The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-10-02

its minister and servant, the example
of DR.. Deere might we'll commend
itself to the preacher, to seek to bring
about by suitable explanations, a
conscientious acceptance of the creed,
rather than proceed by the reverse
and ask the creed to vacate.
However, there is nothing in the
laws and polity of the church that
would forbid proper majority to SO
slightly alter the wording of the
creed, as l understand would satisfy
the conscience of the eminent brother
and these with him of like religious
and theological standing, who have
been first in the movement and were it
not for starting the fatal assure, the
move could well be commended. But
the objections by these brethren seem
at most merely technical, and not
sufficient to justify the agitation. If
the creed should go, mainly because
of this word "Restore" not understood
vigorously alike by all, save in essen
tials, the Bible must itself also go,
for the fatal word is a part thereof.
And [ am glad to think they are not
of the class to readily part with that
greatest of treasures to man. Besides
the dissent is based on an hypothe-
sis merely, one that has never attained
to that suffrage among the learned
to entitle it to b. ranked as science,
and to contend for it as such is GER
tainly premature and unbeftting to
beinjected in theological disputations
and made consideration in relig-
ious creed.
These bretheren must have some
recognition of the value of a creed in
ecclesiasticisms, and be unwilling to
venture forward without one. They
must also understand that the creed
question is not settled in the adop-
ton Of new creed or the changing
of the old, but that such action would
be the invitation to an ever increas-
log class of agitators and malcon-
tents who care more for such oppor
tunities to discuss and dispute, than
for those of aggressive work in the
retaining or restoration of lost ones.
They must recognize also that
creed drawn to definitely declare any
thing pertaining to religious belief,
and apply to any considerable mum
Der of people, would require conces-
sions, from one as we'll as another,
and that without this spirit nothing
would be possible in this direction.
A creed to be of service cannot be
made to include all classes of views,
nor must it be too limited in it's pro-
visions. 1t cannot make place for
heterogenity nor a common home for
mutually destructive factions. There
can be a creed of Universalism, but
not of Universalisms. Some one
must be left to find home elsewhere
in the neighborhood till he acq uires
compatibility of views. To omit es-
sentials defines nothing and is incon-
sistent with creed. Neither is the
naming of but universally accepted
facts. Here is where the Boston re-
port fails. In this day the terms of
the principles" are current every
where and define no class of people,
and designate the Universalist Church
no more than the Methodist church
or the Unitarian church. Some years
ago Methodist doctor in answer to
my argument from Paul for the re.
Cancellation of all things. replied
promptly that the damned too would
be reconciled, knowing their damna-
ton to be just. The same is a stock
with Calvinists. The soul
elected to be damned is Sin final har-
mony with God," being damned, and
would be out of harmony with him,
if saved or restored" contrary to his
and will. There is certainly
peculiar to Universalism in
this principle" and it falls incom-
parably below that clear cut SEN
tence, will finally restore the whole
family Of mankind to holiness and
happiness. Then again, ''the Fa-
,herhood of God," is term hawked
about in the same fashion these days.
What Christian sect has not preached
and does not preach the Fatherhood
If God? What one has not repeated
he Lords Prayer7 or the Apostles
Jreed7 The pr nciple" says nothing
about the universal Fatherhood of |
God. Besides, the nature and char
lcter of this God are left underlined, |
whether he is pantheistic or theistic? |
or malevolent? 1t is not |
equivalent TO the cherished words, |
One God, whose nature is Love, re.
,ealed in one Lord Jesus Christ"
tic. Possibly for the same reason
hat with the principles" dared not