Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1902-12-15
And HopefuIness
Predominant
In the Local UniverSaIiSt
Parish.
Anniversary Sermon by Rev. Mr..
Mason.

here. During the service prayer was
offered by DR.. A. B. Church, president
Of Buchtcl college, who was Mr.. Ma
sons predecessor as pastor of the Uni
vcrsalist church. In his prayer he re-
ferrcd feelingly to Mr.. Mason's work
here and the spirit of harmony, con.
secration and hopefuness which per-
wade the parish, A beautiful bouquet
Of narclssuB, carnations and chrysan-
themums-the gift Of the choir TO Mr.
Mason in memory of his first ami
cersary-stood on a table in front of
the pulpit =,
Mr. Mason took his text from 1 Cor.
XII: 90: But now are they many
members, yet but one body" His sub
ject was, you and and the Church"
Mr.. Mason said: every year
dccpcns my conviction that the Chris
tian church is the one instrumentallty
by which society as well as the In
dividual may be saved from the evils
which confront us today, and Chris
tianity is the one solution of the prob
lens with which we are wrestling.
When Carroll y. Wright said, not long
ago. that religion must ultimately
solve the difficulties in the anthracite
coal regions he spoke not as SEN
timcntnist but as a keen observer or
human life and social conditions.
Various panacGas have been offered to
cure the ills of society. At best they
could be but haf-cures. The trouble
today is, not with our social system,
but with ourselves. Given n Chris
tian people and it would make little
difference whether we lived under a
system of Socialism, Anarchism, Single
Tax, or anything else. Let the Golden
Rule laid down by Jesus become the
law of life and man-made laws would
become largely superiluOus."
In continuing he said: The essential
; spiritual truth of those great doctrines
which, varlously interpreted, have
been for centuries the common heri.
/; tage of all Christians, Is more and
more impressed upon me as the years
| 20 by. | believe in conversion, in
the atoncmcnt, in Christ's sacrifiCe,-
: not perhaps rs some believe these
, things, but with IN Interpretation Of
them which is TO me beautiful, insplr-
lug and soul-satIsfying. ! feel that
, in rejecting the crude forms which
, these doctrines have sometimes taken,
IN rejecting the cant and meaningless
ness which so often are grouped
around them, liberal Christians have
only too often rejected vital religious
truths" MIR. Mason referred touch
ingly to the mental vision Of the
cross on Calvary called up by the
beautiful solo, "Thc Holy City" sung
, by Master Orlando Hardy.
: "Thc great guardian of our welfare" "
; said Mr.. Mason, "of our liberties, our
D homes our loved ones, is not the law
= or those who enforce the law, but
Y the moral sense of the people and 1t
Is tic church which has developed this
Srusuiyrness to right ana wrong. We
say the police force or the con,
: stabultr protect us and our prop
crty. We're it not for the fact that
20 the great majority OF people choose ia
do right how much could the police
force or the cOnstabulary do towards
protecting us and our rightful pos
!, sessions? In those benefits and this
=. protection every one has a share and
! therefore every one should assist In
supporting the institution which Sc
cures them for the public, Some pco
pie rhnk the church Is sufficiently
supported when they give to It libera
contribution. The church wants activ,
RI sympathy first of all, Given sympathy
u and the matter of financial support
% will take care of itself"
It Ncrrrrlng to local conditions Mr.
?, Mason said the parish had reason t
feet encouraged in its work lie sale
that, while he could not speak rs coulC
others not in his position, he felt tina
there had been an advance both ma
terial and spiritual during the year
y Referring to himself, he said that h
did not believe in spiritual pride, bu
he trusted he should be forgiven /
y he did feel some pride In being abb
TO say that in his ten years ministr,
he never yet had been guilty of on
deaVorng to lure away to his owl
church member or attendant of
sister church, nor OF encouraging on
Of his people TO do so. A person
religious affiliations should be decide
Ia o