Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-01-24
NEED OF PERSONAL DEITY
TO MEET HUMAN THOUGHT
Univcrsalist Clergyman Thinks Tint
Gods Existence Cannot Otherwise
lie Made Real to Men

Cod immancnt in all of life is
glorious conception, but one which re-
qu!rcs an advanced grade of religious
consciousness to apprchcnd." says Rev.
Clarence Bartlett Elder in the Uni
versaiist Leader. Men still need, to
my thinking, a personi:ication Of deity
10 make Gods existence real at ALL
Denial of the dicty OF Jesus is not
like destruction of the conception of
material hell-fre. There our faith sup
planted fear OF endless punishment
with assurance OF Gods love; but take
away mans faith in the Godhood
an impersonal deity with which to
commune"
suggestion is made that delft cation
OF Jesus necessitatcs belief in the i'm
maculatc conception, and that that doc
Urine transcends the realm OF a law
abiding universe. / know a mother
can almost absolutely determine the
mental and moral makeup of the child
Tor whose coming she yearnS and who
arc we TO set a limit on the power
OF the Almighty to answer that ma
ternal yearning even at the spirits
bchest?
1T may be contended that deifica-
ton OF Jesus removes him far from us.
l answer that, 10 my understandings
such Is the rightful position of the
ideal, above and beyond US so i'm
measurably far that humanity's striv-
ing can only toucn the hem OF that
garment with healing in its power.
we have had specimens OF the han
diwork that's wrought by men who
have brought Jesus down to earth, men
who have instituted campaigns with
such slogans as, What would Jesus do?'
etc, but ] never heard that the streets
OF Chicago were made any more
heavenly by such experiments.
CHRIST ABOVE RATHER
THAN EARTIBOUND JESUS
The living Christ TO me is Infinitely
more precious above and beyond this
world of human imperfections than any
earth bound Jesus no nearer to God
than my poor. ignorant self.
Time and again have been ask ed
such questions as these: If Jesus is
perfected humanity, but not incarnate
God is ii right or wrong to pray to
him?' III ii is right. is it proper TO
pray to fathers and mothers and sisters
and brothers gone before" III II is
wrong. isn't the world just we'll
ordered machine working at the behcst
Of an impersonal mind?'
I'VE may say such queries are elc-
prayer, but the fact remains that we
have tn take men as they are.
II have seen the upsetting of the
God-Christ ideal to the detriment of
individuals, but ! doubt much If any
man can affirm that he has been re-
duced in moral calbre or in spiritual
power through believing Christ is God
IF the Universalist Church OF to-
morrow is to be live branch Of
Christ's earthly kingdom. potent
factor in the redemption of the world
we must relate our message to the
needs OF the greater number to-day
outside the church.
1--WE want the ability to draw souls
into the kingdom that Gods glory may
increase The destruction, or even par
tial detraction. from religious ideal
can only be Justified when better
because q truer, perspective of eternal
values can be offered in its place
Il am not ashamed of the gospel Of
Christ. for 1t Is the power of God unto
salvation to every one that beleveth'"