The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-07-31
HOW I BECAME A UNIVER-
SALIST.
BY MISS E. H MOON.
Read before the W. G. 7. u. of Dills-
boro, n. G.

@SSSSSSsSSSS SsSSeSSSaSSssS
Your president has asked me to tell
you how became Universalist.
The first mention l ever heard of
Universalism was when Twas a school
girl, and my teacher asked me one
day what thought of Universalism.
l replied that 1 knew nothing about
it. Whereupon he said: "Universal-
lists believe that every one will be
saved" l remarked, 81 could never
believe that"
didn't give the subject another
thought for many years.
When in China, as Baptist mis-
sionary, 1 would often see hundreds
and hundreds of natives that l knew,
in all probability, would never hear
the gospel; and as they passed me
on the street the question would
arise, "Can it be that these people are
destined for hell9" / asked one of
the older missionaries what she
thought of it. She replied that she
"just didn't think about it," like
wise tried to put the question out of
my mind.
After four and a half years, ILL
health compelled my return to Amer
lea.
One winter, having an abundance
of leisure, read my Bible more than
usual. In that inspired book l no.
ticed SO many verses that plainly
teach universal salvation. The first
verse that attracted my attention was
Romans v. Is: Therefore as by the
offence of one, judgment came upon
all men to condemnation; even so by
the righteousness of one, the free gift
came upon all men unto justification
of life" Then there are other verses:
"As in Adam all die, even so in Christ
Jesus shall all be made alive" HE
is the Saviour of all, especially of
them that believe" Behold | bring
you good tidings of great joy which
shall be to all people,"
In these verses the salvation of all
was SO plainly taught that l was
forced to believe that those verses
that seemed to teach the contrary had
been misconstrued
l examined the expression sever
lasting punishment" and found that
the Greek word translated sever
lasting" is often used in a limited
sense; in fact, that it never means
without end" unless applied to God
or some of his attributes, or some
thing that in its own nature is with
out ending. The Bible speaks of
Everlasting Mountains and also
speaks of servants as being "bond-
men forever" Here the sense is
clearly limited. Jonah speaking of
his sojourn in the whale, says, "Hell
with her bands was about me for
ever" There the "forever" was of
three days duration. 1t was said that
the priests should "blow with the
trumpets forever" they have long
since quit blowing.
As to the account of Dives and
Lazarus, there is no difficulty about
that. OF coure there is great gulf
between the wicked and the good,
and that gulf will remain fixed so
long as the wicked continue in their
wickedness. But the wicked man
shall cease from his wickedness, for
the Bible says that every knee shall
bow to God, and every one shall say,
SIN the Lord have l righteousness
and strength" Then that gulf is re-
moved and st. Johns vision is con-
summated. In Rev. V. ID, he says,
"And every created thing which is in
the heaven, and on the earth, and
under the earth, and on the sea, and
all things that are in them, heard l
saying, unto him that stitch on the
throne, and unto the Lamb, be the
blessing, and the honor, and the
glory, and the dominion for ever and
ever" Then will holiness and hap.
piness reign supreme throughout the
universe.