The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-10-16

called philosophy" He referred to
criticism without, to the devastations
of doubt in the world. We may take
comfort that the religious life is be-
coming SO strong within that it Graves
expansion and newness like the living
spirit in nature, that it is not content
with the buds and blossoms, but
makes fruit and magnifies timber,
that it shall not rest in words alone,
but shall journey in deeds and rest
in character.
Few of us, If any, should feel that
our personal faith had been affected,
or that the real belief of our church
had been changed, if before this
substitute had been made and
adopted by formal vote. What is
offered for adoption is criticized;
what might be proposed at any future
time should not suit everyone's
fancy. In the old we have creed
of tolerance. Its literary form is not
all we might wish for, and yet it is
marvel of excellence. 1t may not
set forth all that we count essential,
but it leaves us free to think and live.
1t may say in exact English that
men are restored to that which has
never been their privilege and enjoy
meut-which can not be-but we
know that some voted for it who did
not believe at the time that man had
fallen and that his salvation was
restoration to former lost estate. If
those who believed on that point
just about as we today coul1 use
word in its approximative literary
value, we may receive and use it like
wise. A profession of faith is not
scientific formula any more than
Bible is a scientific treatise. There
both belong in the realm of litera-
ture which is the realm of life.
Words here have living values aud
are not subject to fixed measure
ments.
Our creed is our standard, our BAN
ner, our flag. 1t is not the basis of
our work as a church; may be, it is
not real test of fellowship. Our
country does not subsist on it's flag.
We think not of making the red,
white and blue the grounds of our
national life. We think not of dis
franchising a man who carries not
the colors around his hat on the days
we celebrate. The flag does well to
float in the air; it does we'll to unity
our nation; it is indispensable as
symbol of our history and govern
ment. But the truths that sustain us
must be at our heart; principles
must become things of life; our COM
mon human wants must be the basis
or reason for all the industrial agen-
cies, religious and educational in
situations, and judicial enactments.
And so in our church a standard of
faith is well; a'banner to lead us is
a source of inspiration and means
of unity; we should not be without it
all that we might be with it. But it
never has been the basis of our de-
nominational life, and never shall be:
only symbol. We live and work
on the grounds of vital faith and
love and OF ever living principles and
of overcoming wants.
We may we'll keep the old flag and
the old creed alike. The nations
symbol on the capitol building at
Washington is as old as the nation
itself, nor shall new banner ever be
put up. When any part of the old
wears out, it is replaced by the sew
ing in of newpiece. So the ancient
flag is renewed perpetually and shall
co exist with the nation. And so
may our Profession of Faith live ever
as the symbol of our church. We
should cease to call it the Winches-
ter Profession. That seems to local
ize it. That implies possible super
cedure. 1t should take our broad
name and wear it ever.
And as we put star in the group
for each state added to the Union,
we shall do we'll to add to our faith
virtue, and to virtue knowledge, and
to knowledge temperance, and to
temperance patience, and to patience
godliness, and to goodness brother
ly kindness, and to brotherly kind
ness charity. For if these things be
in us and abound, they make us that
we shall neither be barren nor I'M
fruitful in the knowledge of our Lord
Jesus Christ.
LA CROSSE, Wis
RELIGION.