Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-06-12
Address by the President OF the
Conference

GntP.
Address BY the President Of the
Conference
The Unitarian church was the log
ical and natural result Of the develop
ments in science and the evolution IN
religious thought during the century.
But IL has not only rendered invhl-
rsbIc service in the cause of true
Christianitv. II has ever been rear
legs and efficient in the support 81
sound and enlightened principles OF
government and IN the promotion or
every lust and righteous cause look
ing To tho advancement or the wei
fare and happiness Of III" people. ana
tho enlightened progress OF ciNl!iZa-
ton towards equal opportunity ana
equal Justice for all mankind. 1t rep
rescnts a Christianity which teaches
exalted ideals of life and maintains
a high standard of duty founded upon
tho principles Of truth and justice.
love Of country. and humanity and
all other virtues which ornament hu-
man society
For moro than a century tnltd-
rams have preached independence OF
though, IN accordance with VIC
prophecy recorded IN the gospel OF
vnhn. And We shall know the truth
md tho truth shall make YOU free.
Tho Eatherhood of God, the brother
hood nf man and tho gospels Of the
New Testament have ever been the
r-nitarian's only creed ami during
tho recent Unitarian anniversary IN
BOSTON. the Rev Mr.. RhlhauN. pas
tor of the Church of tho Disciples,
awakened applause IN fremont Ten
pIo when he declared IN his address
that II all the world had been Uni
tartan. holding the doctrine OF the
brotherhood Of man and the rather
hood cs God. believing also IN me
sanity Of the world. and the goodness
~ God there would have been no
war" But never before in the his
tory of the world has there been such
an unmistakable advance towards the
universal brotherhood of Christian
people as IN this critical perlou "l
world wide war. In the patriouc re-
snonse OF the Christian people OF
America To the call Of their country
in it's time Of peril. evidence OF de-
nominational differences has peen al
most entirely absent. All den"mina l.
ttons have co-opcrated with settled
purpose to- leave no duty undone on
their part To secure the triumph OF
the allied armies against the ruth -
less devastation and atrocious cruel
ties of the harharous Teutons ana
with zeal and enthusiasm which run
before the day and linger after Il.
all are rendering magnificent service,
for tho relief OF human suffering and
Z for the support and encouragement OF
our armies in tho field. in order 70
win this wholly defensive and right
cous war. wagcd both for the pro
lection Of human rights in our own
country and the preservation OF gov
eminent by the people and liberty
under law everywhere.
Still; from the beginning of the
great war 10 tho present time, IRE
oucnt criticisms and complaints have
been beard that tho churches did not
rise to tho call Of duty as they should.
and promptly dcnounce with burning
words tho Tcutonic despotisms that
procipi:ltod this unholy war, and the
fondish crueltios and harbarous &c
vastation and vandalism that have
characterized the prosecution OF t.
one OF tho most notable OF these crit
icisms written by Mr. Odell. pastor
OF a Congregational church in Troy
y. Y, appeared IL recent number
Of the Atlantic Monthly entitled
Peter sat by the fire warming him
self" In his letter TO the editor he
says II Is genuine outburst Of -
dignation. shame and alarm" and m
the magazine article he states that
with a rostor Of CHASTITY and cow
ardly crimes probably more in num-
Der and hlackcr in hue than those Of
all the Roman Caesars combined.
there has not been one single preacher
or prclate in the whole German En-
pire to stand up and rebuke this
hloodEoddcn Kaiser in the name cf