The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-10-25
DENIES THE TRINITY
Rev. {. H. Wallis Sermon
at the TWenty-fifth
Anniversary of the
Universalists.
WHAT THE CHURCH TEACHES
Historical Sketch of the Movement
Which Started a Quarter of
a Century Ago.
WHAT THE CHURCH TEACHES

Ff-&-f
Rev. Charles n. Vail, preached a sermon
in honor of the twenty-ffth anniversary
of that church. Tbs platform was taste
fully decorated with potted plants and
ferns, and the congregation turned out in
full force to hear Pastor Vail speak. His
subject was: The History and Message
of the First Universalist Church of Jer-
sey City Among other things he said
Early in the month of November, 1871,
Mr.. d. L.. Holden, treasurer OF the Uni
yersalist General Convention, was at the
office of the secretary, Rev. J. M. Pull
man, Broad street, New York city, and
asked him whether he thought the sew
eral ministers in the vicinity would serve
as missionaries for a few Sundays at Jer-
sey City. until it could be ascertained
whether a movement would be supported.
Mr.. Pullman and the Rev. Mr.. Bennett,
of I~rvingtcn, N. j., who happened to be
present, both offered to aid the project
with all their ability.
Mr.. Holden being aware that Library
Hall, then occupied by st. Johns Epis-
copal Church. would be vacated about
the first of December, arranged with Mr..
Pullman to preach the first sermon there
December 10, 1871. at three P. Nj.
Mr.. Holden at once engaged me hall,
purchased fifty copies of the sVestry
Harmonies,'. and sent his organ to the
place of meeting. The opening services
were duly announced in the daily papers
and by posters displayed in the cars: At
the appointed time about one hundred ana
fifty gathered at the hall and listened to
an eloquent sermon by the Rev. ]. NJ.
Pullman from the text, He that answer
eth a matter before he heareth it, it is a
folly and a shame unto him'-Froverbs
1913. At the close of the service, a con-
%stitution, which had been prepared in ac-
cordance with that recommended by the
Universalist General Convention, was
unanimously adopted. On the following
Sunday a Sunday school was organized
and the movement, SO auspiciousiy COM
menced, was carried forward with regu-
larity from Sunday to Sunday, under the
direction of the following named clergy
and Rev. N. Peters, of Brooklyn; Rev.
Sumner Ellis and Rev. F. Hitchcock OF
Newark; Rev. e. {. Sweetser. Rev.
Charles Fluhers and Rev. j. NJ. Pullman
OF New York. During this period various
social and business meetings were held,
the parish organization completed and
Boarq OF Trustees elected. on April pd !.
regular pastor and services were held both
morning and evening.
HOn August 8, 1872, this church, which
we now occupy was bought from the
Emory Methodist Society and was thor
oughly refitted and refurnished The first
service was held in the new church Oeto-
Der 20.
Large audiences also attended both the
afternoon and evening services.
"Ths afternoon service commenced at
James NJ. Pullman, of the Universalist
Church, in Thirty-fourth street, New
York. His subject was Spiritual Health
fulness." 1t was not a sign Of spiritual
ion II. order to ave his SOU from just
punishment. The Universalists believe in
punishment, not to kill, but to cure. God
Furnishes to make better. He Furnishes in
his own anger. The evening service COM
meneed at half-past seven by a sermon
from Rev. Edwin c. Sweetser, Of the New
York Blocker Street Universalist Church.
The concluding services on Monday ev-
ening were attended by a still larger
crowd. DR.. Chaplin was to preach. More
over, his full choir. n Of The finest in
available corner of the church was
packed. The Doctor preached a mastery
and thrilling discourse.
ttSuch were the services at the opening
of this church. Oct. 20 and q, 1872. Tween
ty-ffve years have passed since that mem
orable event. But few here to-day were
present at those services A quarter OF
a century has wrought wonderful changes.
Who would say but that the friends who
stood Loyalty by the cause when on earth
do not now mingle their gratitude with
ours in this anniversary celebration?
1.-The work so auspiciously begun was
carried forward with zeal and enthusiasm.
The Rev. A. A. Thayer continued his pas
torate until April 1, 1873. During the next
year no regular pastor was settled, the
pulpit being supplied from Oct. 5 to Dec.
I by Rev. Moses Ballou. and from Dec. IA
to March 81. 1874, by the Rev. |. NJ. At
menced her labors April l, 1874, n con-
tinued as pastor of the church for three
years. During the succeeding year the
pulpit was supplied by various ministers.
SOW Nav I 1879 Pow II Hnrf1nl1 he
gan his pastorate, which continued until
April 80. 1879. Since that time the church
has had as regular pastors Rev. Q. L.
Ashenfelter, from Sept. l, 1885,, to May !,
1882; Rev. /. P. Coddington, from May i.
1852, to July 1, 1884: Rev. ]. F. Thompson,
from Nov. 6. 1884, to June l. 1881; Rev. Il.
1894. The present pastor, Rev. Charles H.
Vail, commenced his pastorate June /,
ut is not my purpose this morning to
go into the details of these various pas
in a large measure, familiar to all But
rather. for a few minutes. to consider
the message which these men of God,
during this period; proelainsd to the
is not so important as its message. What,
then, is the message that this church has
proclaimed to the world for a quarter of
a century, But, first, let US consider the
sources of our message. Where do We
get our message?
e@n From the Bible; t) from science;
(Se from human Nature, IA iFOIl the MS
tory of the past and movements of to-
Mr.. Vail then explained each of these
points at some length, after which he
Said
But what of this message? What has
this church to say upon the great themes
| OF religion? How do we interpret God,
Christ. man and the future? First
What does this church teach concerning
God? we believe that God is one. as
opposed to the doctrine Of the Trinity"
Here Mr.. Vail took up and discussed
the scientific conception of the universe.
showing that the power that ruled the
Universe was innat and not a outlined.
governed the world in an arbitrary man
ner as a tyrant governs his Kingdom;
God is supremacy good as against the OLD
| IDEAS of wrath and vengeance.
"Second-What does this church teach
| concerning Christi We do not believe
that he IS God, or that he belongs to
some supernatural order of beings be-
tween God and man, but rather that he
is one with us-our friend. our teacher,
| our leader. The common distinction be
| tween human and divine is fictitious and
| Was d mere man, for w are not able
| 10 measure the depth nor height OF even
mere humanity. MOI do we say that he
| was s. man like US. for Shakespeare was
not d man like us; Dante ana Socrates
we're not men like us. When we say
| that Jesus was man. it is not to degrade
/ him but To lift humanity Those who
cannot comprehend Jesus unless they
think of him as something more than
human generally assume Il very low
type Of humanity. and then no wonder
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