The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-02-20


the attainment of this perfection of
character slow and halting, the con-
slant holding up of the ideal, and
the ceaseless call to the individual to
strive for the spirit OF this perfect
ideal, inspires hope and effort.
The old system has no room for
transmitted righteousness, and holds
out no hope for the escape of just de-
serts for neglect of duty or trans
gressionof right. ''Be ye perfect even
as l am perfect, rem rendering that
whatsoever ye SOW ye shall also reap,
God being no respecter of persons.
This is the exhortation. The world
stands sorely in need of its truth to-
day. Give us character, not a plan
of substitution whereby it can be
dispensed with.
Give us the Christ character in the
lives of men and women here and
now, and life here and hereafter will
be rich in happiness. I might be
charged with injustice in even in
timating that this theory is held
in the churches today. In private
discussion people scout at the
idea, and say, ooh, we'll, no one be-
lieves in that old substitution theory
now." hope they do not, but the
following is pretty strong evidence
that it is held in Marshalltown, and
suppose this place is not whit be-
hind other towns. A sermon from the
pastor of our largest church was re-
ported in the Statesman Press of
Wednesday, January 20, from which
clip this paragraph:
"By the deeds OF the law shall no flesh
be justified" "For we all have sinned
and come short OF the glory of God"
But herein is manifest the mercy of our
Heavenly Father. We are under the
dispensation of grace. II we are weighed
in the balance Of exact justice-the
commandments in one scale and our
obedience in the other, "Tekel-found
wanting" must be the verdict. But
when Jesus steps in with us the law is
satisfied and we are free because of our
acceptance of Gods atonement for
SIM"
1t is such belief, as DIR. Thomas
truly remarked, which every lawyer
knows undermines the very founda-
tion of justice. In morals it would
seem to make character absolutely
unnecessary to salvation.
These are the main points covered
by DR.. Thomas's address. In the pop
ular mind the system here defended
is new and strange; hence the term
'New Theology" The doctor told
you it was the old theology. 1t is as
old as the Christian religion, much of
it, particularly the doctrine of resti-
tuition is as old as Zoroaster. Even
through the dark ages it was not en-
tirely lost, God not leaving himself
without witness, though for their
testimony many died the death.
The revival began in earnest over
one hundred and fifty years ago, in
England, where such men as Canon
Farrar and DIR. Martineau are doing
yeoman service today. Let me i'm
plore you to read Canon Farrar's lit
tie book entitled eternal Hope"
In America the word was planted
along the Atlantic coast about 1741
by De Bonneville. Such noted men
as Murray, Charming, and Ballou
gave the system such an impetus
that there are today two we'll organ
lied, aggressive churches in this
country holding up the banner of
Fatherhood, brotherhood and Christ
likeness of character. Our own
church alone has thousand minis
ters and an army of church members
and Sunday-school members aggre-
eating nearly one hundred thousand.
1t has colleges and schools repre-
senting five million dollars set for
the perpetuation of this faith, MAX
ing books on the subject for DR..
Thomas and his disciples to read.
Some of these books are so old now
that the leaves are yellow and musty.
Rogers's "Pro and Con-" Ballou's
+" "Atonement," and others were
printed before DIR. Thomas was born.
Everything he said is taught in our
theological schools every day. To
many it might seem presumptuous
and false for me to claim connection
between the present Universalist
Church and the early system of
Christianity represented by Origen.
The Encyclopedia Britannica-Vol. 8,
pages 537-S, subject, "Eschatology,"
has the following to say. No Uni
versalist could claim more:
MANY attempts in different quarters
have been made TO revive the milder
creeds of the early church.
The Universalists or Origenists main