The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-04-10
EDITORIAL BRIEFS.
BY PRESIDENT I. M. ATWOOD, D. d.

THE officers and other representatives
of the General Convention have made
many and skillful efforts to carry home
to our congregations the fact that the
Universalist denomination. has no exist
ence apart from the people who make
up the Universalist parishes. "You are
the denomination" they have been say
ing to us with increasing vehemence.
The effect of hearing this said 80 often
has lead to meditation. and to the in
quiry, What and who constitute "the
denomination? Are all the people who
are in it of it? On reflection we hardly
dare say 30. Those really make up "the
denomination" who love it and show
their love by fidelity and service. They
who believe in it, feel responsibility for
it. plan and work for it. are the real de-
nomination. We shall not undertake to
say how many answer to this description;
but it is something less than all. Ia not
one of the wisest ways to realize the de-
nomination this-to increase in each
parish the number of persons vitality
interested in its work and welfare?
But how shall people be interested
in that which they seldom or never hear?
Many people are interested in the local
church but care nothing for "the de-
nomination" They know little or moth
So, - - Ofbara th;nb fbof tho dapon,
ination is self moved and self-main.
tanning organism, to which the local
church is related only by the bond OF
common articles of faith. OF duty. re-
sponsibility. allegiance to it, they never
think. Still others-and some of them
are ministers-regard the denomination
as an incumbrance and tyranny. Of which
it would be we'll to be rid. There is need
OF education. A denominational school
master should be sent abroad. In those
eases where pastors are unmindful of
their obligations he should teach the
teachers. In other places the pastors
should instruct their people. Without
a UNCONVENTIONAL paper in one quarter
of the homes and without denomina-
tional pastor in the pulpit, how can
"the denomination" be a power in the
earth?
If we understand Mr.. Allen Ripley
Foote, he holds the opinion that there
may be and should be IAN American
system of finance" He thinks it might
be established by arbitration. Let the
different schools of finance come to-
gether and arbitrate the dollar, and all
the other institutions and policies which
attend the dollar. His principal reason
for advocating such method in finance
is. that all the theorists are equally de-
sirous of getting the best. Arbitration
has it's uses; but il Mr.. Foote could
have his way it would have it's abuses.
After the financial system was made
soundly American we might arbitrate
several other things about which there
are unfortunate differences of opinion,
and have american" systems of verac-
ity, honesty, virtue, truth. Next would
come American geometry. logic, psychol-
ogy, and ethics.
1t is startling fact. that the total
"ordinary expenses" of the national gov
ernment in 1861 were sixty-one and a
half millions. while the average for some
years past has been three hundred and
sixty-five millions. That is. while the
population has doubled and the wealth
nearly quadrupled. the expense account