The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-07-03
SERMON.
THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE
UNIVBRsALIsT CHURCH.
BY REV. J. MURRAY ATWOOD.

cause he anointed me to preach soou
tidings to the poor: He hath sent me to
proclaim release to the captives, and re-
covering of sight to the blind, to set
at liberty them that are bruised, to pro-
claim the acceptable year of the Lord. y
Luke w., IS, 10. (Revised Version)
TN these words from the prophecy
j of Isaiah, Jesus, according to
Luke, at the beginning OF his ministry
announced his mission. Notice the
extent of it as thus out ined. We are
often told that the mission OF Jesus
and his church is to the "lost." That
is only a partial statement OF the
truth. Jesus did not live simply to
proclaim release to those who were
chained and imprisoned by their own
vices; he was earnest to make evil men
good before everything else; but ne
had larger mission than that. He
brought good tidings to the poor
those who find it hard to reconcile
their lot with faith in an over ruling
Providence; he sought to reveal to
the blind-those who CROPPED their
way with uncertain steps-the guild
ing light of the truth; he came, If
we may borrow the words found in
Isaiah in the same context, to bind
up the broken hearted. In word
he aimed to minister to all who were
in need of help, encouragement, COM
fort and strength. That he lived
faithful to such mission is matter
indisputable amidst a multitude OF
disputable things about him.
To such an inclusive mission the
Christian church also has been more
or less true, even in the worst years
of it's life. To such work in these
days of enlightenment, of devel-
oped Christianity, it is still called.
The denominations into which the
church is divided may differ either
materially, as to their conception of
the truth they are to carry to men;
or immaterially, as the way in which
they shall carry it; but if any one is
not united to each and to all by the
common purpose to fulfill this hu-
name mission of Jesus to mankind,
it does not deserve the name Chris
tian. 1t matters not how beautiful
the faith of which any sect may deem
itself the custodian, sooner or later
it has to stand or fall by what it does.
It is known by its fruits.
The Universalist is one among the
many organized denominations of the
land. 1t is differentiated from every
other by the circumstances of its
origin, by the facts of its history, by
it's position in doctrine, and in fact,
by it's very name. We are part of
it. Here in this city and state, in
convention assembled, we represent it
today. 1t is a small denomination,
insignificant in the opinion of some.
But it's influence has not been insig
nificant. 1t has a wonderful name;
it possesses an illustrious history.
Some witty clergyman of another
church once informed us that we had
appropriated the biggest word in the
English language. And it is we'll to
remind those who think it handicap
because of the prejudice, not yet out
worn, that has attached to it in the
past, that not only has it been sig
nally indicated in life and in argu-
ment, but that among the denomina-
tional names known today there is
not one that both in its doctrinal i'm
port and practical significance COM
prehends so much. 1t is not name
ever to apologize for, but one upon
which to felicitate ourselves. But a
name can never save church. And
IL is pleasant to know that the past
history of our denomination is full of
that which satisfies and inspires. 1t
ia marked with the bitter attacks of
ignorance and prejudice on the fa-
theirs; yes, but so prosecuted they the
prophets. The struggle with these
malign influences and triumph over
them have only added to its glory.
The work of the church, as we are
often reminded, has been largely
negative. True, but remember that
it takes truth to Danish error as it
does good to overcome evil. And in
setting forth and emphasizing the
once neglected truth of the Father
hood of God, and its corollary,
The brotherhood of man, as did this
church from the beginning, the des-
truction of the old and the false was
simply a process in its development,
as natural and divine, as necessary
and inevitable, as the dropping and
casting away of childish ideas and
in obedience to the up
ward tendency of growth. 1t is