El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-05-22

ance represent the philanthropic ana
benevolent departments of the organ1z-
ed work of the Unitarian church In
the United States and Canada, although
the convention exercises no eccleslas-
teal function or authority whatever
Aside from discussing the actual work
in progress the convention will give
consideration to the project for building
a great church in Washington which
Will represent the dignity of the FOL
lowers of the Unitarian faith in the
entire country. If they were not Uni
tarians they might describe this great
church as a national cathedral The
new national church Will include the
Edward Everett Hale memorial parish
house in which the philanthropies of
the church will have their headquar-
tiers.
To Lay Cornerstone In October.
1t is planned to lay the cornerstone
of this edifice in October when the
national council of the Unitarian and
other churches will meet in Washing
ton, and the intention is to invite rep
resentatives of other denominations to
participate in the exercise then.
As an organization. the American In
itarian association is younger than
most of the other religious bodies of
the country although Unitarianisn as
religious belief came over to America
with the Puritans dts followers have
been loyal to their faith since that
time although they have pursued 1t
individually rather than as members Of
an organization. Individual churches
of the Unitarian persuasion have ex-
listed in America since the 18th CEN
fury. In fact these earlier churches
stood for individuality and objected at
first to the formation of any union
or federation on the ground that 1t
would lessen the liberty OF the single
congregation. This feeling is the key
note to the government of the pres
ent association. 1t constitutes at the
same time its greatest strength and
its greatest weakness.
Not Union of Churches.
The American Unitarian association
when the organization was formed in
GLIDING only 81 churches. 1t differs
from the other great UNCONVENTIONAL
bodies in that 1t is not union Of
churches, but an association of indi-
viduals belonging to the Unitarian
churches who become members and are
entitled to vote in the association by
signing its constitution and paying 81
annually. The association never has
had any explicit relation to its
churches, and exercises no control over
over any individual church since each
is law unto itself The influence
of the association can be only advis-
DRY.
Each Church Makes It's Rules.
For example, some great church
body may pass a rule prohibiting any
church belonging to it from recognizing
the marriage of a divorced person AND
forbidding any clergyman to perform
a marriage ceremony for a divorced
person. The Unitarian association can
take no such action because every
church makes its own individual rules
and each clergyman is responsible only
to his congregation for his actions
Unitarian church may call a man to
its pastorate without being IN any way
responsible to. the association for his
religious views. A Catholic priest or
a Methodist preacher could hold the
pulpit of the Unitarian church. so long
as the congregation permitted it, with
out being called upon to defend mis-
faith to any higher authority.
: The Unitarian Faith.
The debating point regarding the
Unitarian faith. as raised by other de-
nominations, is its subordination OF
Christ. Some claim that this is equiv
alent to a denial of his divinity The
Unitarians however do not see it in
that way. They declare that, they be-
lieve in all the teachings of the New
Testament in which Christ himself pro-
claimed his subordination to the faith
er. This does not lessen their faith
in any respect in his revelation or
their recognition of the divine beauty
and glory of his character. As, in the
ancient family the son is subordinate
to the father. so the son of God is
recognized by the Unitarians as being.
less exalted than the father. the ruler
and creator of the universe, the one
great unit of power.
Unitarianism had its origin in the
teaching of men who were distinctly
orthodox in their own beliefs but who
favored the submission of all theolo-
gical problems to the test of reason
In its beginning it was not a sectar-
ian movement but rather Jone aimed
TO make religion practical and TO give
a basis of reality acceptable to the
sound judgment and common sense of
all men Even now the future of Uni
tarianism according to Onitarians. does
not consist in its becoming a distinct
sect striving for UNCONVENTIONAL inter-
est It's mission being one with philan-
thropy, charity and attru;sm. striving
to bring about a larger faith. more
inclusive fellowship and a purer ma
tional life.
Is Generally misunderstood.
That Unitarianism is generally mis-
understood is asserted by president
Taft, who is an active member OF the
Unitarian church in Washington. Dur
ing his presidential campaign, Mr..
Taft was In receipt of many commun-
ications stating that he was reported
to be a disbeliever in Christ and asking
him to deny his connection with the
Unitarian church. This he declined to
do as he recently stated at an open
meeting in his church, because he be-
Heved the principles of Unitarianism
embraced the highest ideals of Chris
ton living. the best conception CT the
brotherhood of man and the fathsrhood
of God now in existence.
Although comparatively small in
numbers the Unitarian church. since it's
beginning. has. exerted great influ
ence upon the national welfare because
of the wealth and position Of most of
its members. The American Unitarian
association includes only about $50 sep
arate churches and the entire member
ship is about 100000 persons.
Formed Early Sunday Schools.
The first Sunday schools in America
were organized by persons connected
with the Unitarian churches. Hannah
Hill and Joanna Prince Of Boston with