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

the man underneath the belief, tbs
spirit underlying both the truth anc
error, and so our church has said, I'VE
viii base our welcome upon mora
purpose, which has never changed
which is never doubted. Upon the love
of Jesus, not his idea of the end of tbs
world upon the heroism of Paul, not
his theory of election; upon the re-
hgious fervor of both Luther and the
pope, not upon the doctrine of infalli-
bility of the one, or justification by
faith of the other. We should seek to
base the church upon that element
which has been in all religions-in
heather and Christian, Protestant and
Catholic, Puritan and Armenian. or
thodox and heterodox. rather than upon
the theories which have REDEEMED the
centuries with bloody strife.
1 have thus laid stress upon the at
titude of the modern church toward
! theological belief, because it is the side
! which is most apt TO be misunderstood,
and that in which il is most different
from the older churches. Free and
fearless thought is a boon that we
must not receive lightly; it is priv
liege rare indeed within church bOun-
diaries. But let US not imagine this to
mean that Unity church is simply a
society for intellectual gymnastics with
theological problems as the apparatus:
far from it. Intellectual activity in
and for itself is a doubtful good: we
seek the thought freedom not only be-
cause it is the only reverent, wise basis
for religion, but also because we value
first OF all what a man is. Character
is so great thing that we would not
put any opinion above it. To make
correct belief the test of church fell
lowship would be to say that it is of
first Importance what a man thinks
and that righteousness is secondary TO
ie- 4.
by which the past is judged We
care little what the faith was a martyr
died Tor. If it was the faith of a
molly lie we feel the sacriiege was the
same whether he suffered for truth or
error Our freedom would be of little
worth if it did not intensity our
emphasis upon the things of the spirit
We cannot be true to our heritage from
the past by simply using our blood
earned privilege of specializing IN
hindered. Those who have given them
selves in the cause were not merely
imbued with enthusiasm for a theory
but for Righteousness. Jesus would
have cared little to spread his oDposi-
ton to Pharasaic customs and theories,
II his lever thought had noi been
necessary 10 fuller, higher spiritual
life. So with others. 1t has been
those who have cared for the truth
as saving power for their fellows that
have earned the freedom for US.
Free thought we value then only as
means TO the great ends of char
acter and fellowship. to deepen in our
selves and in the world that inner
holiness aid outer rectitude of life is
the great aim of the church. But here
is another thing that needs to be speci-
ally noted. Although such stress is
laid upon character in this church,
membership in a liberal church ought
not TO be understood to mean any
especial height in character building, it
should mean rather that one desires to
become more than he is, it should mean
that he wishes to identify himself with
his fellows in efforts to attain unto
higher Standards of righteousness and
more complete conformity to those
standards. A person who felt that it
did not make much difference whether
he were good or bad-that efforts TO be
more manly or wOmanly were waste
of energy, would have no place in
religious fellowship. l doubt if such
persons exist. Almost everyone be-
lieves in the worth of righteousness,
however much his conduct may belle
his theory. What we seek is to trans
form this general approval Of morality
into persistent. practical effort to
grow stronger in righteousness. 1t is
the hunger and thirst after righteous
worth. I should feel that the soul
sunk unto the lowest depth which was
yearning with mighty longing for
purer, hOlier life was a. more appro-
pirate candidate for hearty fellowship
than the most respectable moralist /
who felt that he had attained all that I
was 70 be desired.
The church stands not alone for in
dividual effort IN the moral life, but !
it stards for cooperation in moral /
helpfulness. I have heard several per- /
sons say IN effect, I do not feel the /
need of a church. 1T would not make !
me any better, there may be persons /
who need it." 1t is strange that they
cannot see the selfshness of this. Sup
pose = were possible to live a right /.
life entirely cut off from sympathetic {
work with others. how could one be
content to do it? If we are tsrong, can
we therefore ignore the needs of those
who are weak, car we in a world of
sin and suffering and weakness shut
up and say, 1t does not con-
cern me2' No. we cannot do it and
retain any true moral strength our
selves. Such lives may keep the law,
but they miss the spirit most Woe
'ully. The oneness of human life enters
into the entire wool and web of spiritual
laws. We cannot ignore our brothers
in LIES struggle without lCosing our
hold upon the sweetest things of the
spirit. One must lose his life in others
ea- = he IS 10 save MS own.
selfshness, AFRO
sance. self conceit - all come as
,anker upon the soul of him
Who forgets that no man liveth
o himself and no man dieth
o himself. Helpfulness-this is the
great secret of the religious spirit.
Few words sum w so we'll the spirit
which give life as this word helpful
ness" This desire to serve mankind
10 raise the fallen. strengthen the
weak, ennOble the petty, make true the
false and purify the unclean is the
great regenerating influence in the
soul. One does not need to be a saint
% yearn to make other lives more holy
It is said that in priests the hardened
criminals are sometimes the least dan
yerous companions FOR the young Of
enderS. Most of them would do any
hing in their power to keep others
rom following in their footsteps This
impulse is in every soul. We all would
De of use and gladly do something for
'thers. The church should be a train
ng school to develop this passive will
ingness into IN habitual, fervent de-
Sire to give ard receive help toward
he higher life. No helpfulness can be
more fundamental than that which af-
ectS the moral standards and eievates
he general motives of conduct and
Sives through sympathetic association !
he dynamic force Of spiritual power
The air IS full of causes which seek
uman uplifting. 1t is to be hoped that
Vi our hearts a.e burdened with a
ense of responsibility for some. per-
laps many, Of these causes. But these
efOrms all depend upon the moral con-
fF NTa I