Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-26
uNIvERSAuSTS CELEBRATE
ANNIVERSARY EXERCISES IN
THE CHURCH OF OUR FATHER.
Organization Of Society and Dedica-
ton of Meeting House Occasions
for Two Notable Observances.


ization of the Jniversalist Church in
Washington and the twenty-fifth ami
versary of the dedication of the Church of
Our Father. the building which the Uni
versalist Church now occupies. were Gel
ebrated yesterday by the congregation at
the church, 18th and L streets.
In the morning the pastor. DR.. John
Van Schaick. jr, delivered an historical
address to the Sunday school pupils at
9:45 O'Clock, and at IL o'clock preached
the anniversary sermon.
In the evening at 7:3O o'clock special
historical service was held. Louis A.
Rosary. member of the board of trus-
tees of the society, read a historical
sketch prepared by one of the pioneer
Universalsts of Washington, the late
James Watson Webb. H. E. Williams
the present moderator of the society.
read paper embracing the last twenty
five years of the history. The pastor then
showed series of stereopticon views IL
Illustrating the forty years growth of the
society.
AT the morning service Rev. Van
Schaick took as his subject For What
Does the Universalist Church Stand?"
and his text from St. John. xiv:S. And
Philip said unto Him, Lord, show us the
Father and it sufficeth u.s." He said in
part:
Rev. Van Schaick's Address.
First and foremost the Universalist
Church stands for the doctrine in faith
and practice of the universal fatherhood
of God. The business of the church is to
make men recognize God as their heaven
ly Father and to obey His will in all the
circumstances of their lives. Five years
ago today in this pulpit one of our great
leaders put 1t this way: The peculiar
mission of the Universaiist Church is to
reveal the divine fatherhood, with all that
1t implies touching the wellbeing of men.
1.-THE great work of the Cniversalist
Church is the work of helping men live as
sons of the heavenly Father and as
that we state truth clearly but no
church has done its work which stops
with the statement. 1t must change truth
into power 1t must make men live as
consciously in the presence of God and
as members of one great human family.
This church does not stand primarily,
as some think. for a theory about the
future. 1t stands for the service of hui
mainly here and now. Imperfectly we
realize our ideal. But, nevertheless there
it is. All work which means helping men
is legitimate church work.
1--WE need spend no time arguing
against the dogma of an endless hell.
The growth of intelligence and kindness
among men have banished that doctrine
beyond recall Steadily the religion of
Jesus Christ wins its way and men ac-
cept the mighty truths He taught that
One is our Father even God and all we
are brethren
In the presence of the doctrine of the
divine fatherhood punishment is given it's
noble purpose reformation becomes the
ideal. and endless hell shrivels UP and is
blown away. But whatever the future
has or has not, our work. today is at our
doors. We must teach men to be rever-
ent and obedient toward God and just
and humane to one another.
History of the Society.
Forty years ago this society was or
ganized. In September. 1867, at Balti-
more. the Universalist general convention,
representing the Universalists of the en-
tire country, passed a resolution in favor
of establishing a church of the denomina-
ton in the Capital city of the country.
AS result of that resolution, one of
the great preachers of the denomination,
DR.. E. G. Brooks of Massachusetts, visited
Washington January 10, 1868, and con-
Quoted services in the old Union League
Hall, on 9th street.
1T was not the first time, however. that
Universalist preachers had delivered their
message in Washington. On December
/
resentatives in the morning and at the
old City Hall In the afternoon In Sep
TENDER. 1874, our great Baltimore preach
er. DR.. G. T. Flanders, spent two weeks
here and endeavored to form a society,
but without marked success. In October,
1853 the Rev. DIR. James Shrigley, of Phila-
delphia, preached in Iron Hall, but the
time was not considered ripe for organiza-
ton. 1t remained for the civil war to
prepare the way.
I'm the smoke of conflict old prejudices
died. Theology was broadened Among
the thousands who came to Washington
during and after the war many were
Cnlversalists. AS a result OF the meet
ing of DIR. Brooks. in '6S. they were
brought together and Saturday night,
January %. 1868. formed temporary or
ganiZation. with former Gov. Sidney Per-
ham OF Maine at it's head. That organi-
cation was made permanent in 1869.
Fourteen years later. October % 1889,
just twenty-five years ago today, the So
ciety, after wandering from place to place,
and worshiping in halls. dedicated this