The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-03-15
DIFFERENCES ARE
CLEARLY DEFINED
Unitarian and UniverSaIist Prin-
cipIes Discussed
THE FATHERHOOD OF GOD
UnlversaIism Infused With Warmth
and Its Message is Hope and
Peace-Doctrlnes Explain
ed by Rev. DR.. shinn.
THE FATHERHOOD OF GOD

While the Unitarian and Universalist
denominations, in some respects similar
are relatively weak in numbers. each Of
them has played a prominent part in
Protestant church history In this coun-
try. The Unitarians have long exerted
a far reaching influence over New Eng
land thought but they have made little
or no Roadway In the south. Their
preachers are usually scholarly men, and
DIR. Slicer of New York one of the ablest
Unitarian divlnes in the United Stat%
was recently heard in a series of dis
courses in Birmingham.
The Rev. DIR. @. II. Shinn of Boston,
an able and eloquent Universalist minis
ter, is conducting interesting services in
the Circuit court room. He is pushing
the work of Universalist organization in
this section and many earnest Christians
have recently been enrolled here.
Every well educated person is more or
less familiar with the doctrines of the
Catholic church. the Episcopal church,
the Lutheran church, the Presbyterian
church, the Baptist church and the
Methodist church, but as comparatively
few know just what the Unitarians and
universalists believe and teach the fol-
lowing paper prepared by DR.. Shinn, at
the request of The Age-Herald, will be
read with interest:
Marked Disslmilarity.
The Universalist and Unitarian
churches are distinct religious bodies.
While the strength of each is in the north,
notably in New England, and while In the
ton of Christian principles they are es-
sentally in accord, yet there are vital
characteristics conducting to a marked
dissimlarity
ID. In origin they are dissimilar. The
Unitarian church began with an intel
lectual class of men in the Congregational
church, who repudiated the doctrine of
the Trinity. They came out of that
church, in some instances so strong in
numbers and wealth that they retained
the church property; in which case the
minority adhering to Calvinistic ideas
withdrew. 1t may almost be said that in
this way they came into possession of
the oldest college in the country, IIar-
ward; for this institution is virtually UNI
der their control.
The Universalist church began with a
protest also; but it was against some
thing of infinitely greater moment than
the doctrine of the Trinity. 1t was
against the CHASTITY doctrine of unending
torment for any human being, doctrine
that had Its origin in ancient paganism;
negation at first, but it crystalzed into IA
great affirmation. The final harmony of
all souls with God" Believers In this
doctrine were wholly without shelter, like
the poor boy going ont into the world
penniless to make his fortune. All the
property they own, church and educa-
tional, they struggled for and earned.
This may explain their exemption from
caste and aristocracy
o. renee in statement. The Uni
tartan no credal statement The
Universallsts have. Five afflrmations,
stated in forty-one words, express their
essential and distinguishing principles as
follows:
Principles.
1.-THE Universal Fatherhood of God"
1.-THE Spiritual Authority and Leader
ship of His Son Jesus Christ"
THE Trustworthiness of the Bible as
Containing a Revelation from God"
1.-THE Certainty of Just Retribution for
Sin"
1.-THE Final Harmony of all Souls with
Cod"
In one respect there may be agreement
here. While the Unitarians have no
formal basis of fellowship no doctrinal
declaration, there is little doubt that
ALL or most all, of them might assent to
the above. 1t is apparent, however. that
they do not place as much stress on
Christ's mission as do Universalists. To
the latter His office as Saviour means
more, and His divinity-not His Deity
Is of supreme Importance. Difference
here, as In other matters of doctrine,
consists largely in emphasis. Universallsts
are Untarians in the sense of rejecting
the Trinity, or the Deity of Christ
though man may believe in universal
salvation and still believe, or think he
believes, in the Godship of Christ The
CONSTANT doctrine is the Sonship of
Christ. For the most part Unitarians
are Universalsts in the sense of be-
lieving in final victory for all. But this
receives but little attention at their
hands Their emphasis is not here.
Organizing Idea.
O. 1t will be seen from the foregoing