The sun., 1900-05-21
american UN|IARIRNSh
Rev. Bowser Speaks Of the
Seventy-flfth Anniversary
of the Denomination.
NOT A. SUDDEN REVOLUTION
The Appointment of a Liberal
Preacher to Chair of Theology at
Harvard College in 1907 Was
Cause eofRupture in Historic
Church of New England.

and wherein its principles differ from
other forms of Christian theology" was Il
the subject of an eloquent sermon de- G.
livered by Rev. Alexander I. Bowser in "
the First Unitarian Church yesterday il
morning. His text was IA little leaven a
leaveneth the whole lump" Gal, SO.
He said in part: Gas this week dates
the 18th anniversary of our denomina-
tion as separate religious movement,
have taken for my theme today the rise
OF Untarianism in America and wherein
the principles differ from the other forms
OF Christian theology.
"The work of Unitarianism in this
country may be said to have begun with
the organization of the American Unitar-
ian Association in Boston, 75 years ,ago
on the 25th oi this month. 1t was not a
sudden revolution in theology, nor the
result OF any one mans leadership; but
gradual growth in religious thought, the
natural evolution OF the Puritan idea OF
freedom and progress.
During the quarter OF a century in
which the thirseen colonies had worked
out the problem of American Independ
ence, the people OF New England had
been SO thoroughly occupied with the
great questions OF the war with the
mother country and the formation OF the
new government, that dogmatic theology
which had formerly been the leading
subject OF thought and study, had
dropped into the background Of neglect
and forgetfulness.
"When the war was over, however,
and men settled down again to the usual
habits of peace, it soon became evident
r that larger ideas OF religion had silently
: spread among the people. The political
! excitement of the times had opened the
= mind to the reception of new truth in re-
i ligion, as we'll as in craftsmanship; men
d and women had attained higher inte'-
# lectual point of view where the old dog
mas of the creeds no longer satisfied the
soul, and they had begun to look for
and find higher statements OF christian
is thought.
NJ "Still there was no open rupture in
4 the chuich, no division of the congrega-
~ tional body which was the church of the
81 Puritans, the leading church OF the
a. country. Individual societies here and
n there had asserted their independence,
40 falling back ON their rights as Protest
ne ants TO reject anything in the creed not
y, plainly taught in the Bible. What final
IS ly brought about the separation OF these
To churches into two distinct bodies would
Iss be too long story for single sermon;
- but one OF the causes which led tC
no this sad rupture in the grand
10! Old historic church OF New England
was the appointment OF liberia preacher
.,., to the chair Of theology at Harvard Col
Z" ltge, the highest theological position il
er- Massachusetts at that time. This ap
.ry pointment caused SO much Indignation
ana antagonism among the ofthodol
people, that they Withdrew their sup
port IRON Harvard and established til,
And0ycr Theological Seminary as pro
test against the liberal movement. Ihi
" was in 1907
.Ir. Channing, who had been settler
three or four years, was becoming IT,
recognized leader OF the liberal party an
+oa on all sides there was the greatest eX
~ citement ever known in religious circle
Iiis ~ in this country. By 1925 nearly ever
'c ~ Congregational Society in Boston had al
~ cepted the liberal position. All Ne
81 England had become permeated with tn
= spirit of religious freedom from whic
- the Unitarian Church was born.
on THE leading doctrine OF the orthodo
az faith at that time was the doctrine of tn
ia ia Trinity. And it was the rejection of tn
hv doctrine by the Liberal party in the Coz
- gregational Church that gave our bod
i the name Unitarian. They maintaine
70 from beginning to end the Bible taugl
'N the simple unity of the Deity.
Another point of difference was th
our leaders always denied with the u
most certainty that God demanded
9 OF vicarious sacrifice to appease his ang
and or satisfy his Justice. The other form
,lice OF Christians held that the Bible was Il
Ed infallibie word of God from Genesis
Iult- Revelations, but the Unitarians can
we're gradually to regard the Bible as hums
ling book, composed by men who we're liab
OBJ TO err and who recorded events tn,
the knew about or discussed questions
d to which they were interested. But
not think that this rational view OF Il
Bible robs it of its true and wonderf
authority as the text book of Christia
ity, the guide and teacher in religio
rrad truth and experience. Unitarians ha
nrce no desire tu weaken its influence 3r
the destroy its power. Our religion, we /
was lieve, lies chiefly in the New Testamel
the Jesus Christ is the Master of Chrstia
ce OF and whatever He taught we regard as
s IN divine authority. and profess to make
the rule OF our lives.
"Cnitarianism does not lead to uni
ef and indifference about the religiC
Ed ll.c as is oiten pleclallieu py snose W
pro. .aio' =. W., nJV unuei s'auu % oul =;
q, i, of deeper and stronger faith in all t
hort essential principles OF religion. As |
tarlans we should have more faith
God, not less than others; because we
in him the Universal Father whose
purchased love and care follow evt
IRON, child OF earth in all his wanderings a
eNeu sin, never forsaking him, nor dispari
Us .! OF his salvation, until he has come to
ne a' consciousness of his son-ship in God a
u |, t re taken his place in the Fathers house
q ap an obedient child. AS Unitarians
lciscS should have more faith in Jesus, not
any than others; for we believe that as n
Us oi a man who was in all things made
STATE like his brethren'), he gave his life
the truth he taught, sacrificing him
for the love he bore to God and m
And by this natural and rational ia
acc, acc, in him, as our brother and teacher,
snoui think we honor him more, and not II
lppeu than if we ca led him God and thou
u Tue it possible for God alone to do W
sen Jesus has done for the world.
80, too. as Unitarians, we sho
Tar have more faith In the Bible than q
have who believe in It's miraculous