Year: 1873

Universalism and tho Evangelical Al
liance-The Exclusion OF the Sect and
the Criticism Of Its Representative
The Church Of the Future and Its
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES by the Rev. j.
M. Pullman.


The Society OF the Church Of Our Saviour, until
the completion of their new edince, are worship
ping in the Hall OF the Hand Club corner OF Broad
way and Forty-second street. The pastor, the Rev.
J. Nj. Pullman, preached last evening on the sub
ject-"Universalism and the Evangelical Alliance"


THE SERMON.


The reverend gentleman selected as his text
the fourth, fifth and sixth verses OF the twelfth
chapter OF I. Corinthians-"Now there are diver
stiles OF gifts, but the same spirit. And there
are differences OF administrations, but the
same Lord And there are dversities OF
operations, but it is the same God which
worketh all in ALL" lie said:-The reason
why take up this subject at this time Is that the
Universalist Church is excluded from taking part
in the meeting OF the Evangelical Alliance. The
ground Of this is q difference in doctrine. We are
held to he unevangelical because we deny that
any human soul will be finally and irretrievably
lost. We deny the deity, but affirm the divinity OF
Christ. We deny the efficacy OF the atonement as
blood sacrince. but affirm 1t as the reconciliation,
not Of God 10 man, but OF man to God. We deny
the scheme Of various punishment but an1rm that
God Furnishes the vertabe culprit himself These
constitute the ground for our exclusion from par
ticpation in the deliberations OF an assembly with
many Of whose objects We have the warmest sym
pathy. We desire to make common cause with all
forces that work together against whatever Is at
enmity with mans welfare, and we are sorry, not
for ourselves, but for the Alliance, that it fails to
seek our sym Pathy and cooperation.


The speaker then gave historical sketch OF the
Alliance and stated its objects to be to agree upon
tarian strife could be avoided and Protestant sects
might make common cause against Romanism on
one side and rationalism and materiallsm M on the
methods OF the Alliance were threefold:-First,
sympathy with all efforts for true Christian union;
represented in the Alliance; and, third, for the
philosophical interest IN the development of Sec


COMBAT WITH CHRISTIANITY.


Some idea Of the temper and spirit represented
In tine S ne fact az that IN she m
meeting, the question on the admission OF Uni
yersalists and slayeholders came came up at the same
doors. The result was the question OF the
fellowship OF Shareholders was dropped without &C
tion, while the article excluding Universaiists was
adopted. He criticised the method Of the Alliance
on the ground that its efforts to promote Christian
articles adopted as its basis show no advance
Whatever upon the dogmas OF Augustine and Cal
that they could cancel all differences by ignoring
them. 1t was mere -


1t takes no note of advancing and rpening
thought 1t disregards the bearing OF the great ad





looks the vital TACT tnat the experience Of the world
broadens with each year; that there more facts
in the world than when creeds were formed, and
statement OF Christianity, as interpreted by
Christian experience, than mad ever before been
promoters Of the Alliance gave it lie character It
has since maintaiaed-nameay, that Of an alliance
for mutual protection and defence. A compact
made under such pressure is sure to be broken
wnen that pressure is removed. Again, the object
S psa he o
tian Church to join 1t, no matter tnat the coopera
ton would have boen refused The main iact that
the Alliance placed itself, at the outset on high
and broad ground, would have reacted on its sub
sequent history with most favorable effect Prom
these two fundamental errors sprung aiatal defect
namely, the lack OF practical power. 1t has not
been able to suggest any practical scheme for the
advancement OF its Objects


ITS CHEF CONTRIBUTION


to the welfare OF the portion 1t represents was the
The speaker then proceeded to state what, IN
his judgment, the chief among the real grounds
OF Christian union The true evangelical alliance,
the real church OF the future, that offers platform
which all sincere souls can stand, will have these
characteristics First, truth seeking, In the spirit
willing to learn than to dogmatze, be faithful
open eyed, receptive. viii not, It cannot consent
ali mysteries, S ali knowisdee but TO have undenia.
BILE grounds Tor what 1t does understand and know.
1t M be w St U al
as are the laws OF the universe, but as tolerant
OF che s6h under the dominion OF evil as is the
divine love which will have II cleaused and saved
sSarsetesc cS Win be- love- mis- seen and s1VSTt ieIt
in God himself; q love which cannot rest until it
makes Its object worthy OF It. Again, the Church
will not be O society to hand down from age to age
the sacred formulas, bat viii apply to all religious
opinions Christs test, "By their fruits shall 70
know them" When tho word ~evangclicaln
broadens IN the conception OF those who now mako
II term OF exclusion to the measure OIL the statae
6r the fuiness Of Christ then the universalist
ranks Until then Is quite certain to have the
world do, what the Alliance dednee to do, judge Ii
By It's fruits, and l repeat the prediction OF
another that although the Uoiversallst Church Is