The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-02-07

ioin the Unitarian church," had as
complete an answer to it as has prob
ably ever been given, in Rev. Mrs. Mia
Topper Maynards discourse at Unity
hall yesterday morning. The lady's
effort was to exhibit in the strongest
light the real spirit Of Unitarianism
and to set forth such principles as that
church rests upon. The sermon was
listened to by u very large congrega-
ton, and Mrs. Maynard spoke in part
as follows:
This morning l wish to bring before
YOU in brief outline the chief principles
that characterize the modern liberal
church The vast liberal movement Of
the past century has embodied itself in
4 great number of individual churches
under various names, all OF which
stand very nearly on the same basis.
All churches and all intelligent indi-
viduals have felt the influence of the
modern methods of thought and the
larger views of this latter day. The
more strongly organized religious bod
les such as the Catholic, Presbyterian
and Methodist churches, while they
have been permeated with the modern
leaven, have found it impossible to
change the outward conditions of their
organizations in conformity to their
larger views; but in those religious
organizations having a more pliable
form of government, the individual
churches have been rapidly adapting
their conditions of membership and all
regulations in conformity to the freer
spirit Wherever congregational free
dom is recognized, each church has
been able TO work out for itself what
ever basis appealed to its members as
the best. The result has been that in
the last ten years remarkably rapid
progress has been made toward the
ideal church. In most departments of
life our ideals have to be a long way
in advance of actual conditions, for
institutions can only be moulded slow
~, in gradual approximation to the
ideal
But in the organization of a church.
under a system which allows perfect
freedom to the individual congregation,
there is nothing TO hinder the carrying
out of ones highest ideal as far as the
basis and regulations of the church are
concerned. This does not mean, of
course, that the actual working of the
church viii perfectly conform to the
highest standard of its members and
the outward condition under which it
works viii allow. There is no reason
however, why the basis of the church
should not perfectly conform to the
highest convictions of the majority of
those who comprise such church. As a
matter OF fact, l am personally ac-
quainted with scores of churches which
their desire for an eternally true basis
for religious fellowship. Most of these
churches with which I am personally
acquainted are Unitarian in name;
many of them are Universalist; some
half-dOZen or more are called PEOPLES
churches; an increasing number are
Congregational churches; almost all of
the more modern Jewish congregations
would come in the same category; the
ethical culture societies are very much
akin to all of these. except that they
differ in methods of work The free
religious association, although it has
until recently made no effort to organ
lie churches, has been in the van
guard for go years in the PRONUNCIATION
of freedom in religious work. The
oSOphists, Spiritualists, Mental Sci
entists and others probably with which
we are less familiar have all largely. in
so far as they have organized at all, rec /
ognized the same principles of freedom /
fellowship and character in religion 7
Thus, in stating my idea of a Unitarian
church, l feel that 1 am VOicing the
convictions of a great liberal move
ment that is far wider than any one
denomination; that this free church
ideal is too general for any one group
to claim patent right upon its prin-
ciples.
Since the Worlds Fair Parliament of .
Religions there has been an organiza-
which aims to secure the union of all
these liberal forces in a common effort
TO advance the higher life of human
lty- Let me read you its statement of
purpose To unite in a larger fellow
ship and cooperation such existing
societies and liberal elements as are
IN sympathy with the movement
toward undogmatic religion; to foster
and encourage the organization of non
sectarian churches and kindred soci-
cites on the basis of absolute mental
liberty; 10 secure a closer and more
helpful association Of all these in the
thought and work of the world under
the great law and life of love; TO de-
velop church Of humanity democratic
in organization. progressive in spirit
aiming at the development OF pure and
high character, hospitality to all forms
o. thought, cherishing the spiritual
tradition and experiences of the past
bat keeping itself open to all new
light and the higher development of
the future"
What, then, would it mean to Join
one of these churches of united lib
erals?
First and foremost. it does not mean
that person has come to believe 4
certain set of doctrines. It does not
mean that he has come to disbelieVe d
certain set of doctrines Either Of
these things may be true. He may
nave creed as long as he chooses.
He may have u don't believe creed
as long as he sees fit He may accent
every article in the Athanasian creed.
or the Westminster Confession. or ne
may deny them in toto. What he must
believe in is the right of free inquiry
10 find out what IS true; and in the
right OF others to have the same priv
ilege. Freedom in the search for truth
and cooperation for moral and re-
ligious ends among those whose opin-
ions may not agree, are the distin-
gushing features of the truly modern !
church.
The church OF our ideal would set llp +
no barriers TO fellowship which would ,
keep out any earnest soul; its spirit
and IFS letter should be such that no ,
one who desires to work with his fell i,
lows for the welfare of humanity could :
be excluded because Of any theoretical {
difference There should be nothing in !.
the bond of union that q person of c
mind and earnest heart could
tail To endorse. 1t should embodv +
those fundamental aspirations which .
are common to the Salvation Army n
assie and the professor of theology at ,.
Princeton college; TO the Catholic nun =
and the doubling Scientist This NAV y
seem merely formal matter. and vet Y
C means a great deal to me. The none =,
IF Rome may probably never seek ad ,.
mission into any church with which 7 "a
am connected, yet I should never feel 9
comfortable in any church which would u
exclude him. Robert IN :,
sersoI has been for years too :
we'll pleased with his independ- y