Year: 1870

Untariuuism Defined by Rev. George III.
HepwOrth-A Discourse Of Great Power OF
Argument and Briliiancy OF Illustration.


1t was evident, from the falling of IN the congre-
CATION worshpplng at the Church Of the Messiah,
OF Park avenue ana Thirty-fourth street, at
yesterday mornings services, that goodly number
OF the fashionable people accustomed to attend here
have already joined In the general hegira for
the summer watering places. Notwithstanding this,
however, and the intense heat OF the day, there
was a large assemblage-an assemblage in size, in
teilgence and close attention any min ster might be
proud OF preaching before, ana when, If there be
any lire or eloquence III him, should certainly draw


THE MUSICAL PRELUDE


was voluntary played on the organ by Mr.. Howe,
the skilled organist, which followed by 'jubi-
late" by choir, with solos by Mrs. Flicker and Miss
kushby and trio by the same singers and
quistely, ana then the anthem Almighty God,n by
Byrnes, sung by the whole choir. An organ solo by
the organIst played with cunningly artistic fingers,
ana "A Congregational hymn wound up the musical
prelude. and then came


THE SERMON,


by Rev. George II. Hepworth the young, gifted and
most popular pastor The subject-"What Unita-
rlanism Is and what Ii Is not"-was one OF peculiar
interest and evoked not only his most searchinc
power OF analytical argument. but the briiancy OF
llustra ION anu 1ghs Of eloquent utterance that
have placed him In the foremost rank of our pulpit
orators. He took his text from st. John, KILL l3-
"Ye call me master and lord: and ye say well, for
SO am" He began by saying that the lookout
upon the Iuture Oh UnltarMniSm Is better now than
1t has ever been. Fifty years ago 1t little
far ahead or the age to claim a very extensive re-
cognitlon. 1t contradlcted so many OF the religious
preudlces OF the time that 1t was compelled 10 wait
for Justice. Now, he was proud TO say, the masses
OF the people, who are not exactly at under the
rigid secarianism Of many other churches are be.
ginning to make inquiries concerning their belief
and the work they propose TO do, Scarcely day
passes without the receipt OF letters from ministers
and laymen lnqulring to the d0ctrllles that are
peculiar to them The question Is being asked from
-


and that question he proposed to answer as best he
could. We have been suffering as religious body for
a long time past from the misapprenension or the
unearned and the misrepresentation OF the know
1ng The religious papers OF other denominations
have never done us exact justice. they have never
stated our views or our peculiarltles fairly, and
hence, the prejudice OF many against Us. 1t has
been said OF us especially that we reject Christ
statement than which nothing can be more false
We believe OF Christ what we think Christ believed
OF himself. And in our estimate OF His person and
mission we do not materially differ from some OF the
most learned OF the Catholic Church and many OF
the advanced scholars OF the Church OF England.
Every sect should be judged by the statements OF Its
writings Of a few extremists, who are not regarded
by the Unitarian body itself in any degree repre-
sentng Its average sentiment, as the true and only
eXpOnenis OF its position or belief. We have men in
our ranks who are not trusted theologically, who
really belong outside OF any distinctivey Christian
sect, and the sayings OF these men are sometimes
taken as representing the feelings and thoughts of
the whole. We believe that Christ is simply what he
80 repeatedly said he was,


THE SON OF GOD.


We do not believe that he was very God, according
to the Athanasian Creed; first, because such a
dogma Is not to be found in the scriptures ana Sec
Ond, because we think 1t does not accord with the
reason aud common sense OF mankind. AS the Son
or God, he is the whole worlds Saviour. How un.
just to affirm that we believe in Him less tnan the
other sects. We think we believe In Him more He
Is the provfdential instrument through which God
has revealed himself TO mankind, and the book
which contains the record OF hts lie and
teachings Is the corner stone OF our faith. He in-
sisted upon 1t that they more





than any other body. We interpret the book by the
light OF right reason; we welcome to our aid all the
research oil science and all the zeal Of philosophy,
sure that neither the one nor the other can take q
single word away which God has spoken. See how
tne it,v world at large has come up 70 our position
terrible dogma OF total depravlty and only the
heather In their blindness but even little children
before thought Of evil had entered their lives were
supposed to be the


VICTIMS OF GODS WRATH.


=, You remember some Of the horrible sermons on
this subject that made the cold chllls run all over
you and made you wonder why men were made at
oil If they were 50 sure to be damned: Well, how
What different idea Of God we have now.
Some OF our brethren say that we have
brought about this change. He thought not. We
have been on the crest Of the wave, little in ad-
vance perhaps Of the religious world but are not
the power that Is drawing the ocean up to the high
water mark; the silver moon over our heads IL the
great attractive force 1t Is God who Is hitting each
age higher, and not US. What want now Is that
Unitarlans shall take some pains to MAKE their
views known. We have been asleep for score Of
years. Let us publish thought; let us show the
world through some authoritative statement that we
force; let us dare to say what we believe We are
part Of the Christian world and believed that more
than half OF the people In New York City agree with
us essentially. We have erratic minds among our
number. He wished that they would form a sect OF
their OWL ift banner Of their OWL and fight their
such is firmly planted Of Christianity and no power
on earth Can move IT,


The sermon was listened to with the most earnest
10 nVar
tional hymn, and benedicti0n terminated the exer-
cises,