The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-10-30
General Convention, Chicago, 1907.

inspired it. you will do loyal service for
the Master, to the glory of almighty
God and to the everlasting benefit of
our brother man. In the other prob
lem that has confronted us, namely,
how to harmonize individualism with
organization. great progress has been
made toward solution. In the light of
this session now closing, was there ever
more hopeful outlook for this conven.
tion? With the fortunes of its organized
head rests the future of the Universalist
church.
The time is one offering grand oppor-
tunity for work in our Masters cause.
There are, however. conditions peculiar
to our sge. At times, some of the diff
culties seem insurmountable. Upon
some of these | had intended to speak
at length. You are weary of listening.
At this late hour of the convention,
what could / hope to say that has not
been already spoken? Several times
during our deliberations have the evils
| would have you consider been men,
toned. Why such lack of consecrated
workers among people who call them.
selves Christian?
There are more Christians in the
world today, and with larger influence,
than ever before since the birth of the
Christ. They are not, however, relative
ly so we'll organized. For better organ
ization must we strive. In our effort of
organization have we kept pace with
with the material development of our
country. l mean in the fostering and
organizing of its moral and religious
forces. 1t took the fret president of
the United States three days to go from
Washington to New York. When Preei-
dent Harrison left the White House to
go from the Capital to New York, to
celebrate the centennial of the adoption
of the Constitution. he accomplished
the journey in four and half hours.
How marvellous has been the material
development of our country! Have we
kept pace with that development in our
intellectual and religious work? We can
not expect to forward this work success.
fully simply by employing the old ways.
Still. in adopting new methods. there is
great danger. We must have a care
lest we lose sight of religion altogether.
Here in the west, at least, we are
overrun with Materialism and it requires
great strength of religious principle to
fight successfully against it. In doing
so we are sometimes tempted to meet it
half way. Let US not forget that hu-
manitarianism is not religion. 1t is fed
by religion. Alas for this world if the
fountains should become dry will
omit much l had on my heart to say:
What is the Mission of the Universalist
Church?
1t does not exist solely for the purpose
of preaching the universal salvation of
mankind. This truth we hold dear and
there was time when it was meet to
lay great stress upon it. That day is
now happily passing away. The work
and mission of the Univerealist church
is to preach the Gospel of the Lord
Jesus Christ. 1t should strive through
him to win men to God and righteous.
ness. To bring to each and every one
of us the personal and not the his
toric Christ. Mere intellectual be-
lief is far from sufficient. We cannot
agree with our Evangelical brethren
that it's mission is accomplished. If
the kingdom of God is fully established
upon earth and there is no more work
to be done among men in the Masters
name. Then our mission is ended but
il there is still work to be done for sin.
ming, suffering children of God we have
as loud call to do that work as our
most Jealous orthodox brethren. If in
the past we have not done as much
OF the Masters work as they it has
not been the fault of our creed, but
of our poor human weakness and
lack of conservation. We believe that
we have the grandest Interpretation
of the Word of God yet revealed to
man. With it comes not only our op-
portunity but our duty to render the
greatest service to our fellow man. We
can say with Paul "for God hath not
given us the spirit of fear-but of power
and of love and Of a sound mind? Are
we worthy of the gift? Are we equal
to the responsibility it puts upon
us. Yes. if the Grace of the Lord Jesus
Christ be with us and the love of God
and we be inspired by the Holy Spirit.