The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-04-03

doing great things in recent years;
the trouble is to keep doing them.
We have worked ourselves up" we
must now guard against reaction.
The lesson of the Abolitionist and
the ball team will help us. Enthus-
iastic loyalty to common cause not
only unites the workers. but speeds
every endeavor, making success GER
tain. There should be no steps back
ward. Retreats do not inspire; they
are necessary in warfare, but folly in
in an intellectual or spiritual combat.
Not a less aggressive policy, but
more aggressive, is the call of the
hour. Prepare for large things. Plan
for great victories. Give us much to
hope for, work for, give for; fire us
with zeal for our cause as great
cause, and Universalists will fall into
line and work hard and earnestly.
minds may differ, hearts agree.
There are no heretics when the
tongues of fire are in the air" Results
will not come in day or year. The
pioneer Abolitionist travelled in soul
before the nation was reused. The
athletic team slowly catches the spirit
of the few faithful ones, but at last
comes the true esprit de corps. If
there is faith and earnestness, results
come; and so will certainly come the
great missionary era of our church.
A campaign of education" in
church work is at times no less nee
cessary than in politics. There are
old habits and prejudices to be over
come; little shivering sensation at
any approach to enthusiasm, a rooted
distrust of organization, disinclina-
ton to systematic and generous Civ
ing. We need new rallying cries,
new incentives, new calls to duty
The drum and the music, the flags
and the war cry, play no small part
in the firing of the zeal of the soldiers
The onward march of our church
army needs all the inspiration our
leaders can give us, and it is by no
means sure that we, too, do not need
the drum and the banner, the war
songs and even the medals of honor
The claims of our organizations
need to be earnestly presented and
persistently enforced. All Univer-
salists believe in their church. When
they come to see the absolute neces-
sity of broad miss onary policy and
the demand for united front for GER
tain definite ends, they will fall into
line; but they are hard-headed and
must be thoroughly convinced. We
realize that the citizens are the State
and each has his place in the great
whole, but we have not yet learn ed
that the individuals are the churches
and the churches are the conven-
tions.
indispensable as are enthusiasm
and loyalty to our cause, one thing
more is needed: education in syste-
matte giving AS individuals we are
held responsible for all the possibili-
ties of our church. If it fails to do
the glorious work it might, the blame
is ours. Ability obligates. That the
Universalist Church can is the proof
that the Uriversalist Church ought;
and you and |, brethren. are the
Universalist Church. "The taxes of
heaven are not per capita but pro
rata" We need to offer the prayers
of the Scotch divine: Lord, make us
to give till it hurts"
With consecrated enthusiasm, loyal
support, and generous gifts to our
organized bodies, our church has a
grand present. Shall we launch out
into the deep and let down our nets,
or shall we stand on the shore and
discuss the best methods of fishing?
BARRE, VT.