The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-02-09
Members and Guests Dine
at TillinghaSt'S.
The Literature of the DenOm-
inatiOn Discussed.
Addresses Made by DR.. Edward Ev-
erett Hale and Rev. c. F. Dole.

DIR. Edward Everett Hale, OF Boston
Plain were the guests at the Unitaria n
| Club dinner nc 1illinghasts last mig ght and
| they talked TO the members about the lit
erature of their denomination, the formal
topic being "Unitarian papers, magazines
and tracts"
electe. president at the previous meeting
presided and made a brief address,
acknowledging the honor conferred upon
him by his election.
Ten years ago, he said, the club began
its series of meetings and at that first din
ner two OF the speakers were Or. Hale
and Rev. MIR. Dole and they we're there
again last night at the beginning OF
the cluts second decade.
A brief Dstrsct OF DIR. Hsle's address
is:
1he beginning OF the movement TO
show that one man is ns good as another
IL he does his work In the world, at the
time when the Gaspee was burned and
when the people Of this country decided
to fight George the Third, was the END
OF the total depravity theory and of
orthodoxy.
1t was not possible TO send men TO the
war and afterwards tell them that they
were depraved and going to hell. IL
man was good enough to fight for his
country he was good enough to have his
chance to enter the kingdom OF Heaven.
After this introduction DIR. Hale re-
ferred to the great authors of the country
-Emerson. Lowell, Holmes, Longfellow
and emphasized the fact that they were
all Unitsrisns.
III Unitarians had had only their
churches and missionary work TO depend
upon they would not be where they are
today. But they have mad the help to the
right and the left, before and behinj, of
all the literary men and women of tho
nation. No writer of this generation ever
alludes TO the Anticipated idea OF. othor-
doyy unless be is retained for that pur-
pose.
The Christian Register, the organ OF
the UDitarisns, Is read by more othordox
clergymen than by Unitsrians, The
speaker told something about the esiab-
Iishment Of the Register and its develop
ment and the certainty that it's influence
is to incrense. Why is it, he asked, tha.
other papers of not half the merit seem
to flourish? Because 1t costs something
to be honert and pure and upright. In
the last ten years, ne said, the Register
has rejected $4,000 worth OF advertise
ments which, in the opinion Of the editor
were not fit to go into Christian house,
but many of those same dvertisemants
had appeared in all of the other religious
jourosls.
Rev. Charles +. Dole OF Jamacia Plsin
ssid Ia part:
We have gained an intellectual re.
igious freedom. The new thoug ht IL that
v hich goes forth courageou,ly from the
nner citadel into the open fields and
10 opposition there. Religious is all one
md there are no enemies to God in tn
Universe. God is every here, there IL no
levil In the universe.
We have also gained philosophy Of
eligion and no religion will stand the
est Of time and satisfy tbough ghtfuI men
nd women without this. The philosophy
> based on the theory Of a divine uni |
'erse.
/. Ne have come to point where We may |
make certain statements such az the one |
hicu received unanimous endorsement |
I the Ssrstoga Conference to the effect
nat we believe in s,religioD that may be
ummed no in "love to God and love
o man." for the declaration "tbis il a
ivine world. live then, az men wouIdf
we In a divine universe"
We are finding that we have the most
rofound authority for our faith. We
ave the authority OF actual, first hand
Experience.
Nothing in the way OF education is
lore important or precious for our sons
nd daughters than for them to grow up
l tho atmosphere OF perfect freedom to
hich our little group OF churches is now
accustomed.
Plant one Of these churches, alive to
ne necessity Of ethical religion and with
ie chivalrous devnoiion which belongs
} II, in every city and town and there
i'll he an cnd to Quayism aud Piattism
ID the other evils which thresten our
,tionsl life. Remarks were also made
' Mr.. william d. Weedep, the first pres.
ent OF the club, Dr. Il. N. Sesbury snd
cv. Henry | tushman of the First
niversslst church.