is ga power of God unto
salvation"
Christian missions everywhere need
this great faith. Even now it is most
of all charitablelove of man as man,
a faith in the intrinsic worth of the
human soul, a heartfelt compassion
for Gods children who are shrouded
in moral and spiritual ignorance,
which moves the brave and conse-
Grated men and women to light the
altar fires of Christianity in so many
dark places of the earth. 1t is the
warmth and love of the belief in
Gods universal Fatherhood, that
" His tender mercies are over all His
works" which touches the souls of
men and makes them yearn to seek
and to save men everywhere.
This faith is needed in all the great
relief and charity movements of the
world to give them that inspiration
which alone can make them effective
and worthy the name of Christian
philanthropy. The word philan-
thorpy means love for man, universal
benevolence, that is the spirit of our
faith. Never to despair of any, never
to give up any as lost beyond re-
claiming, never to lose faith in the
power of high and pure influences,
never to cease calling men children of
God, and telling them that because
they are children of God they should
live as He would have them-these
are the grand thoughts which are in
spring the great mind and heart of
modern philanthropy.
Our faith is needed to bring men to
God. 1t is needed by those who are
struggling toward the light.
It is far nobler to try to save men
from the actual bells of this world,
than from the fancied hell of the next.
There is work for every earnest soul
and willing hand, work here and now
The great attractive forces of truth,
righteousness, love to God and man,
these we use to win mems souls into
Gods kingdom.
Those who would aid man in his
upward struggle need the inspiration
of this faith. The truth of the final
triumph of good over evil in the indi-
vidual, as we'll as in the universe, fur
nishes a mighty motive power to the
christian minister. We feel sure that
there is something in every soul that
for it's own sake is worth culture and
development. We work for them be-
cause they are capable of something
better. Some day the least and low
est creature who bears the Divine
image, blurred and marred though it
be, shall be brought to holiness and
Joy of the Fathers house and pres
ence.
That thought gives us untold
courage to toll and suffer for strug-
Cling humanity, for we know that
our labor is not in vain in the Lord
Finally, the greatest need of the
Universalist faith is in the daily con-
duct of each individual. 1t is q
"power of God" to help and bless
man in the everyday of life. 1t is a
good faith to live by or to die by, q
good faith to work by or play by, to
rejoice by or sorrow by. 1t calls US
to lives of virtue, it teaches us to de
spise evil, it fills us with courage fol-
the overthrow of every wrong. Uni
versalism is field to be cultivated
in which the soul is to be plougheC
and narrowed and in which seed is tc
be sown that by and by we may real
the grain of eternal life.
1t is banner to be borne aloft il
the battle of life showing us the rally
ing place, and waving us on to 6
glorious victory when il shall foat
over every battlement of sin, tn,
token of the triumph of the forces o
righteousness.