The Universalist., 1897-07-24

merrier. Our own feeling is that the
exercise is becoming monotonous and in
view OF the amounts reported as raised
during the year, indication of want of
financial foresight. In plain terms it
costs too much to run the Y. P. G. U.
machinery. The expenses are out of
proportion to the sums used in mission
ary work. Add to the direct expenses of
organization the indirect expenses of the
annual convention and we have as much
money absorbed in the incidentals of
the Y. P. @. U. movement as is expended
directly for mission work by the entire
Universalist Church.
Now we do not question the great
value of the young peoples convention.
Merely as religious demonstration and
stimulus to faith and courage it is, we
are inclined to think, worth all it costs.
But it could not be kept up on that
basic. The moment it should be looked
upon as an end it would collapse. 1t
lives and. .thrives now because all think
of it as necessary incident and spon-
taneous. expression of a great work
which the young people of the Univer-
salist Church are carrying forward. And
the continuance of the disproportion be-
tween operating expenses and the
amounts applied in missions and church
extension will presently tell on the en-
thusiasm and vitality of the organiza-
ton. So we advise a careful study of
the situation to see if it is not practic-
able to save some of the money that
goes for official and personal expenses,
vention let us raise funds, not to pay
deficit, but to build church or hire
missionary, or do other direct and con-
structive work.
The recommendation of the Execu-
tive Board to hold the next session at
the same time and place with the next
convention of the Young Peoples Re
ligious Union of the Unitarian churches,
proved the most agitating subject intro.
duced. The readiness with which some
delegates interpreted the proposition to
mean that an amalgamation of the two
bodies was intended, led others to be-
lieve that some such purpose was enter
tanned. AS usual many irrelevant ques-
tions were brought into the discussion
and quite superfuous amount of feel
ing was developed. On the proposition
10 merge the two organizations into one
the voice of the church would be over
whelmingly in the negative. 1t would
mean larger gathering, at least for a
few years; but less unions interested,
less work undertaken, less business
done and finally faction and extinction.
Anything more embarrassing to both
parties could not be suggested 1t is
purely sentimental project to which
sensible men and women will not com
NIT themselves. But exchange of cour-
tesies and union mass meetings, leaving
all legislation and administration to the
separate bodies, may not be objection
able and may be helpful.
"A new feature of this session was
the congresses, which also were the oc-
casion of bringing DR.. Wilbur F. Crafts
before the Y. P. G. U. The profession
al reformer is not likely to engage the
sympathetic interest of young persons.
When reforms reach the stage that
they are in the air, the young feel the
spell of their influence and kindle
quickly to the word of the advocate.
But it is quite otherwise while they are
under nurture and are slowly forcing
their way to public recognition. DR..
Crafts is the apostle of a number of
reforms which have not yet touched
the public sympathy. The observance
of Sunday. the suppression of the sa-
loon. Christian sociology and Christian
citizenship, are not in all the thought of
most people, But DR.. Crafts has phil
osophy of life and of society that under
lies all his reformatory ideas. He is SO
expert, SO clear headed. so facile. so full
of facts and figures-rhetorica as we'll
mathematical-that he is instant mas
ter of the platform. He carried the con-
vention with him and poured knowledge
and inspiration into waiting minds
from an apparently exhaustless foun-
tain.
The relations subsisting between
the Detroit pastor and his neighbors
appears to be exceptionally fraternal.
1t was pleasant to greet so many of the
city pastors on the convention platform.
They were unaffectedly cordial in their
manner and particularly happy in the
expression of their sympathy. On Sun
day the number of pulpits opened to
clergymen in attendance upon the con-
vention was an object lesson in denomi-
national fraternity. Much more sig.
nifcent is such practical exhibition of
Christian fellowship than the yards Of
pious defamation about unity" sent
forth by men who are careful never to
embrace any opportunity to put their
talk into act. Humbug should be left
to professional showmen: LET love be
without hypocracY. The beauty of the
city, the heartiness of the audience, the
ample and admirable arrangements, the
spirit OF fraternity manifest the un-
,rasf;no anarUv opd apfbua;ono of kho