The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1901-11-11
Rev. Vincent {. TomIinson Takes
Up the Criticisms Upon the
JniversaIist Church and States
Its Doctrines
STRONG OBJECTION
TO SOME STATEMENTS
UniversaIists Do Not Begin Their
Theology With the Depravity
of Man and End it With Eter-
nal Damnation-DF. King
Quoted Unfortunate Texts

Rev Vincent e. Tomlinson, of the
| First Universalist Church, took occa-
sion yesterday morning to reply to the
criticisms made upon Universalism by
Rev. DIR. George w. King Of Trinity
Methodist Church in his address last
Sunday night. 1t will be remembered
that Mr.. Tomlinson, heard Dr. King
address, and, as stated In The Spy, call
ed it a very fair treatment of the sub
ject from Methodist point of view but
said that he could not agree with many
of it's conclusions.
In his sermon yesterday morning Mr..
Tomlinson took up some of DR.. Kings
criticisms. He objected strongly to the
statement that the habitues Of the sa-
looms, slums, and house Of i'll repute,
all hold Universalistic doctrines.
In reply to DIR. Kings assertion that
the Universalists do not emphasize the
awfulness of sin as do the Methodists,
Mr.. Tomlinson said. I'VE have not be-
gun our theory with the depravity Of
man and ended it with eternal damna-
ton
In the discussion of the scriptural ba-
sis for Universalism DR.. King quoted
what was, according to Mr.. Tomlin-
son, an unfortunate text. The latter,
the more fully to prove his case brought
in the testimony Of an orthodox cler-
gyman, Rev. DR.. Willard Scott, to the
effect that the word which we trans
late eternal means not finality, but
duration, an Interpretation whichwould
change essentially the passage quoted
by DR. King. DR.. SCOTS statement
was made last Monday morning before
the meeting Of the Ministerial League.
Mr. Tomlinson's text was / Thessa-
lonians, V: 81 Prove All Things Hold
Fast That Which is Good"
He said IN part, IF l understand 1t
at all this is the spirit Of the Universal
salist Church. not to take things upon
in religion and we believe also in rea-
son, and we do not think the two are
contradictory. Our fathers were will
ing to champion doctrines that were
called heretical. not because 1t made
them popular or brought them wealth
but because they believed they were
true, and because they could not be
false to their conscience.
"Universalists today who are worthy
the name have gained their convic-
tons in the same way; they have
weighed and tested religious questions.
they have tried to look at them from
all sides. they have witnessed their
fruit, they have put them to the test
OF personal experience, and they have
accepted Universalism because it seems
to them good common sense, none
other, in fact, than the glad tidings Of
the Gospel.
TT does not disconcecrt US then, to
have our faith made the subject or
criticism. II It is candid we welcome H..
To all the world we would say-Put
our Interpretation OF religion 10 the
| test. If It cacn be improved we want II
I done. Dear as Universalism IS to US,
| twined in the memories OF many OF US
| with all that is sacred l DO not be-
! Jeve that there is one here who would
not give it up If convinced that some
other system Of faith was truer and
| better"
Mr.. TomInson then took up the crit
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