The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-05-09
UNIvERsALIsT PROFESSION OF FAITH.
ADOPTED 1903.
SATURDAY, MAY 9.
EDITORIAL.

Lie may meeting week the program for
IN Uhloago' the May meeting of
the Illinois Woman's Association, begin
ming on the 9th inst at the Church of
the Redeemer in this city. "These mid
year meetings" says the Secretary Whose
words we again print were instituted
by this Association to develop more of
the missionary spirit, to give greater
impetus to Church Extension, in fact to
confer and discuss with each other all
matters of vital importance to our
Church. At the last May meeting it was
deemed best to extend our work still
more; the policy of this Association hav-
ing always been to recognize all factors
that tend to promote the advancement
and elevation of our denomination;
therefore the league of the Universalist
Woman's Association of Illinois was
started, which gives an opportunity for
those interested in educational, liter
airy and social aims to work with us, and
thus aid in extending and promoting
the best interests of our cause" We
trust that our friends in all parts of the
State will be represented at this meet
ing. Heretofore the May meetings have
been very happy occasions and have we'll
repaid attendance. There is no reason
why the meeting of this year may not
prove as pleasant and profitable as any
of the series. Let our Illinois readers
note the time and place and make ar.
rangements for attendance. Help those
women who labor for the Gospel"
SOS
The quadrennial Con
The Methodlsts ference of the Metho-
IN Conference dist Episcopal Church
convened in Cleveland, on Friday, May
]. AS noticed last week this Confer
ence will have the woman problem ION
its hands" The roll call on the first day
revealed the presence of four women
delegates, and they we're duly seated.
Their eligibility was formally challenged,
as was expected, by DR.. Buckley, the
leader of those opposed to the admission
of women, and resolution was adopted
providing for the appointment OF COM
mittee to investigate the question.
motion that pending the organization
of the body the admission OF women del
egates be held in allegiance was laid on
the table "by an overwhelming major
ity." 1t is clear that this question OF
eligibility of women as delegates will
not be regarded as settled by the mega
tive vote of the local conferences and
that the General Conference at this SEES.
sion will have to deal with the trouble
some question and adiudicate it in a
satisfactory manner, Notwithstanding
that the conferences have pronounced
against the admission Of women. Popu-
lar sentiment ia in favor of the women,
and -four years more" is too long to wait
for the contamination of the desired re-
form. We may expect some lively times
at Cleveland before the discussion is
closed.
In a recent sermon
The Materialistic Rev. Dr. Frank Crane
Philosophy of this city, in few
pungent sentences describes the phil
osophy Of materialism in admirable
style. 1t was Thomas Carlyle who desig-
mated materialsm, dirt philosophy" Mr..
Cranes sermon was entitled Mud Gods,'
evidently an improvement on Carlyle.
The resume which is presented OF ma
terialism ie quite accurate and every
sentence might be proftably expanded
into columns. 1.-THE materialistic phil
osophy of these times" remarked the
preacher, builds its structure upon the
seen. AS it's automatic basis it insists
that nothing must be believed except
upon the evidence of the senses. All the
phenomena of religion and emotion are
but aspects and motions Of matter.
Conscience is the accrued caution of
foregoing generations. Worship is a
modified form of superstition, and SUI
perstition is a modification OF fear, and
fear a peculiar nervous rigor occurring
under given physical conditions. Pa
triotism, honor, virtue. benevolence, all
are in the same category as chills and
fever, dyspepsia, hypochondria and in
sanity.
This whole system OF belief rests upon
the assumption that as a matter Of
course the things seen are real and the
things not seen are doubtful. This fun
damental proposition Christianity fatty
denies. Materialism holds that the uni.