The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-01-30
Universalist Thought.
OUR OWN WRITER'S.
Defect in our Missionary Movements.

Defect in our Missionary Movements.
One of our serious defects in inaugur-
ating and maintaining missionary move
ments is the impotency Of our clergy.
Tney are the naturally authorized
agents Of the church under our theoreti-
cally Presbyterian system for defining
the work, inciting the people and bear
ing their offerings to the general treas
uary, but the independency of our
churches and the enforced dependency
Of our clergy upon those churches rem
ders this legitimate work so hazardous
that the instinct of self.protection de-
feats it and the church cannot raise it's
voice in censure, for it will not protect
them in the discharge of this duty.
When the church will protect its
clergy and insist that each church shall
respect the leadership of the pastor, both
because he is their own chosen leader
and the chosen representative of the
great denomination, than a great step
will be taken for unity and progress
Req. F. A. Dillingham;.
Building Life with God.
If we largely make our own life, with
its attending consequences Of good or ill
to self and others, it becomes matter
of concern to determine life's purpose
Alright; and of especial concern as we
realize we are here by Gods power and
authority. God has not called US into
being for nothing. We could hardly be
here unless he wanted US. and he wants
us to do some particular work. II, then,
there is certain right end to which
God would have us live, we very much
desire to know what it is; for we have
sufficient good sense to realize that it is
impossible for man to make success
Of life working against God. He builds
only for disaster and loss who builds
apart from Gods interest. God having
the best purpose for man will not, be-
cause of his love, allow man contentedly
to follow any other. We would, there
with our lives; and in seeking to know
we have the advantage of the guiding ex-
perience of Jesus.-Rev. T. B. T. Fisher
Interest in Universalism.
If you profess to believe in Universal
ism and will allow pride or sectional
differences or any other thing to
come between you and your church,
then you are not fully wrapped in
the Spirit of the Father and his love
is not supremely in your soul. You
may talk all you please; you may
sing all you please; you may pray to the
end Of the chapter; you are not different
from what you are. The day is passed
when men can remain Indifferent and
still be strong Universalists. One Of
these strong Universalists recently came
to our notice. She had attended an or
thodox church ten years and her strength
was in the fact that she had persist.
emily refused to join the church in the
face of the repeated invitations of the
pastor. This kind of strength has held
sway in our church long enough. It's
force has long been dissipated and it
surely is a minus quantity by this
time.
Let US, all along the line, rise to a
higher level than ever before. To be in
teresting is to be interested. Step by
step, let the advance be made.-Rev.
Lyman Ward.
Our Journey Through the Wilderness.
The Universalist denomination in its
march of progress through the present
century, began, like the Hebrews Of old,
IN privation and hardship. With Moses
to lead them out of bondage, they began
their iourneying through the wilderness,
crossing through seas of difficulty. paus-
ing many times ready to turn back,
slaves to the old dogmas and supersti-
tions. rather than face the hardships Of
new, untried religion. But the leaders
and workers of a generation ago had the
indomitable will and perseverance, of
the Master, and urged them on, until
after years of privation and suffering