The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-10-23
Occasional Sermon by Rev. A. q. Rogers, DID,.
:. General Convention, Chicago, 1897.


people of our beloved Zion.
approach this portion of my SER
mon with due regard to the magni-
tude and importance of the work
which yon have entrusted to me.
Shall we close our ears to our weak
nesses as church, Shall we ignore
our difficulties? Our altar fires burn
but dimly. The church is not sepa-
rate enough from the world. Indeed,
it is difficult at times to mark the d.
viding line. If we could look into
some of our churches as God looks
into them, what should we see-gar-
dens full of ripe fruit, or parched and
barren deserts7 What shall the har-
vest be7 Who among us would ven
ture to say that the success of the
Universalist Church is equal to her
opportunity? The church must get
nearer to her Master. Away from
Him, she is like an army cut off from
all supplies and exposed to the first
attack of the invader. There are
some dangers which confront us,
dangers which are real and vital,
and which must more or less hinder
the coming of that spiritual power
we so much need.
We are living in a period of re-
markable activity which must of ne
cessity have its own peculiar difficult
ties. 1t will be manifestly unwise,
whilst rejoicing over its gains and
blessings, to close our eyes to some
attending evils. One need not take
a gloomy view of the present state
of things. Hope is ever our duty,
but we are also bound to look at all
the facts. The greater opportunity
is the greater danger, and therefore
there is call for renewed vigilance.
In abiding to some of the present
day perils that beset us as church,
do so with the prayerful desire to
inspire the resolutions and call forth
the energy of strong men. The tide
of progress can not be turned. Pos
sessing, as we trust, faith in the
living Christ, and in the truth as il
is in Him, we are not troubled with
doubts as to the ultimate issue. Be-
lieving that God is ever present in
his world, we can not be other than
optimistic in our attitude toward
modern thought.
1t is, nevertheless. true that there
are tendencies abroad which should
prompt us as people to earnest
prayer. Is there anything in our
type of life which needs change?
Are we who preach strong in the
faith2 Is boosted breadth ofthought
and catholicity of purpose, mere
covering for lack of spiritual
fervor? Has the unrest in the world
without affected the character of our
work? These are heart searching
questions that cannot be lightly
treated, or dismissed in a hasty or
superficial manner fear that some
of the splendid weapons of our war
fare are suffering by reason of neg
lect. In treating this section of my
sermon, l find myself under obliga-
ton to do so with far greater brevity
than its seriousness merits.
In the reaction against the stern
theology of the past, certain aspects
of truth of vital moment in the de-
velopment of religious life and char
acter may have been obscured to
such an extent. that the truth itself
may have become imperative. The
process which produces such a con-
dition in the churches may be termed
a secularizing of beliefs. That the
speaker is no mere alarmist in dwell
ing on this as positive hindrance to
the reception of spiritual power,
might be evidenced by quotations
from recent speeches by leaders in
denominations other than our own.
But our business at the present time
is to investigate our own short. COM
ings, not to occupy ourselves with
those of other religious bodies. A
brief word illustrating the influence
of this secular spirit in the realm of
dogma will be enough to emphasize
the thought | am anxious to bring
before your consideration.
Let us take the doctrine of the
Fatherhood of God, and show how
the presence of the secular spirit may
rob that great truth of much of its
power, We believe in the infinite
love of God, and delight to proclaim
it, but the justice of God remains
nevertheless, great fact. Do we
preach this side of Fatherhood in
firm and unwavering accent? The
| justice of God is revealed against
all manner of sin and unrighteous-
ness, and to minimize this in preach
| ing is to degrade the great truth of