The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-12-15
BELIEFS OF UNITARIANS
SERMON OF REV. c. f. ST. JOHN AT
PEOPLES CHURCH SERVICE.
Men Need a Brave Philosophy of Life,
He Says, and Faith and In
SEPARATION.

The Rev. Charles Z. ST. John. secretary
of the American Unitarian Church,
preached before the congregation OF the
Peoples Church yesterday afternoon at the
Propylaeum on Doctrines of the Unitarian
Church" His text was: "Silver and gold
have none. but such have give unto
thee. In the name of Jesus Christ of Naz-
areth, rise up and walk" In part he said:
"Unitarians claim to be among the fol-
lowers of Jesus Christ, and they recognize
that every church worthy of that name
must have the missionary spirit.
This spirit is nothing more nor less than
human sympathy. 1t puts itself forth In
man need. The usual orthodox expression
OF sympathy is shaped by the idea that hu-
mainly is fallen race standing in peril OF
a dreadful doom. They who believe this
must of course labor ceaselessly to save
souls from that doom.
UNITARIAN BELIEF.
But Unitarians believe that this race is
a rising force; that men are always tend
ing toward Righteousness more than toward
evil. What we think men need, therefore,
is guidance and inspiration rather than sal
walton. We see that men need a brave
philosophy of life they need to be able to
be glad that they are alive, and they need
great religious faith that shall make them
tie that exists between their souls and God
"As missionaries, Unitarians try thus to
inspire men TO walk erect. To this end we
proclaim in certain modern way OF free
bodied In the life and teachings of Jesus
We proclaim the goodness oNGod. holding
that all souls are the children of God. And
we use this in all our doctrines simply as
merely to believe in God. but when you do
believe In God 1t brings forth virtue In
your life.
CHARACTER SUPREME.
Another great proclamation is that char
acter is the supreme thing. And that good
ness is accessible to every person that de-
termines to reach il.
Another cardinal Unitarian principle is
that we are here in this life on service. We
are not here to serve ourselves, but to
serve God and our fellow-men. In that
great and honorable service every man
must stand ready to make any sacrifice
that may be needed. Let us avoid the fool
ish mistake concerning sacrifice that leads
people to suppose that they serve God SIM
ply by terturing themselves. That Is not
the Christian ideal as / understand 1t.
think Jesus meant something like this, we
| are here on service, for that service we
| equip ourselves, gaining for ii all the pow
| er, culture and wealth we can. We keep
| these things just as long as they help us
| ment we find that there is something that
| encumbers us, We drop Ii and press right
on. This Is the spirit In which the soldier.
body behind in death sacrifices rendered
| thus are not to be considered losses. They
are rather glorifed by the joy Of moral
| achievement.
GREAT TRUTHS.
1.-THE last of the great truths to which ]
| can refer to-day. in helping men to live
better lives is our great belief in the per-
| sonal immortality of all souls. The belief
| does not give the Immortality; it sim
| ply helps us to live our lives better. 1.
shows us that our souls are the seats of a
progress that never ends. We are TO grow
forever, taking on with us as we move for
ward each days victories and treasures
| To keep in touch with our dear departed
we should not remorsefully look into the
| past, but bravely press on into the future
| The dear souls are ahead of us and not
behind us. This belief in eternal growth
| frees us from that petty desire to have
| our names remembered on earth after We
are dead l want the people who come after
| me TO be so busy with their duties thai
they will not stop TO inquire what L die
| when / was here. and when they do stoI
to think of the men who preceded then
| let them simply believe that we hav,
moved onward into life's larger issues.
These great visions of God, the gooC
life the leadership of Jesus and the eter
nal growth, cannot touch a man without
giving him courage and peace. The mis-
sion. of the Unitarian Church is to brins
men together i'm that fine courage for tn,
worship of God and the service of man
We do not worship to please God nor as
mere matter of duty. Worship in on
churches is a noble, throbbng tide of rev
erence which springs up in our hearts
when we mediate together about thes
eternal things that are so much better thar
ourselves And in so far as our churche
can bring this reverence to bear upol
mems lives they are giving TO mankind tn
noblest possible help"