The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-05-22
WHAT UNIVERSALISTS BELIEVE,
BY REV. GEORGE A. sAHLIN.

AT the morning service at the Uni
versalist church, Benton Harbor,
Mich, on recent Sunday, Rev. Geo.
A. Sahlin preached on "Universalism
as Misunderstood and Unsupported
by Orthodoxy" from the text: "But
we desire to hear of thee what thou
thinkest for as concerning this sect, it
is known to us that everywhere it is
spoken against" (Acts xviii. 22.)
We give report of the Benton Har-
Dor paper:
Mr.. Sahlin said: "Our text dis
covers the fact that in Rome, where
Paul had been taken as a prisoner,
the Gospel of Jesus was practically
unknown. The mission Of Paul,
whether free or bound, was to pro-
claim that Gospel. There were Jews
in Rome who, before passing judg-
ment, would hear the heresy as Chris
tianity was then considered by the
whole world. Truth has made adj
vance through heresy, radical differ
entiation has made its martyrs and
advanced the cause of God. We have
nothing to complain of as Universal
lists in the general reception accorded
our views and do not desire to pose
as the Uriah Keeps of the universe.
But when ministers upon every pos
sible occasion put their church pros
perity upon the basis of competition,
ignorantly or otherwise misrepresent-
ing the doctrine taught by sister
church, then we feel as though the
the sacred cause of truth was being
made merchandise of and that ortho-
doxy, as locally concerned, has hoped
to thrive upon the not to be excused
theory of building up one church at
the expense of another.
"Our text shows us that the first es-
sential is the open minds. Were there
not men and women brave enough to
withstand the fine scorn and social os-
tracism melted upon those who travel
on other than the beaten track there
would be no advance, and Christian
ity would have been an impossibility.
The open mind of Saul made Of him
Paul. The thinker, the inventor,
each advances and blesses mankind
as the lower is set aside for the
higher. Let no man think that any
church in Benton Harbor can afford
to thrive at the expense of another,
for in the Providence of God each
does its work or else it would not be.
$50 the Universalist prays for and
believes in the final good of all men,
yet as a Universalist he is cast aside
as one teaching an evil doctrine.
(Which leads us to the second
consideration that Universalism is a
heresy. The chief objection being
urged that we teach no furture pun
ishment. If this charge were true, l
too, would fight against it, But it is
not. Ours is the only church that
teaches distinctly that as a man sows
so shall he reap in this or the world
to come.
"Who can possibly be afraid of a
heresy which teaches that whatever
the sins of men, or how divided in
doctrine the world may be, all things
work together for good2 Salvation is
then within the reach of everyone re-
gardless of churchianity. Funerals
no longer will be used as an oppor-
tunity to whip, regardless of reason,
the mourner into narrow theological
agreement with the preacher who has
nothing better to offer the survivors
than an eternal hell in case of con-
scientious disagreement. Thirdly
the prejudice. How shall we ac-
count for it9 In proportion as one
does not know does he fear innova-
ton. Macauley charged ancient
philosophy as being a treadmill in
which much labor was spent but no.
thing practical accomplished. Put
the same labor into travelling the
highways of life and knowledge and
happiness ensues. Orthodoxy is
proving treadmill, much labor, lit
tie get there. You have to die before
you see heaven and then you are not
sure. The Universalist church pros
pers. were intelligence reigns, and
with each successive generation it's
teachings spread, making heretics of
many, who are sheltered by faith