The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-01-23
NO STEP BACKWARD.

If ever there was time when the
ministers of the Universalist Church
we're on trial as to the stuff that is in
them, that hour is upon US now. The
possibility of any slackening of the in
terest in the japan Mission, or of any
serious impairment of its efficiency is
enough to make us ask ourselves what
manner of men we are. 1t seems almost
impossible, after the enthusiasm with
which that work was started. the per-
the strong and earnest support given it
up to the present time, that anybody
should dream of giving that splendid
enterprise any less than the most hearty
backing and funds enough to live and to
grow upon. We have committed our
selves to this work with seriousness and
enthusiasm. We have organized our
forces, we have called our missionaries
to enter into the long and arduous la
bors of their commission, we have in
voked the attention of the world to our
entrance into this new field. And now
are we going suddenly to weaken and
grow cold? Do we propose to prove our
selves a tickle and vacillating people,
with no power to pursue policy after
it has lost the gloss of novelty, interested
only as long as we are under the spell of
special pleading, with no staying power
of strong conviction fit to keep us fifty
years, if need be, at the tilling. before we
demand harvest? If l thought that
the Universalists of America could so
totally fail of the qualities which 60 to
make up church of the living God. /
should vote to recall our missionaries
and set them at work to convert the
home churches l will not believe it
until this weak and tickle temper is dem
onstrated by events.
But such betrayal of our latest en-
terprise would be an indictment of our
ministers, too severe to be borne. 1t
would show that they we're weak leaders
of shifty people. 1t would convict them
of Inconsistency, timidity, faint-hearted-
ness. 1t is useless to make evaeions and
put the blame on our polity or on our
parishes. When any enterprise like the
japan Mission is laid upon our con-
sciences. our pastors hold the power of
life and death over it. IL they heartily
believe in it, work for it. talk for it there
is no danger that it will lapguish. | do
hn ~ fho
churches. know perfectly we'll how
the indifference. the hostility, the obsti-
macy of the parish or the influential par
ishioner may sometimes thwart the pas
tors most earnest efforts. Nevertheless
am persuaded that he is the RESPONSE
BILE agent, he holds the key of the situa-
tion. The appeal for church extension
and allied causes may fail even with his
loyal support; it must fail without it.
He cannot always create support; he
can always kill it.
can see very good reason why the
response to the japan Mission is less
this year than usual. The long, dreary
years of business depression have had
the same effect on all missionary work,
even in the richest and strongest
churches. We had no right to expect
| immunity from conditions which affect
all Christendom in America. Moreover,
the time selected for the presentation of
the japan Mission and other church ex-
tension was this year most unfortunate.
1t was just at election time, when mems
minds were distracted, anxious, de-
pressed or elated over political affairs,
and wholly absorbed in them. Nothing
was possible at all commensurate with
the cause, at such a period as that.
There is nothing for it but to try again.
Appoint special Sunday, and make
grand lift all through the church.-ReU.
j. Coleman Adams, in Leader.