Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-10-26
Abstract Of the Discourse.

| show us the rather ana II SuHCStn US.
and his theme was THE Genius Of Uni
| versalism."
Abstract Of the Discourse.
| He said In part:
This plea may be taken for the voice Of
| humanity. My proposition is that the pecu-
liar mission Of the Universalist Church Is
| to reveal the Divine Fatherhood, with all
| that 1t implies, touching the well-being OF
| men.
| -"Universalism is not discovery, but a
revelation: not logically labored conclu-
seers. not scholars Thus its genius is In
tutive. not critical, philosophical or schol-
astic. Its strength rests In its harmony
with certain elemental instincts Of human
nature. not in argument or erudition. At
the same time 1t is in fullest accord with
reason and knowledge. and draws freely
upon them as interpretative and corrobora-
| tive aids
THAT this 10 the essential temper Of Uni
| versalism is evidenced by the nature of its
doctrine That doctrine Is a trust rather
than tenet: simple. compreh.n sive
| affirmation, not a complex theological
dogma. Primarily. 1t is doctrine of SAL
extraordinarily Of eschatology-graduaiiy
| enlarging its premise from an assertion Of
| the all-inclusive purpose of divine sover-
| eighty, to recognition of love as the very
essence Of the Divine Being, then of the
universal fatherhood. then of the universal
brotherhood. then Of the intrinsic omnipo-
tenCe Oh right ana
The trainers of the Winchester profess
sion of belief declined to discuss or define
the metaphysical attributes of Deity, and
were content to speak only of His character
and ultimate purpose.
Z. land to this day we have no proper sys-
tematic theology, nor any disposition to
| make one. Nay, we do not need one. For
| as doctrine simply of salvation, Univer-
| salism Is Indifferent whether the Deity is
shown to be unity or a trinity, a creation
| list or an evolutionist, an inspirer of minds
or writer of books. Not that we have no
intellectual interest In these questions, but
| that they have no necessary bearing upon
our paramount contention.
Had our minds been held undoubtedly to
| this primary business We should have en-
| jOyed an increasing simplicity and integrity
| of faith amid the changes of the century
| and should have been ready with a clear
| solution Of the problems of democracy ma
terialism, fndustrialism, socialism, as they
appeared. The world still waits for our
| solution.
''Unhappily we have been DETECTED rom
| our main purpose by a certain zeal for
| philosophical and ethical truth. The result
| has been to produce critical rather than
| a religious temper, to confuse and weaken
our message and to turn our minds from
| spiritual growth to mere thought problems
This has resulted In loss of power-the
power Of the specialist, the power of sym-
pathy and feeling, the practical power of a
| strenuous philanthropy, the spiritual power
l'of vitalized and rational piety. 1 main
!
Divine Fatherhood, is essentially popular In
Its character. We have only to replace the
emphasis of our work and teaching upon
that aspect to regain our original all
conquering impulse. The indications multi
! ply that we are preparing to take that STEP
and when taken we shall be ready for a
work commensurate with the Importance
and scope of our faith"
former Senator Washburne of Minnesota
president of the convention presided, and
introduced the speakers. The Rev. c. E.
Rice OF PENNSYLVANIA conducted the de-
votional exercises. The Rev. George {,
PERU, DID, of Massachusetts, took charge
of the collection and raised 81 400 for the
Japan mission. Great enthusiasm was
manifested when the result was announced
Mass Meeting in Evening.
The evening mass meeting was preceded
by devotional service. conducted by Henry
Irving Cushman. D. D.. of Rhode Island
Senator Washburne announced the general
topic for discussion. THE Secularism of the
Day." and introduced the Rev. Effie X.
Jones Of Vermont
Mrs. Jones spoke in part as follows:
cit is always difficult to estimate fairly
our own time. We exaggerate some symp-
| toms and ignore others. All will admit
however. that religion occupies a very diff
ferent place in mems thought and activity
from that held by it few generations ago.
rom DclHs the uidiu SOCIAL ana 1nte1leCIQdl
| as we'll as the spiritual interest of all. 1t has
come to be simply one of many widely di-
verse and often apparently conflicting in
terests to be attended to or ignored as one
chose.
This change has been brought about by
certain vital currents in human thinking.
Culture has become widely diffused and
mems interests have been broadened to in
clude all the relations and activities of the
race Invention and discovery have opened
large fields for industry and activity. I'm
exampled prosperity has permitted such
vast enlargement Of material possessions
and prepossessions that the mind of many
have been concentrated upon the immediate
and visible interest
1.-The growth of humanitarianism has also
helped to this end. Saving men from priva-
ton in this world before dealing with their
souls often ends in excluding the religious
principle. The spread OF tolerance in opin-
ions has helped to create Indifference to
| the opinions themselves. These and many
other causes have made US. more than any
former age, to emphasize the secular at the
expense of the sacred.
THE divine mission of the church Is to
counterfeit this tendency in our modern
life by putting the emphasis where it be-
longs-on the eternal verities and their
paramount Importance. Men must learn
that eternity has its rights as well as time,
and that the religion of Christ Is the saw
ing grace which can purify all our interests
and relations and dignity all our labors
and successes"
The Rev. L. D. Case of Albany, N Y,
followed with a discussion of THE Ebbing
Tide of Church Attendance" The Rev. J.
F. Albion, DID,, Of Massachusetts closed
the meeting with an address upon 1.-THE
Liberalism and liberalism Of the Day."
DR.. Albion's Address.
He said in part:
at has been called indifference, but It is
not Indifference to spiritual things. It has
been called age Of doubt. but 1t is not
doubt at God, nor of Christ, nor of immor-