The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-01-13

ligion has been likened to the relig-
ious side of democracy. The old the
DRY taught that religion and the
church was a monarchy, a despotism,
even as in Russia to-day, that God
was Gar, the absolute monarch, the
tyrant of the skies and that for poor
humanity, the subjects of the king
dom, there were the eternal dungeons
into which ~unrepentant man should
be thrust at death. But with our coz
ception of God and men and things
comes that understanding of man
upon which all popular governments
are based-namely, that man is not
totally depraved and hence only a fit
subject for a despotism, but rather
that he has within him the inherent
seed of good and that this essential
element Of right in humanity Is the
foundation for the democracy of state
and for the democracy Of religion.
We live within tho jurisdiction OF
a democratic form of government
in the state, what then more fitting
than that we should live within the
Jurisdiction of a democratic form Of
religion in the church?
Our Interpretation of the universe
of life lies in the belief that good
shall finally triumph over all evil in
every soul and in all the realms of
creation.
We seek to show the value Of works
and we must prove by the works Of
good deeds that our conception of the
Father is true and that God in US Is
love. Then can we ask with reason:
If good deeds are not a passport to a
better land-what is? Let US prove
that God loves the world by ourselves
Astounding in good will for our neigh
Dor. We must make our church the
centre of our worship, we must make
it a refuge for sorrowing and cheer
less humanity.
We must realize that through the
church is the most effective work
accomplished for the betterment Of
society and that we can become part
ners in the good work by contributing
to the support of our church-con-
tributing not only of our substance
but contributing strength Of charac-
ter and right living.
There is no man but has some good
within him. Then contribute this,
whatever Of truth and righteousness
is within you. Como, bring it to the
church and thus increase the strength
and power of Gods family and ours.
Let US show by our living that we are
of the family of Universalists, that we
do believe in the power Of God and
righteousness.
Christ went about teaching a gospel
Of love to God and fellowman and
withal a practical righteousness
among men. The very core and cen
tire of His teaching was in the blessed
ness of the Fatherly love of God and
the Joy of living as His obedient and
trustful children.
The kingdom Of Heaven Is to be a
spiritual kingdom even within the
hearts and lives of men if they will
be persuaded and will accept a life
of truth and righteousness, following
in the footsteps of the Christ. Chris
tianity, then, according to our concep-
ton, lies in that Of which the Quaker
poet wrote:
Our friend, our brother, and our Lord,
What may Thy service be?
MOI name, nor form, nor ritual word,
But simply following Thee.
Thus would we as members of this
family claim our divine heritage as
sons and daughters of the living God
and thus and only thus shall our
church family come to maturity and
yield the increase so much desired of
God.