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

distant. l can sympathize with the
deep rel ctance to take up new finan-
cial resp onsibilities and the tempta-
ton to con sign the call of our con-
stituted authorities to the waste
basket, which arise under such cir
camstances.
But. brethren, the responsibility is
ours and we cannot shirk it. II these
things fail they fail because we have
failed in our duty, and for no other
reason. 1t is useless to plead the
apathy of parishes. The parish is not
apathetic unless its minister allows it
to be SO. l grant that it may not be
possible to arouse an apathetic par
ish to an appre citation and full dis
charge of its denominational duty in
week, or mayhap year, but it can
be done with time and patience. Any
parish which has degree of confid-
ence in it's pastor sufficient to justify
the continuance of the pastoral rela-
tions will follow that pastors lead in
the support OF the things which the
pastor has on his heart and consci-
ence. We sometimes go further and
say that the people are not satisfied
with the denominational policies. and
SO will not support them. We may
as W ell face the facts here. 1t is my
firm conviction, based on considera-
BILE examination of the conditions,
that this popular dissatisfaction is
always founded on ministerial criti-
cism. Ministers criticise, even de-
nounce, the policies and acts of de-
ominational authorities, and then
explain the absence of their parishes
fir ON the ranks of the supporters of
the general work by alleging a popu-
lar dissatisfaction with general poll
cies. Let us all convert our attitude
of criticism to one of loyal support
and earnest commendation, and see
what will become of the alleged pop
ular dissatisfaction.
1t is equally idle to plead the
p overly of parishes. The require
m ent is only that the gift shall be
pr opoItionate to the means of the
giver. If the minister is in earnest
the gift is forthcoming. l once had
charge of small parish whose few
m embers found it hard to meet the
ordinary requirements of the work
and had always supposed it impossi-
BILE to meet the moderate calls of the
General Convention. During all the
years of my connection with that
parish that call was always answered
in full and sometimes exceeded, and
| am sure that no individual felt inn
posed on, and no other interest suf-
fered. If you will, brethren, the
thing is done.
l have no time to dwell upon
m ethods. l only want to drive home
this thought of ministerial response
bility. One suggestion only. We are
m embers of one organization and
C committed to cause. As such we
have embarked upon certain policies
and undertaken certain enterprises.
Our denominational honor, reputation
and self-respect are deeply involved.
If those enterprises fail, our church,
Id we with it, are disgraced and
discredited before the world, and our
great faith, as we love to call it, is
confessed impotent to stir its adhe-
rents to any act self-sacrifice or any
9 endeavor to give its blessings to
others. This is not a question of
what "they" are going to do: it is a
qu estion of what "we" are going to
do. Ask yourselves, beloved, and ask
yourcongregations, what you are going
to say and how you are going to feel
hen your partialist neighbor says,
81 see you Universalists have had to
give up your missionary enterprises.
Well, we told you SO. Your theology
is all very we'll to make sinners forget
their danger, but we always knew it
had no powerin it." Willthe thought
that you have done nothing to pre-
vent the disaster sweeten his words?
And now a closing word to the lay
men, the "leading members" the
trustees and the "mothels in Israel"
who may chance to read these lines.
If your minister is trying to lift, sup
pose you bear a hand also, call in
others, and rest not till your corner
of the burden is raised. If he is not
yet aroused, suppose you go to him
quietly and say: Brother Blank, dc
you think this parish is doing all it
can to help in church extensioni
Won't you go to work, we will help
you, and see how much money we
can get together for the causep And
if he doesn't, suppose you keep at it
until he does, or you get another
minister who will.