The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-05-14
REV. A. w. MARTINS LECTURE.
Why Unitarianism Fails to Satisfy
as Universal Religion.

Rev. Alfred W. Martin addressed a very
large congregation last evening in .he q.
A. r. hall on Reasons Why Unitarianism
Fails to Satisfy the Seattle Society. for
Free, Spiritual and Universal Religion.
He quoted from the national Unitarian
constitution showing that in spite ct us
liberating cause 1t still stands for creed
of three articles: "a acceptance Of the
religion of Jesus, (2) the Christian name
and go belief in God, and everyone who
cannot accept these would therefore be
compromised by connection with Unitar-
ianism.
"A truly free church or society" said
Mr.. Martin, will not even allow the word
c. to stand as an excluding. Inning
feature of its bond Of union"
After commenting on the first and sec
ond articles of the Unitarian position, Mr..
Martin said concerning the third
Il believe in God with all my soul;
regard the theistic as the only satisfactory
theory Of the universe, yet nothing could
ever induce me to- join a church whose
bond Of union contains a profession or fGitl.
In God. Why? Because | desire that the
same freedom which is my privilege shall
be equally the privilege of others Make
the belief in God condition Of meUHer-
ship and instantly all thoughtful souls who
hold different theory of the universe are
excluded. and / will belong to no organ
izatton that interferes with the free ex
ercise of human intelligence by i-lpcsing
thesm. or any other belief. as a dLahfica-
ton necessary for membership.
Deep as may be the faith in God oi any
individual member Of the society, we will
not insult humanity by refusing to recog
nize the honest thought of those who are
not theists. Rather do we say to them:
Let US meet on the common ground OF our
humanity and discover through OF" com
mon freedom of thought which OF us is
mistaken, for we both love the truth aid
earnestly seek it, conscious that nothing
but the truth can give US the peace We
crave. Such is the spirit OF this movement
Of ours 1t is not afraid of sincere thought
but treats all as equals by welcoming TO
its fellowship all who would unite in The
free search for truth and in service for
man.
I'VE hold that the simple love OF liberty
and humanity is a stronger force than arv
doctrine or creed, and ii must yet become
the basis OF every religious organization.
And Unitarianism. broadcast ana most
progressive Of the Christian sects though
six years ago exchanged the iron cable
OF 1865 for a slken thread. (remalnlng
partly Christian and partly free), still has
its little creed of one article "Accer- the
religion of Jesus" together with insistence
on the Christian name. And this liberal
Christian creedlet. this standard OF Uni
tartan orthodoxy only makes another sec-
tartan fence, another barrier to tie real
ization OF a universal fellowship Of free
souls. The commandment of Jesus was,
Love We one another, but the 300 Chris
tan sects with their rival claims, their
tealousies, and their conflicting do.Lia.- ole
sad commentary upon the maxim Of their
Master
Our society is thus living illustration
OF fellowship In freedom. II demonstrates
that organization and individual freedom
are not contradictory, that mental free
dom is secure in association. that liberal
do not need to stand apart in order to
preserve their independence, but that thev
can freely come together to compare
thoughts, exchange sympathes and GOOD
crate in the search for truth and the
development of character; il proves shat
they can combine the benefits of perfect
freedom with the benefits of perfect fellow
ship.
The only way for the Unitarian denorn-
ination to redeem itself Is to strike ont
of its constitution the excluding words and
stand uncompromsed for religious freedom
alone. Such a consummation none viii
welcome more heartily then we who wore
forced to stand aloof and organize nder
a new banner and a new name"