The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-06-26
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Parish Auxiliaries.
OUR OWN WRITERS

Parish Auxiliaries.
Let no one forget that every auxiliary
in the parish is but an auxiliary. No
one of these exists for itself or for its
own glory. We have an institution
which we call "our Church" or "our
Parrish" 1t is to advance that institu-
ton that every auxiliary exists. What
ever is done by any one of our several
organizations should be done with the
good of the in stitutio the frst-never
secondary consideration. There should
be not only willingness but an earnest
desire to do anything and all things to-
gether that the institution may be ad-
vanced. Let there be pride in having
every organization do well and all it can,
but only as help to the whole. May
the spirit of CO operation abound and
abide ReU. Charles s. Nicherson.
Guardianship and Citizenship.
1t is not necessary for a man to feel
that he is already a perfect soldier be-
fore he enlists. If he waits for that he
will never enlist. One should accept
churchmanship as he accepts citizen
ship. not because he is altogether worthy
of it, but because his country and the
church bestow upon him these splendid
gifts.
So when one is asked if he is Chris
tian he should reply: "Yes, 1 am a
Christian. l am not so good Chris
tian as 1 wish ] were. 1 have dore
things that as Christian 1 ought not
to have done, and left undone things
that as a Christian 1 ought to have
done. l am unworthy of that great
name. But such as am, thank God,
| am disciple of Jesus st.-Rev.
Frank o. Hall.
Christianity and the Sabbath.
To abandon Christianity would be to
dispense with the Christian Sabbath.
OF course, in the absence of Christian
ity the seven days would come as now.
but it is the province of the Christian
religion to suggest how we shall spend
the day of rest. 1t is Christianity alone
VIII ich calls us on this day. from labor
to refreshment. 1t was Christ who
said "the Sabbath was made for man."
The idea is that the institutions pecu-
Ii ar to this day are to be invigorating in
their influences. The tendency of we'll
kept Sunday is to elevate and spiritual.
ize. 1t is Christianity that cares for
the successful perpetuation of its own
Sabbath. We do not even hint that
Christianity is confined to church mem.
bership, for do not believe it. But it
is the Christian sentiment in each COM
m unity which builds churches and fur.
nishes the means by which all the Sun
day institutions are maintained. No.
thing can be palmer than that the
Christian Sunday must perish with
Oh hristianify.-Rev. j. Frank Rhoades.
" Oonoertizing" in Church Worship.
Under "concertizing" l include all
practices of church choirs and organists
which have tendency to liken divine
service to concert given by various
performers. Such practices are many.
How often. in churches OF nearly all de-
nominations of the present day. do we
observe the service to halt while Mr.. A,
or Missl B. entertains the congregation
with some selection which might we'll
find place in concert reportory! All
thought of the unity of the service is
thrown to the winds. The audience
seems in many cases to lose conscious
ness of the nature OF the occasion. And
when the selection is ut end, there is an
unmistakable hustle of approval, and
mods are exchanged by members Of the
congregation as if they would gladly cry,
"fne! splendid! bravol encore!'
Leaving entirely out of account the
m oral harm done the Individual by max
ing him more prominent than the
thought of worship, we ehave here most
fragrant violation of the principle of
unity.-Leo r. Leacis.
You Can Understand Universalism.
Universalists do not teach the doctrine
OF escape from punishment for sin, and
do not offer absolution to the sinful
man in his last days, because forsooth, he
ompliee with some set form OF repent
ance. The man must know in his heart
that period of contrition is before him,
proportioned to the evil he has done. and
that this period shall continue until his
soul is fit for the kingdom of heaven,
which the Universalist believes is the
final destiny of all.
There is no obstacle in the way Of
understanding Universalism. Likened
to the wonderful advancement Of the
telegraph. what was once thought i'm
possible is now possible. Its adherents
can overcome the prejudice against this
church by building the means through
which its efforts and aims are revealed.
that ie, noble men ana women, whose
faith and works speak for themselves
and shine through the community.
Hold your minds open to the eternal
truth, exI xIecting as you live-for YOU
shall never die-that your influence
may always be used to overcome evil.
The world must have religion wherein
liberty is accorded to every individual
to orship God in spirit and in truth
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