New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-12-13
THE UNITARIANS' CREED
DIR SAVAGE SAYS THE CHURCH HAS ONE But
THAT IT Is OPEN TO THE INFLUENCE
OF MODERN THOUGHT

OF MODERN THOUGHT
The Rev Or. MInot J. Savage at the Church VI
IN. Messiah yesterday morning. preached serho"
on the Unitarians' Greed. Among other Things "e
said: 49,,
Now. 10 come to the question as 10 why tnita-
r,ans have no creed. OF course the answer, though
il sounds like an ibernanism Is to say 'nat u teS
eCme OF the older Churches use the word II by
creed you written or published siaeeneat T'
one that is a test OF religious fellowship which Is
placed the door OF the Church 80 h nan no one haTe
no creed But in the broader sense OF tne Woru II
belief and nnitarans t oe nobr and srander
than those that have been believed IN me pas pas on,
n cr are Ne are perfectly willing tina, it should
be printed We put It into twelve causes Ne
Apostles Greea WE yss Creed m of the Angcan
church we can arrange IT any way that Is sat
sfacoy to the quesoner only we WIN npf n prG sav
that we will never learn anything new; we VIII
not make It test OF b TO our Mr church
organization II they wish 10 come. people VINO 90
shall write Perhaps We will admit people who do
not believe any OF IT; for our conception OF u
That il was sort OF ark in which the saved were
taken to be carried over the stormy sea OF ms
As opposed to mat, our conception OF the Church
Is that It Is school; II IL place where Souls are
soon refuse TO ADMIT ignorant pupil TO a school
az TO refuse to admit person on account or MS
hpl inf
70 come and learn. and H. after they have studied
with ms for a year they do not then accept all the
points which some OF us believe, and even believe
10 be important, We do not turn them out, even on
that account -, =. ,
IinItarians then. do have a creed. only 1t Is not
fixed IL is not final and II is not me condition OF re-
iigious fellowship do believe I'm having fixed
and final statement OF belief which not at
liberty 10 critcise question or change. Why?
Because [ love the truth. because am anxious to
ind the truth. because wish TO be perfectly free
10 seek for the truth.
Now let me present this 10 you under three or
four minor heads. The universe Is infinite, God IS
Infinite truth Is infinite. Now, n on the background
OF the infinite you draw circle. no matter how
large II may be. matter how wide In diameter,
do YOU not that you necessarily shut out more
than you shut in? DO you not see that You limit the
range OF thought, set bounds to investigation. and
that you pledge yourselves beforehand that the
larger part OF truth. OF God. OF the universe, you
will never study. you VIII never question T.. $3.50.
I venture the truth OF the statement that II you
should inquire over this country to-day you would
find that the large majority OF people VINO nave
been trained In the old faith are In an atutuue OF
fear toward modern thought. thousands or them
would come TO us to-day II they were not kept
the danger OF asking questions. ! DO not wish 10
make a charge against my cretnren-t puts them
in a very curious attitude Indeed toward the truth
They must not accept new idea II II CONNECTS
with the old creed. however much they may De
convinced It Is true. II they do accept II, then
what They must either leave the Church or they
must keep still about II. and remain IN an atti-
tude of appearing TO believe what they reaily 90
not believe. Or else they must 90 violence 10 tne
creed reinterpreting II In such way as 20 intake
Il 10 them what the trainers OF II had never
dreamed of. 49,,
/ wish 10 speak a little further in this matter as
10 not preventing the coming in OF modern thought
and to take ono illustration. LOOK a. AnooVer