The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-08-28


ering the standard of Christianity,
but rather we believe in bringing hui
manity up to its standard. Until we
have received a revelation more au-
thoritative than the Unitarian revela
ton we shall cling to this belief"
Our church in this country may
we'll take to itself the lesson which
our Mission in Japan has thus
learned. Otherwise it will certainly
suffer from Unitarian influence. Rev.
Mr.. Sunderland said at Detroit that
the Unitarians and the Universalists
have the same gospel, and from that
premise he reasoned to the conclu-
sion that the two denominations
ought to hold union meetings. If
his premise were true, 90! that it
were! 0, that their rock were even as
our rocky his conclusion might fol-
| low; but how can it be sustained in
the face of such facts as are here
set forth?
Certain it is that the Unitarian de-
nomination is rapidly losing the po-
sition which it formerly held as one
of the leading forces in the religious
life of this country. Its decline may
be dated from the time when it ex
changed Dr. Channing's Unitarian
ism for that of Theodore Parker and
his still more ultra successors; and
unless it shall face about, as does
not seem at all likely, the way in
which it is now going will soon end
in its death.
1t it perhaps not to be wondered at
that some of the more conservative
Unitarian people should wish to form
union between their denomination,
of whose sickness they are conscious,
and ours, whose growing vigor is at
tracing their notice. They may hope
that, by means of such a union, their
own denomination will receive a
TRANSMISSION of our UNCONVENTIONAL
blood and be saved. There is no
Likelihood, however, that such hope
would be realized, and for us the
risk of such an experiment is alto
gether too great. Our only safe course
is to hold aloef from that body SO far
as ecclesiastical fellowship is con-
cerned, lest the infection of it's for
tunes take like hold on us. Already
our UNCONVENTIONAL growth has been
hindered by the belief, somewhat
prevalent, that Universalism and
Unitarianism are substantially identi-
cal, thousands of people who sympa
thize with our belief in the salvation
of all men being prevented from join
ing us, or from granting us their fell
lowship, by what they suppose to be
our denial of the Lordship of Christ.
Some of them, no doubt, would re-
gard anything less than belief in
the Trinity as sufficient ground for
ecclesiastical ostracism, bnt multi
| tudes of them would be strongly
drawn to us if they were persuaded
of our belief in the Christhood of
Jesus according to the plain teaching
of the New Testament Scriptures.
We never can win them, or make a
great many converts from any quar-
ter whatever, as long as it is COM
monty supposed that we do not thus
believe in Christ. To fraternize with
Unitarians in the manner which
some have proposed would be to con-
firm people in that opinion concern
ing us. 1t would give color to their
suspicion that we are not distinctive
ly Christian. Birds of feather flock
together, and if we would not be
suspected of lack of Christianity it
behooves us to be careful as to the
company which we keep. If we are to
prosper as Christian church we
must let our Christianity be apparent
to all men, not allowing ourselves to
be led astray by mistaken idea of
liberality or false notion in regard
TO progress. True liberality does
not consist in surrendering ones
principles or in subjecting them to
misunderstanding, nor can any pro-
gress be made by Christian church
unless it adheres strictly to the lines
of the Gospel. A locomotive off the
track is not more impotent to make
real progress than nominally Chris
tan church which does not hold fast
to the Gospel of Christ. The more
progress the better, on the track
which the Saviour himself has laid
down for US.
"For Christ and His Church" is
glorious motto. If we are faithful to
it nothing can prevent our prosperity.
Let us resist all enticements to COM
promise our fidelity, as Nehemiah re-
jected the proffered assistance of
non-Israelite people in reb uilding