The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-08-07
OUR CONTRIBUTORS.
WINCHESTER AND MERIDEN.*
BY 0. W. HANSON, DID.

The prolonged and quite general
discussion relative to the Winchester
Profession that has now occupied
our conventions and press for nearly
twenty years has settled one fact be-
yond controversy,-that while there
are differences of opinion concerning
some of its forms of expression, no
one has yet been able to construct a
substitute that SO we'll meets the
views of the general mind as the
time-honored formula that for
century has stood as our doctrinal
symbol. Almost any one could bet
ter express his individual thought,
but no one has been able to give the
denominational consensus in terms
so brief, comprehensive and satisfac-
tory.
The Office of creed is not to des-
cribe all that any one holds as
Christian truth, or all that the ma
jority of church may consider as
true, but to inform the world of the
distinguishing doctrines which sect
holds in common for substance of
belief. While it is confessed that in
dividuals may be able to improve the
phraseology of our profession from
their standpoints, the result up to
date has proved that the suggestions
of individuals are not generally satis-
factory to others.
From my own viewpoint slight
changes would be an improvement.
The word destiny, or condition, would
be better than destination" in Art, L.
But the change is not of sufficient
consequence to Justify much dis
cussion.
Aside from this verbal defect Art. 1.
seems to me absolutely perfect. In
its statement of the position of the
Bible, no form of words could be
better. The Scriptures are "holy,"
not merely portion of ancient liter
ature, but a revelation" of the
character of God and of the duty and
destiny of men.
And the one word contains" is a
remarkable word when all the cir
cumstances of the times are con-
sidered. Christian churches without
exception taught the inerrancy of the
Bible, its plenary inspiration. The
authors of this document declare
that the book contains the word of
God, the divinely inspired message,
and almost century afterward the
slow scholars and theoiogians of other
churches, reached the conclusion
found by these unlettered but pro-
found men. Briggs, Swing, Thomas,
Abbott, and the better portion of most
churches concede the human element
the divine treasure is contained in
earthen vessels-but the treasure is
there. The Bible is not the word of
God but contains it. Its religious
meanings, its teachings have been re-
vealed, and they are authoritative.
The meaning of the Bible is the
Bible, and that is final in all religious
matters. To stand outside ofthis posi-
tion is to be non Christian inside
is that truly rational Christianity
toward which all sects are hasten
ing.
Art. III. is objected to by some be-
cause it is alleged to teach the trinity.
But the New Testament and our
Lords own words are quite as OBJ
jectionable. Matt. xviii. 10: $50
forth, disciple all the nations, baptiz-
ing in the name of the Father, and of
the Son, and of the Holy Spirit"
Those who except to this article on
the ground of it's trinitarian flavor
have a more serious controversy to
settle with the author of Christianity.
The language does not imply the
eqality of three persons, or even the
personality of the spirit. Read it with
a dash after "love" and before who"
and the meaning of the fathers and
our own thoughts will be perfectly
expressed: There is one God, whose
nature is love-revealed in one Lord
Jesus Christ, by one holy spirit of
Grace,-who," that is, God, will
finally restore" etc.
The omission of Fatherhood in this
article is defect, though it may be
said to be included in love which
contains fatherhood. But we must
confess that the article would have
been improved had it read: ave be-
lieve that there is one God, the uni
versal father" etc.
The word. however. that has been
productive of most difference of feel
ing is the word restore" think it
would have been better to say that
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