The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-04-10

thousand and one, and that one bears
the same relation to the thousand as the
dome of st. Peters does to the walls,
buttresses, pillars. and roof of that great
est of cathedrals. 1t completes and in
terprets all the rest.
Without stopping to do more than in
dicate that universal redemption. the
moral success of God with his children,
is necessary to interpret and complete
the dear and mighty agencies and pro-
cesses he employs. let US bestow upon
that sublime conception which has been
put within the grasp of our feeble
hands of faith" and which constitutes
our distinctive charge, little brief con-
sideration. Because of it we want the
earth. Is it philosophical conclusion
to satisfy the mind with sense of in
tellectual completeness? Yes, it is this
though more. 1t repudiates the assump-
tion that a declarative faith in the ul-
innate moral and spiritual harmony Of
human souls with God is unwarranted,
as being denial of religions essential
and inalienable right to reason from the
nature and character of God. A voice
Of latest orthodoxy says that "tbe will OF
man is mystery as deep as the
mystery of God himself" and. on that
equation of the finite with the Infinite.
dares not trust itself to say that every
eye that loves darkness shall open to the
light and every heart with affections
centred on self shall turn to the Eternal.
Human responsibility is deep, but be-
meath its deepest depth does not the re-
sponsibility of God lie? Who is respon.
sible for mans responsibility? The
wisdom, love and moral supremacy of
God are trammeled up in the answer to
this question. And as I'VE reason far
more truly from the character of God
than from his acts," another utterance
Of this same voice of latest orthodoxy,
we. as Universalists, do not hesitate to
give reply which vindicates and leaves
unimpeached Christianity's most essen
tial and comprehensive message,-God is
love. We want the earth for this philo-
sophical conclusion.
But Universalism is more than phil
osophical conclusion. 1t is great con-
ISOLATION. I would not over-emphasize
this phase of it's applicability to human
need, nor, or on the other hand, would
l undervalue it. Life is sadly perplex-
ing, indeed, and to the human heart
quite as much as to the human head.
To it's credit, be it said, the hu-
man heart has proved q reader and
more reliable guide than the head. Our
loves are more persistent than our ideas.
The heart will never settle down to the
WEAKNESS of agnosticism.
1t will press on to rest and peace when
intellect surrenders the search as hope
less. The heart loves. and always with
the mystery of an ideal tinting its affec-
tions. 1t is the God organ in human
nature. In the parental soul, it claims
son or daughter as it's own and it's ideals
forever, with claim never surrendered.
Before the very throne Of the universe,
it does stand up and claim it's own, and re-
quire that he who sits thereon shall not
prove himself mocker of the sanctities
of human affection. Is there any but
the one great faith which we have. that
does not, in Gods name. tantalize the
yearning affections of human kind? Till
he find and bring home is the search of
God, the great shepherd. continued. He
does not fail or give up discouraged.
We want the earth for this great consola-
tion.
But more than this, Universalism is
the one never exhausted. always appli.
cable motive. Have we sufficiently ap-
preciated it in this phase? For my own
part, am free to confess that the
moral idea that as philosophy and con-
ISOLATION seems sufficient, but that cannot
wear the garb of strong and efficient
motive, is fatally lacking. Can we trans
late Universalism into the language of
moral dynamics? What is Universalism?
1t is word of complete moral victory.
1t means the universe of souls in moral
harmony with the great Soul of the
universe. 1t means each one ultimately
being and doing what he ought to be and
do. Time and place are merely Incl
dental matters, but God. triumphant
through his purposeful love. is central
In other words. Universalism stands for
the moral must" of God. Go where we
may, become what we may. we cannot
escape it. 1t awaits the prodigal's awak-
ening from his moral swoon. 1t is the
only motive which vetoes moral despera-
tion and moral mediocrity.
We live under a moral fate, moral
destiny. fate of right-requiring, a des-
tiny of love. Fear of pain, hope of re-
ward, the peace of obedience; yes, these
are good and applicable when they are
applicable. but the moral must of God,
Universalism. is never without its point
OF contact, for all other motives are but
phases or refinements of it, We want
the earth because we have what the
earth wants. Wherever there is hu.
man soul there is subject for the Uni
versalist faith.
Shall we get the earth? 1t is not at
all likely that the Universalist Church