The herald., 1898-03-14
NEW HEADQUARTERS
HOUSE WARNING OF THE Ma
TIoNAL REFORM LEAGUE
Music, Addresses and Supper Served
at the Close Of the
Meeting

Illinois hall was almost filled yesterday
afternoon at the house-warming Of the
Union Reform league in their new head
quarters, corner of Sixth street and Broad
way. The stage was decorated with a
large flag in the rear, lilies, smilax and
vines in front. Rev. John Gray Of St
Paurs church. Rev. N. A. Haskell of the
Unitarian church, DR.. Stevens of the
Social Democracy, Mrs. c. M. Severence
and the singers occupied the rostrum with
the chairman of the meeting Rev. w. d
p. Bliss.
| After prayer and music Mr.. Bliss intro
lduced Rev. Mr.. Gray, the first speaker or
the program.
at is the work of the Union Reform
league" said Mr.. Gray, ito accentuate a
wide fellowship among men. There is an
intense demand in the world for the unifi-
cation of men. The needs of our humanity
are greater than the needs of any one
of us. His highest good demands the high
est fellowship. 1 believe the time has
come in the history of mankind when the
highest good demands human fellowship
We are beginning to learn what true lib
erty is that it is the boundless fellowship
of men. May 1 not ask you to put politics
| aSiUt 10 AOA6St OH PoAitS VI NiASASA4SS ss'AN
remember we are men? We live in COM
munity that is unique; while we have more
liberty than in some older communities,
there is temptation to gather in little
clques and factions. May l not ask that
we may all come out into the more al
truistic light? We can be patient with
mistakes, patient with hard words, but
no man has any business to be patient any
longer with injustice. hope these meet
ngs will work out justice, patiently, per-
sistently, hopefully to all men," The speak
er was frequently loudly appiauded.
Mr.. and Mrs. Humphrey then sang 1.-The
Good Times Yet to Be- DR.. Stevens of
,the Social Democracy was the next speak
er. He dealt with the practical and
economic features of the present situation
and reforms that need to be brought about
in the competitive system of the CONNER
cial world.
| Rev. Mr.. Bliss spoke briefly on THE
True Meaning of Socialism" The speaker
traced the socialistic idea underlying the
various civilizations. In the classic age
they aimed to build a state, and the
state, not man, was supreme. In the
church age it was charity, and unity was
| the key thought of the middle ages. The
idea of equality, fraternity, brotherhood
will bring new era in the world. Social
| ism removes the competition of greed and
frees man for higher things. We have no
chance now to do our own deeds, and think
our own thoughts. Socialism means free
dom to man and woman and makes love
possible; it makes the home pos
sible; it is the salvation of wedlock,
and ultimately means socialism of lands
and capital. How can any one believe in
God if God rules the world? Gods will is
not done on earth.
| We are not having hard times we are
| having foolish times Christ is the mis-
understood man of history, and Socialism
will help us to understand him; it will re-
create the world and open heaven to men.
What we want is to make it practical and
concrete here on EARTH
Rev. Mr. Haskell of the Unitarian church
spoke briefly, expressing his interest and
| sympathy in the movement, and hoped 1t
would bring into the world the principle of
man for man. "At least we are coming
| to see the necessity of rising above hard.
heartless competition, and are moving to-
ward brotherhood. Heaven bless the man
and bless any movement that brings it
about"
At the close of the service supper was
served in the outer rooms, at which there
were about $50 people present. 1t is de-
signed to make this regular feature
of the Sunday afternoon meetings, after
which there will be music and speaking in
the large hall. Last evening Miss Villen-
ger sang q solo and Mrs. C. NJ. Severence
spoke as follows:
IT am most happy to give my hearty en-
dorsement to the aims. purposes and work
of the league, which l consider most val
liable step in the new departure of applied
Christianity and human brotherhood, and
to congratulate you on its auspicious be-
Iginnings of our city, as elsewhere, under
a leadership which leaves nothing to be
desired.
THE gifts of a ready platform speake,
were never mine, and what I would once
do in my poor way is beyond me now. Sc
please accept, instead, my glad cooper
alton in all the other ways which my lin.
tied strength will permit. And let me
give you two quotations, which seem tc
me full of the right spirit and pertinent
to our league work:
80 How prayest thou at altar rails for Goo
to do His will?
Thou art His instrument-go forth ant
thine own prayer fulfill
THE other finely expresses the attitude
Of the true human soul, in the face o.
even the supremest personal triumph:
" The race is run! as victor am crowned
With deafening cheers from cage
throats; and yet
: Gladder the victory could l forget
The strained, white faces of the men wht
failed
Let us, then, my friends, look hopefully
and labor courageously for the good TIM
coming which has been foreseen by tn,
prophets and poets of the race when non,
shall hurt and destroy in the new heavens
and earth, wherein will dwell righteous
! ness and peace
"'Where none but the Master shal
s praise, and none but the Master shall
blame,
: And none shall work for money and nom
shall work for fame,
r But all for the joy of the doing
"And where the struggle for existence,
made so by mans ignorance and inhuman
2 ity, shall be turned into glad song o
thanksgiving for life, with its boundles
opportunities and its countless blessings!' =
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