The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-07-25

practical Preaching"
(The Watchman.)
The demand for practical" preaching
is often construed as If it meant ethical
preaching" That is a great mistake.
The Outlook is right when it says that
practical preaching is preaching with an
object. Congregations want sermons
with an aim.
Profit Sharing and Matrimony.
christian Register.)
A firm in London has not only adopted
the proft-sharing system, but each girl
worker in the establishment receives a
dowry of EOS [about $460] on leaving to
be married. This has led to a great
many marriages, and is proving severe
strain upon the fund set apart for that
purpose.
Regeneration and Conversion.
Sunday School Times.)
Regeneration" and conversion as
those terms are used in the Bible, are
two entirely different words; yet they are
often confounded with each other. Re
generation" is Gods work. We have no
responsibility for it. Conversion" is
our work. We are responsible for it.
Regeneration" is the new birth of our
spiritual nature. Conversion" is our
turning about at Gods call
About Amateur Christians
brethren Eva ngelist)
The world is suffering from amateur
Christians, who have not the courage of
their convictions, and live on the edge of
the kingdom, when they should revel in
its profound privileges and busy service.
They have only enough religion to make
them miserable, when larger grasp of
it would make them happy and great,
They skirt the shore and live among the
breakers, afraid to take the deep water,
where their only safety lies.
Vacations and Personal Religion
1.-The Evangelist.)
For the purposes of personal religion
short vacations are beyond price. The
religion Of summer is the religion of
youth. The stars of the summer night
tell the old story of our hottest VOWS, our
purest affections. Their appeal is like
the eyes that once looked tenderly into
ours, but now are dust. Their watch
over us is that of parental love. Their
lesson to the uplooking soul is holy
evangel. That the summers of our life
should be forevermore sacred, they must
not be profaned by unworthy uses or un-
congenial associations.
Spirit of Christian Service.
(Congrega ionalst)
What matters the spirit in which
work be done, if only it be done?" so say
some now and then. But watch them a
little while in their relations with others.
When they are become employers or
uperintendents, instead of underworld
ers they feel and speak differently. The
spirit makes a great difference. especially
in certain sorts of service. 1t is peculi-
arly vital element Of Christian service.
God cares much more for the spirit than
for the form of our work for him, and in
a large measure the work itself is given
us to be done in order to afford oppor.
tunity for the cultivation of a right
spirit.
Glimmerings of Future Life.
This phrase has lately been applied
by scientific investigator of great abil-
ity, in the title of widely read article,
to certain cases of alleged communica.
ton from departed spirits. The phrase
seems to imply that il such evidence
could be made less glimmering, the flu
ture life would be LUMINOSITY proved.
In our view this is utterly fallacious.
The future life is already certified by
evidence of a rational and moral kind
with as much adequacy as the scientific
doctrines of gravitation and evolution.
The current skepticism about immor-
tality is quite at fault in fancying that
any kind of physical evidence to the
senses. could it be had, would establish
it more conclusively.
The Deceased Wife's Sister Bill.
(Chrlstan Work.
The present bill lin the House Of
Lords) differs from its predecessors in
providing that the marriag rendered
valid by the proposed act shall not be
solemnized by any clergyman of the
Church of England. The purpose of
this provision is to relieve such clergy
men from the burden of exercising an
option in the matter. Hence should the
bill become a law those desiring to profit
by it will have to have their marriage
solemnized either by nonconformist
minister or by registrar. The whole
matter illustrates how strongly prece-
dent is entrenched in England. and how
difficult it is in that country to loosen
the bonds of centuries, however absurd
and restrictive they may be.
Bazaar and Parish Entertainments.
(rhe Churchman.)
The question Of bazaars and parish
entertainments is one which becomes
much in evidence during the summer.