The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-03-14

them to do so, and we would tell them
that a life spent in Gods service
brings its own reward. Wedo not need
to lock into the future world for our
reward for life we'll spent though
we doubt not we shall receive it then
also-but we have it right here. We
claim that belief in the doctrine of
Universalism has tendency to make
people better.
| think it is not commonly known
that Clara Barton, often called the
angel of the Red Cross m issioD, is
Universalist. She is member of the
Universalist church in Washington,
DC. 81 go" said she as she left for
the scenes of the Armenian massacres,
II go to feed the hungry, be they
Mohammedan or Christian" In her
sight all are Gods children of what
ever creed or nation and she would
alleviate their sufferings.
But to return to the discourse I'M
der consideration. Mr.. Stokesbury
said,' Why did God send his Son into
the world if it could be saved without
Christ" in that way, implying that
Universalists do not believe in the
need of Christ as the Saviour of the
world. All who understand Univer-
salism know how great stress we
place on Christ as the Saviour of the
world. Belief in Christ is with us an
essential ground for salvation, but
we believe in him as the Saviour OF
all-that sometime in time or in eter-
nifty all will come to Christ. for the
Bible tells us, LAS in Adam all die,
even SO in Christ shall all be made
ALI e."
At this point in the discourse in
some way lost the connection. The
next two sentences that have copied
in my notes are these: "Quit prais-
ing God and bestow it on the devil"
and "Kick the devil out of the back
door," l have forgotten in just what
connection these statements were
used, but in reference to the latter I
think we, as Universalists, were &C
cused of kicking the devil out the
back door. That is just what we wish
to do with him and that is what the
Bible does with him metaphorically.
would say in this connection, we do
not believe in personal devil. We
think the fact of mans animal nature
being so closely connected with his
spiritual, is sufficient to account for
all his sin and wickedness. Perhaps
it would be we'll for us to take up
this subject some time in the near
future, that you may know our belief
in regard to the devil, but whatever
he may be supposed to be, the Bible
teaches us that he and his works
shall be destroyed, go we think we
have right to kick him out the back
door-we do not wish to harbor any
such parsonage.
Again, Mr.. Stokesbury remarked
that Universalists were always saying
that according to popular belief in
heaven and hell, it would not be pos
sible for those in heaven to be happy
because of the suffering in hell. He
said he had heard them say, "they
would have to pull down the blinds"
that according to this belief there
had been no JOY in heaven for six
thousand years because of the suffer
ing on this earth, nor would there be
anything but wringing of hands for
thousands of years to come. This,
however, seems to me very faulty
conclusion. | can conceive how we
might be happy in heaven and know
of the suffering on this earth, know
ing that it was only temporary, and
an eternity of bliss was to follow.
Very different would it be to know
that our friends were to suffer ever
lasting anguish that when they had
suffered million years they were no
nearer the end than in the beginning.
Again, by referring to my notes, |
find our friend said: poor deluded
folks do not believe in God worse
than themselves" Surely we, poor
deluded folks though we may be in
the opinion of our Methodist breth-
rem, do not believe in God worse
than ourselves. We could not worship
such being; we believe in one
great deal better. The Bible tells us
to love our enemies, do good to
them that hate us, and pray for
them that despitefully use us and
prosecute us. Why? That we may
be the children of our Father who is
in heaven-that we may be like unto
him. We are commanded to forgive
not only seven times, but seventy
times seven. The dear Saviour, while
on the cross, enduring all the agony
of crucifxion, did he ask his Father