The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-04-03

ply to hear ones own dogmas
preached, provide a motive which
will give religious organization
strength and permanence.
We sometimes notice criticism of
the missions of the church, on. the
ground that they were inaugurated
for the purpose and with the inten-
ton of saving men from the torments
of another world. Fear, it has been
claimed, has been the motive in the
past. Men were in danger of hell
and they must be rescued ere it be
too late. Allowing that such was the
motive in the long ago, we perfectly
we'll know that it has not been the
dominant motive in the two most re-
cent decades. Even when fear held
sway as motive, as we'll as since it
gave up the sceptre, love played
prominent part in the endeavor of
the missionaries. A man twenty-five
years since missionary in Turkey,
has said that his work was done on
the basis of the goodness and loving
kindness of God. This man, like
many another, went forth to his work
because he loved his Master. Christ,
and through him had learned to love
his Father, God, and his brother,
man.
Church extension requires mo-
tive such as this. 1t cannot depend
upon mere liking for novelty. 1t
has found superficial enthusiasm a
broken reed. 1t must have persist
ence. It must have that which will
endure discouragements, which will
persevere, when there is basis of
Judgment, even when critics or
traitors demand that the banner be
taken down. Church extension re-
quires persistence even when other
important matters clamor for atten
ton and support. And the only mo-
tive which will provide these essen
tial qualities is deep and abiding
loyalty to Jesus Christ, who, through
the Church, is seeking to establish
the reign of holiness amongst men.
This means, of course, that we are
to cultivatethe spiritual nature within
us. We are to remember what we
are, and out of whom we have come.
We are to be ever mindful that we
are in the midst of unseen forces,-
forces which are of God and which
are employed by God to quicken the
divine image within men. We are to
spiritualize our thinking and our act
ing. Then our relations to the church
and to all its missionary endeavor
will partake of that quality and we
will rejoice to give and to do for the
extension of the organization and for
the PRONUNCIATION of the truth.
AS Universalists we ought to be
more alive than any body of Chris
tians. We affirm that the center and
soul Of ourfaith is Love. We depre-
cate fear and declare that love is the
only righteous condition of heart to-
ward God and toward life. We assert
that the church of the future is to
hold its devotees on the basis of love
and of love alone. All this being
true we ought to have SO much love
for Christ who revealed the Eternal
Love that we should be filled with
holy passion to bring the world into
an apprehension of and an obedience
to the Fathers life and law. The
opportunity is ours. If we have the
motive produced by spiritual com
munion with him who is above us, we
shall turn our faces toward the dawn
ing of new day, and at the COM
mand, go ye into all the world and
preach the Gospel" we shall move
forward as mighty phalanx-a hum
dred thousand strong.
NEwToNVrIIE Mass