The evening times., 1899-10-18

The meeting of the National Unitarian
/ Conference opened this morning at $3.50
1 o'clock in All Souls Church. Senator
| George F. Hoar presided. The cary part
| of the session was devoted to routine
matters and the reports of the business
committee appointed yesterday. An i'm
portant resolution affecting the organiza-
ton of the Unitarian churches was intro
duced by Rev. William Charming Brown,
| of Littleton, Mass.
IL read as follows:
Resolved, That We commend to the serious con-
| sideration of churches the advantage OF a
better organization OF our church ne. 10 TINS
end W. earnestly recommend: First, that each and
every Of churches shall give honor and
dignity to its statement OF religious spirit and
purpose; shall make it statement simple, clear,
and strong, and having its membership involve no
test Of creed sacrament; shall make its
preston of CfHistian purpose and pledge Of 10y
atty. The familiar force lin the love OF truth
and in the spirit Of Jesus we unite for the wor-
ship Of God and the service of man., is in use in
more than eighty of churches and is, perhaps,
AS good amy.
Second that this or some similar statement be
accepted 10y each church or incorporated in the
articles OF organization Of the society parish.
and that all persons in the parish be invited and
urged TO subscribe TO the same and thereby be-
come members of the church.
Third, and We do especially recommend, also,
that the classes in the Sunday schools. when their
members come TO maturity, be encouraged TO pub
hcly join the church after some definite prepara-
tion and instruction.
The resolution was referred TO the COM
raittee on business and will probably be
acted upon by the conference tomorrow
morning Ii is thought that the resolution
viii be adopted.
Rev. Joseph May, LID, of Philadelphia,
was next introduced and delivered a pow
erful address on How We Understand and
Make Use Of the Bible in Our Work"
He said in part:
The good the Bible has done is mmeasurable
The evil Of which il has been made the instrument
l. scarcely measurable IL would be diff
cult TO estimate and picture the mischief which
bihiOiatry has worked; the mistakes and ills and
wrongs which have resulted from mems suppos-
| ing that they had infsllible compendium OF
1 truth which any potent organization in church or
| state might Use for its purposes of moral or
1 practical coercion To bring the world TO know
| the Bible il is should be one Of the greatest
| services that could be rendered TO mankind Our
first observation Is that the Bible Is not properly
| book, but 4 literature diverse as to authorship.
dates. moral quality, and spiritual value. The i'm
poriance OF Its prevailing themes does in the
! least release II frOm the usual canons of criti-
clsn, but rather makes the thorough application
cf these more exigent. II is due to the false as,
sumption OF their verbal inspiration and arbitrary
! authority that the real values Of the Scriptures
/ have nsver been justly known or appropriated
HE work we are IN position 10 do i, - far is
I we may, 10 remove these obstuctions from a
true understanding of the Scriptures and present
! 7hcTn 10 the world IN the simplicity Of natural
| products Of the minds Of men working normally
! under the conditions OF their times
! To place such literature in the hands of uniu-
struced persons, 90 be read in detached fragments
| with only common intelligence Us their guide
and' above all, with minds perverted by the false
assumption II it peculiar and supernatural char
/ acter, II 10 uuity its real values and cngen9er
| lnnumcTablc shsurdities and falsiiies OF Thought
TIE Christian world is beginning TO recognize
tins.
Rev. William Hanson Pulsford of Wal
than, Mass, was the next speaker. His
topic, Our Relation 10 Jesus" was co
quently treated. He said in part: I'VE
Unitarians stand right up for what We
have most been blamed. II is not what
| We like 10 think or what our fathers
thought. bur what are the facts? The ma
iority have been unable TO separate the
medieval Christ from the man OF strength
and grandeur of character he really was.
lou must ask what is the truth. rot what
you would like 10 have it. The average
religious person cannot understand this
Men say: The medieval Christ is beauti-
ful-he has ministered to countless souls
let the myth stand But criticism is an
auxiliary to strong mind, and not until
the halo and mystery surrounding Christ
! are removed can the lofty grandeur OF his
1 character be understood
How the Doctrine of Immortality Helms
10 Promote the Higher Life of Man was
The subject Of an address by Rev. Charles
E ST. John. OF Piusburg, Pa.
Following the addresses there was a gen.
eral G-scussion On the themes covered by
the speakers, after which devotional meet
| ing was held
Al o'clock meeting in the interest OF
the Sunday School Society was held. Rev.
Edward a. Eortcn presided and made the
| opening address