The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-11-04
UNIVERSALTSM
THE REV. HENRY R. ROSE
TELLS OF ITS PROGRESS.
Gives Glowing Account of Recent Con-
vention at Philadelphia-outlook
for Future Bright.

Ihat OnlNerSausm was the rising sun or
spiritual strength and its teachings the
inspiration of intellectually, was the gist
of the sermon of the Rev. DR.. Henry r.
Rose on the Outlook for Universalism,"
yesterday in the Church of the Redeemer,
ia Broad street.
The pastor was enthusiastic in his de-
scription of the recent international con-
vention of the Universalist Church held in
Philadelphia and his owe for his church
was manifested in every word and gesture.
THE Universalist denomination is organ
lied somewhat after the fashion of the
United States. Each State Is distinct from
every other State 50 far as its local re-
ligious affairs are concerned, and yet each
State Is bound to every other State by the
common tie of interest in the success Of
the Universalist faith. Just as our nation
has a central government at Washington
to which all h States send representatives,
SO our denomination has A central govern
ment, called a general convention, to
which all the states send delegates. This
general convention, however, does not meet
IN one place every time, as does our ma
tional government, but changes about. now
in the East and now in the West, In order
to make 1t less expensive and more con-
venient for our people to attend. Our gem
eral convention assemblies once in two
years; The meeting this year was in Phil
adelniiiai in 1909 II will be in Detroit.
The convention in Philadelphia was the
largest IN our history. There were $40
delegates. They came from every part Of
lht OHlltu olAAeS ana from Japan. L neaFu
a visitor say TO his friend: What a fine
looking body Of men and women! Did you
ever see so many big men before?" 1t
was indeed a notable gathering. and was
made all the more striking BY the fact
that 1t was held in the City of Brotherly
Love. The convention was welcomed oy
the Mayor of Philadelphia. In the course
of his remarks he confessed that he did
not know much about Universalism. In
fact, did not know its creed. At the close
OF his address the president of our conven-
f4nT1 FH44a1 20 HfNa nAl w.. 1-~-~,
l am glad to tell you that Universalism is
the religion of Brotherly Love. so that we
feel thoroughly at home In this grand old
city founded on that prirc pie. As a mat
ter of history, no city could have been a
more fitting one for a Universalist conven-
ton than Philadelphia, for way back there
at the beginning of our republic there were
Universalists in thai city, and they were
men of reputation and influence. One of
them was the first principal of the Uni
versity Of PENNSYLVANIA: another of them
the Declaration of Independence. They
were out-and-out Universalists, and by
their sides stood other consecrated and tai
ented men and women who were defenders
of our faith. In fact, IL was through their
efforts. and especially of that eminent lib
eral. Benjamin Franklin, that Philadelphia
was the one city in all the land which was
tolerant in religion. 1t possessed the only
hall in America where perfect freedom of
speech in religion was allowed.
1.-THE field Is white for the harvest and
IOpG SllbulQ SitAS us EOIk III UuI tiNdit ~
while we grip the sickle and get down to
work. When the question of church 10y
atty came up and the discussion grew lot,
one clergyman arose and defended his
loyalty of my church by the side of that
of any church of our denomination. In
five new U~nlversalist churches in our city
and raised for Them $3.50 O We have
never failed to pay our quota TO the gen
eral convention. and we are now expend-
fpn lNofUtnap EQ0 D1D nn1 RE0 mn IN aGtQh-
fishing a Social Settlement House where
the city can see and realize that Univer-
sallsts practise what they preach"
1T was a magnificent speech because clio.
quent with facts. Do you blame me IL
long to be able al Detroit to stand up and
tell of the UNCONVENTIONAL loyalty of tht
church of the Redeemer and point to hei
hands and show what they, too, are filled
with golden sheaves. 1 can do 1t. IL vol
will help me. And 1 know you are golnl
to help.
"The most significant and encouraginl
event of the whole convention was tn
banquet of the Laymen's League. Fou
hundred men from all parts of our Ziol
gathered at the tables. They were full
of enthusiasm and purpose. The speeches
were eloquent and the laymen who mad
them struck no pessimistic note for cui
church. Each was convinced that tht
world needed us and hat our best days
We're yet to come. All pleaded for man
hood as Universalism's offering to the
world ana for loyalty 10 the church as
the supreme duty of men of liberal views
in this day when men of other faiths ART
banding themselves together to save me
dieval theology. These four hundred mer
formed a permanent league and their
campaign will begin at once Adam has
at last heard the voice of the Lord Goo
wa1hing in the cool of the garden and
calling him from his hiding place to
share responsibility with Eve for the sal.
walton and usefulness of the UniVersallsl
Church.
washington called the Constitutions
convention to save the cause of liberty. Il
the several States would not unite the re
suits of the Revolution would be lost. The
delegates wrangled for days. each STATE
jealous or suspicious of The other, but final
ly wiser counsel prevailed and the consti'
tuition was signed. hen the diplomat whC
had accomplished the great compl o-nis'
arose and said: My countrymen, as l havI
been sitting here and listening to you
contentious, l have been looking at thu
back of the Presidents chair at whal
seemed to be a sun, but l have not beer
sure whether it was a rising sun or a set
ting SUM- But now that you ave signed
the Constitution. ] am sure TINT it is a ris
ing sun AS we sat In the councils of on
general convention and saw the situation
III all its baldness and menace many Of VI
were not sure whether the sun of Univer
salism was a rising sun or a setting sun
but before the convention ended our mind
We're made up; the formation OF the Lay
mems League, the call for a dollar a yea
for missions, the splendid gathering of tn
splendid women of var faith, the fine re
ports from Japan. the call from England
and the messages from our home missions
West and South, made us sure that the sil
Of Intversalism is n rising sun and tina
the heavens are bright with promise"