The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-10-02
Views of the Editors.
Exchange Notes.
Missionary Work at Home.
New York Observer

ihele Is no neeu OF looking at a distance
TO lind missionary work There is plenty
OF 1t at our door. We can stumble over
1t any moment. And if we attend to that
which is near by we will get so interested
that we will want to spread ourinhuence
The best way to promote the cause of
foreign missions is to create a love for
home work, and it it almost sure TO be
tne case when person says, 81 do not
believe in sending our men and money to
Africa" that he does not care much fol- the
progress of religion in his own community.
or in his family, or for that matter. in hi
own heart.
On Praising Clever Children.
(Church StaBdard)
AS matter of fact, then, when these
smart sayings are looked at dispassion-
ately most of them are found to be Moth
ing but stupid blunders. lust sucb
plumbers as child with its undeveloped
powers would be expected to make. But
let us suppose that child has said some
thing very clever, what must be the re-
suit of repeating that saying to somebodv
else while the child is by? 1t can only
minister to vanity and self-conceit and
OF all utterly disgusting and uncomfortable
creatures on Gods earth, a conceited
child is the most disgusting and most mn.
endufaole Not only does this vicious
habit make children unpleasant, but it
sows in their hearts seeds which W IL
grow and bear in after years the bitter
fruits of disappointment.
Futile Missionary Work in Utah.
christian Work.
In Utah, according to a writer in the
Methodist Review, the churches are NOT
reaching the Mormons. So far as ron.
verting the Mormons is concerned. if is
claimed that money has been~larselv
wasted. If 200 real Mormons have been
changed and made into earnest evangel-
1cal Christians during that time the writer
declares that he las not been able to dis
cover them. Further, PRESBYTERIAN
pastor who has labored for the past five
years in Utah is of the opinion that not
lO0 have been converted into actual Chris
tians, and he asks; ''Why waste time.
money and labor carrying on what MANY
regard as religious crusade against
quiet, sober, religious and industrious
peopleP' The time seems to have come
for the authorities of all evangelical
churches to change their plans of mission
airy operation in Utah. There certainly
is no occasion for wasting effort and
money where results are nil.
The Unitarian Revival
(Cnristan Register.)
just now there is stirring among Uni
tarlans, as of rising wind in the tree
tops. Ministers and laymen are.moved to
ask if we may nat bear some larger part
in the blessed work of awakening the in
different, enlightening ''those in whom
the divine ray slumbers," and reckoning
the churchless and headless multitude to
come in from the highways and hedges,
and share the bountifuI banquet
heavenly love and life If we cannot
honestly do this along the old revivalis-
tic lines, may we not yet have genu-
inc and rational revival of pure and I'M
detiled religion2 Can we not focalize
our message on mans sonship and heir-
shipl Can we not illuminate the whole
social situation by holding up the torch of
fraternity? Expecting great things from
God, and attempting great things for God
may we not work the gracious miracles of
healing the sickness of humanity, cleans
ing its leprosies, casting out it's devils
and raising its dead?
Motives for Church Going
The Church-Episcopal.(
1t is best not to inquire too curiously
into human motives. What defamation
of the church-goers, for.example, would
ensue upon the requirement of satisfact-
DRY reasons to questions of motive pro-
pounded in the porch For all manner of
reasons, people go to church For all
manner of reasons they take,their journey
to remote countries. And a great many of
them are the better for it in many ways.
Barring an occasional railway accident,
covered by the increase of travel the pill
grims do not seem to be the worse for
their adventures. On the contrary, they
are the better for the experience They
come within the hearing of great speakers
they are touched by the high enthusiasm
of great multitudes; they go home with
new purposes. Religion seemed, perhaps,
somewhat dull matter in the country
village, where the faith was enshrined in
sanctuary of bare walls and meagre
lines, and was taught by hard sermons to
congregations who were in minority in
the neighborhood But the pilgrims have
seen something different. They have be-
held splendid churches, and have mingled
with throngs of believers and worshipers
and workers. They have caught sight, in
dim way, of the church. They have
come to realize their position, as the out
post of great army, as the members of
vast and strong fraternity. And they
carry back with them the enthusiasm of
the great occasion.