The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-01-02

CHICAGO.-St st. Paul s.-The Christ
mas services have been we'll attended,
and the music of the popular choir intel
ligently appreciated. Tuesday evening
the Sunday school children had their en-
teitainment. which was enjoyed to the
point of hilarity. Rev. J. j. Lewis next
Sunday night returns by request to the
Passion Play, and will repeat that popular
lecture with its magnificent illustrations.
He has given it twice before in this
church to crowded congregations and
the popular demand is for it's repeti-
ton.
Church of the Redeemer.-The Rev.
T. B. Gregory, pastor of our Church
of the Redeemer, on the West Side,
preached to his congregation on Sunday
morning on "Optimiem or, Thoughts
for the New Year." He said:
IL want to voice thought or two this
morning upon live subject. / ask you
to try to be optimists, since optimism is
the only working faith. Pessimism
means death. When Mr.. Putnam, the
great apostle of pessimism, turned on
the gas the other day in a Boston hotel
and died, he was simply consistent with
the dark gospel he preached. Believe
with Voltaire, with Leopard, with
Schopenhauer. that the world is a mis-
take and mans life in it a curse, and you
must either destroy yourself or. lacking
the physical courage to do that, linger
on. lazy, snarling cynic. 1t is newt
able.
ain this fact think l see an unan-
swerable argument against pessimism. 1t
will not work. Put its theory into prac-
tice and it proves universally destruc-
tive. The Great Framer OF human ma
ture could not have intended to use pes
simists, since pessimism serves but to
paralyze or destroy us. Desp SO men
and you will never become philan-
thropist. Despise your own life and you
will never become hero.
"But il you can manage to believe
that the world and the human lives
therein have basis in good; that there
is divine potentially in us which all
experience is assisting to make actual,
then you can labor and wait; and, wait
ing, maintain your serenity and sweet
ness, and above all else. preserve loving
interest in your own lives and in those OF
your fellowmen.
81 can do no better than to invite you
to the gospel of the bright side. Go
forth into the new year with no cynical
snarl upon the lip, with no misanthropi-
cal contempt in the heart, but with all
brave confidence and tender good will.
Oak Park.-Christmas Sunday, 1885,
will be long and pleasantly remembered
by our people. The services in the morn,
ing were of unique but appropriate
character. The alienation OF musical
numbers by the choir with short ad-
dresses by the pastor served to make up
song which formed a pleasant
change from the usual set preaching.
In the vestry the floral decorations
furnished by the Sunday-school but
selected and hung by the Superintend-
ent, Mr.. Roberts, were very beautiful.
Never did the room have 80 much OF
Christmas look. Best of all it was COM
pletely filled by the members of the
school and their friends. The exercises
seemed to the pastor the best we have
ever had. The children's Rotations
were given with remarkable clearness
and understanding.
The evening service, led by Miss Cal
houn, continued and strengthened the
impressions of the day. Miss Emily
Currier read an original Christmas
story; Miss Butler the legend of ST.
Christopher. Beautiful solos were sung
by Miss Clapp aud by Miss Schlund.