The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-07-06
VOICE OF A UNIVEPSALIST.
Tells Why His Church Has a Right to
Individual Existence.

Individual Existence.
To the Editor of the indianapolis Journal:
I see by a report of a sermon in last Mon
days Journal that j. Cumming Smith,
d. D., of the Tabernacle Presbyterian
Church, declared that the Universalist
Church has no right 10 individual existence,
and he ventured 10 advance some reasons
for so strong an attitude that 1 should say
were very unreasonable. l would like to
inquire by what right or authority he as
sumes the prerogative of reading out of
existence a great denomination with a
hundred and fifty years of history and
marvellous achievements behind ii. 1t is
a very peculiar position for a wise man TO
take that a church, after living such an
energetic, aggressive, honorable life, in the
prime of its strength and usefulness, should
proceed deliberately to commit suicide at
the instigation Of one who is an enemy to
its existence. Why it should make an as
signment, turn over its effects, pack up bag
and baggage and rush forth into the enc
my's camp, l cannot see.
1t must have been out of the kindness of
the reverend gentleman's heart that he
ventured 10 suggest so strange a device. L
have considered DR.. Smith to be sound in
A4A4AA0 0AtA 49, Nv aohoC
when there seems TO be a premium for in
sanity. 1 have looked upon and up to him
as a gentleman and a scholar" But, with
all his wisdom and scholarly attachments,
l must Inform him that he is w~oefully mis-
taken and far out Of the way, if he mag
ines that self-respecting Universalists
would for a moment entertain the idea of
breaking up and abandoning their fold to
enter his or any other. If we were to fol-
low his advice it would be like a victorious
army, after having fought great battles
and won signal victories, deciding TO lay
down its arms and suffer itself TO be swal-
lowed whole and absorbed by a defeated
foe. The Upiversalist army, with an all
conquering Christ as its captain. has been
fighting grim Calvinism and the horrid
dognas associated with the theory of a
flaming hell of unending torment. until
they scarcely have a name to lose, ana
now it is asked TO join a larger but less de-
serving army. We have rendered unpopu-
lar doctrines that have dishonored God.
made Him more of a monster than any
devil could possibly be, so we will take
friend would have the church that has led
in the winning of these great victories
ground its arms, give up its banner en-
ties. disband it's army of heroes and enter
the ranks OF those who have fought ii with
a bitterness of spirit and an Intolerance
born of paganism and nourished into life
in the dark ages. What an assumption!
What an unatural demand, to conceive that
such a church as the Universalist Church
worship, its halls of learning, its semina-
ries, colleges, universities, Libraries, print
ing presses, publication interests. history,
achievements, sentiment and all. over to a
relentless foe. We have property interests
amounting to millions of dollars. We have
great endowment funds for education and
church extension purposes, together with a
love for our church and cause with an en-
thusiasm born of toll and sacrifice in the
midst OF Misrepresentation and abuse of
more than one hundred years. Standing
thus, We cannot part with these things for
any consideration to be offered under heav-
en-. We have doctrines. faith. hope. love and
all the wealthy, fashionable churches COM
bined lave TO offer.
Now. to be honest. my dear brother, you
would show more wisdom and be more con-
sistent IL you were TO come over and help
us. march with us and fight on our side
the battles Of our common Lord. You do not
believe in the creed of your own church,;
you are where you cannot believe in cleo
ton, reprobation. endless punishment and
under a banner with all such doctrines in
scribed thereon. Not one of these dogmas
or anything kindred thereto has been
enanged or erasSa from the creed or rec
nected. Grim Calvinism, in it's CHASTITY
form, is there yet. but. it may be added,
more as a mummy enemy than as a thing
of life. Why do you remain under the aw-
full shadow of a dying or dead creed so an
tagonistic 10 the lofty ideals of the day?
l would infer that you are standing where
lar. wealthy, fashionable. Il am cock
sure" using your own expression as re-
ported, that Universalists who respect
themselves and believe in sailing and fight
ing under their true colors, will never ac-
cept your advice. no matter how honestly
given. There are Universalists In belief
who are counting favor and seeking social
| preferment that nave been and still may
be as you have indicated. 1t would be i'm
possible fer US to abandon our ship at this
stage Of the worlds progress. AS you can
see and feel, thoughtful people are moving
at a rapid pace toward a larger and more
intelligent faith and a more reasonable and
cheering hope.
1 will inform you, my dear brother, that
we are here TO stay. We intend as a body
OF believers to remain under our vine ana
of faith the fruit of the victories we have
helped TO win. We think too much of our
light 10 put it under the old orthodox
bushel. We prize our belief in God a. our
Father and Savior and in Christ as the
Destroyer of all sin too highly to undertake
TO put IL into the bottles made in the me-
diaeval ages.
Your hint that some men are not so cock
sure to-day as were our fathers leads me
to add, further, that the UniVersalist
church is more sure than ever that God
win succeed, and. as DR.. Goodwin. Of Bos-
ton. has admitted that II God succeeds
Universalism will be true. We are ever so
sure that Christ will do all He came TO do.
He will succeed in finding the lost. and
that He will make an end Of sin and usher
in everlasting righteousness; that He will
destroy the last enemy TO mankind, swal-
low up death in victory. and reign in His
Kingdom OF power and glory until all are
10 all These things We believe in without
a shadow OF doubt, and we will stand by
them to the extent Of cur sbi rsy
paEfnr ~ 1nFra ITnfx~nranIta4 49,