The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-07-03

hOuoO, AOidluS uP oeOAO Juoc
hurled at his head through window,
well illustrates the spirit in which the
New England saints received the mes
sengers sent of God, who brought to
their ears "good tidings of great joy,
which shall be to all people" or any
new light from the old Book, which
John Robinson, the pastor, assured
the pilgrims as they parted with him
at Delfhaven, was full of truth yet
undiscovered. Naturally such
spirit generates separatism and bit
ter controversy. 1t made our church
a hostile camp like the independents
in England.
Concerning the Independents, the
Britannica says: "What is developed
in antagonism is ill-developed, full
of exaggerations, undue emphasis,
anithesises SO sharply stated as to be
almost, even when true, dangerously
near the false. A prescribed faith
may be strong, but can never be
sweet; and a strength that is bitter is
not purely religious strength. So
Independency in England in the day
of Whitgift and Bancroft was too
much hated and hunted to be able to
say the best word for ITSELF" Thus
saith the Britannica" Vol. II, page
1853.
We see this truth substantiated in
all history, and it's application cannot
be otherwise than admitted in due
measure as we retrospectively survey
the necessitated controversial period
of our church. But we who are of
the family and have known our truly
representative people, known them
to have been body of earnest, hon.
est folk, doing their own thinking
and trustworthily discharging their
duties to their fellowmen as citizens
in every walk of life; loyal to their
country, clean and true in the home
diligent in business, public spirited,
quick to fall into line, or lead in the
reasonable reform movements of the
times, and ready to lend hand in
adversity-all with 80 few exceptions
that our parishes have not been ash
AIMED to compare records with the
best OF the sects among whom our
church has been Everywhere spoken
against"
But the noises of conflict have
greatly subsided, = save here and
there skirmish,-and given place to
constructive. educational work, and
friendly comparison of views in
search of truth, and cooperation in
bearing the cross as the symbol of
divine life and redemptive power:
the sign by which we conquer.
The past of our church in Califor-
MIA that has present, and promise
of future, has only the measure of
so much of my life as has been spent
in this State, which will be sixteen
years in July. Space will allow me
only to mention few facts. DIR. j.
Fl. Tuttle, of Minneapolis, Mimi.
had been in Southern California, the
guest of Father Throop, in Los
Angeles, for the winter of 1SS0-S1;
and an old parishoner from Mime
sofa, residing in Riverside, VIM.
Finch, had carried him in his wagon
from Los Angeles to Riverside for
visit. He spent Sunday and
preached sermon, discovering
few Universalists with a group of
friends who were anxious for the
coming of minister of the faith to
settle among them. l heard DIR.
Tuttle's story on his return, and
volunteered to go as a missionary to
California, if Riverside would pay
travelling expenses of wife and self
out, and keep us year. After much
parley and insistence, he wrote; and,
as soon as answer could come, we
were engaged. Resigned at Roch-
ester, sold off our things, packed our
trunks, and started June IL, 1881, for
unknown Riverside, to make home
among entire strangers. There was
not minister of the faith at work
in the State, not church building,
nor foot of land owned by our de.
nomination.
Making farewell calls at Minneap-
oils, and preaching for DIR. Tuttle,
for whom l had supplied during his
six months absence in California,
(my Rochester parish taking care of
it's own pulpit meanwhile), we COM
menced our journey.
On the way l preached twice at the
Minnesota Convention at Austin. /
also preached for the sick pastor, the
Rev. Mr.. Cleveland, of the Unitarian
church at Omaha, June 26th, studied