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YOL. Xll . _CHICAGO AND CINCINNATI, SATURDAY, JULY 17, 1897-Uhevnoelwl%voe^akt1 NO. 29 Wgctersalist ] A RELiGIOUS AND F $ILY WEEKLY Universaust Publishing House, PUBLISHKRS. E. F. ENDICOTT, General Agent Issued Every Saturday by the Astern Branch of the Publishing IIousb 69 Dearborn St. Rooms 40 and 41, CHICAGO, IL.<-. ( $2.SO A YEAR IN ADVANCE, r-fcKIVlta . . •}#(-26 SIX MONTHS. POSTAGE PAID. SAMPLE COPIES ALWAYS FREE. REMITTANCES:—Make all checks, drafts, ,-nnev and express orders payable to A. M. .'ohn'son, Cashier, or Universalist Piiblisiiiiiji Souse. Western Branch ?ntere<* at the Postoffico as Second-Class Mail Matter Field Agent, T. I. MOORE. CONTENTR CHICAGO, SATURDAY, JULY 17, 1897. Page One. Life anil Letters of Oliver Wendell Holmes. Representation of our General Convention. ‘Detroit, ’97,” National Union. Face Two. Sermon: Will Universalism Survive? Defense of Universalism. Page Three. The Sunday School Lesson. The Battles of Peace. Page Four. “Detroit, ’97,” National Union.-Continued. Pace Five, “Detroit, ’97,” National Union.-Continued. Page Six. The Family Page. Farm. Garden and Dairy. Page Seven. Oar Boys and Girls. Page Eight. “ Detroit. ’97,” National Union.-Continued. Church Notices and In Memorlam. OUR CONTRIBUTORS. LIEE AND LETTERS Of OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES. BY HATTIE TYNG GRISWOLD. Third Paper. In writing to Mrs. Stowe, in 1876, Dr. Holmes shows one side of his nature which has not been much dis cussed by writers. He says: “I some times think I might almost have a vocation to visit the sick and suffer ing, were I self-denying enough, which I fear I am not. But I do have the satisfaction of knowing that I have done something of late to lighten the burden of others in their sorrow,—not much—very little com pared with what hundreds of women are doing all the time. I go and sit now and then with Dr. (Jacob) Bige low Senior, now close upon ninety years old, stone-blind, utterly help less, and bed-ridden. Would you believe it? He is one of the most cheerful, lively, and seemingly hap py, or at least serenely tranquil persons I ever met. If all suffering and privation were borne as he and Dr. Clarke bear theirs, it would be easier to contemplate human exist ence. Educational suffering, I can to a certain extent understand. But the great solid maBS of daily anguish which the sun looks upon—and looks away as if he could not bear it - antedating man, including everything which has a nerve in it—that I can do nothing with.’' As is well known, Dr. Jtiolmes had a life-long quarrel with Calvinism, and he hits it many hard blows in his letters as well as in his books. To Mrs. Stowe he writes thus: “I do not believe that you or I can ever get the iron of Calvinism out of our souls, —but see a woman, bred as this com panion of mine waB, by a gentle hearted father to who all such ideas were simply shocking, inadmissible on any legendary evidence, unworthy alike of God and man, and you will find in such a woman that the great obstacle to the belief in God as a father has never existed. To this utter rejection of a Godless universe, which is to run parallel forever with a happy world of dehumanized in telligences, I believe the leading souls of this century are pointing the belief of our whole race.” In another place in the same letter he says: “I see no corner of the universe which the Father has wholly desert ed. The forces of nature bruise and wound our bodies, but an artery no sooner bleeds than the divine hand is placed upon it to stay the flow. A wound is no sooner made than the healing process is set on foot. Fain reaches a certain point and insensi bility comes on—for fainting is the natural anodyne of curable griefs, as death is the remedy of those which are intolerable. . . . Never until the idea of a world without hope and without God—a world where minds did not try to heal, where habit did not dull the sense of torture—was introduced among men by men, as you well know, was there any impos sibility of recognizing the fatherly character of the Creator. If the Christian religion is in any degree responsible for this, you and I must change our natures before we can call it good tidings. We cannot conceive of a father’s allowing so limited a being as his human child to utterly ruin himself.” Again: “But I do believe that good people, kind fathers, kind mothers, are the type of the creator, and not cruel, jealous, vindictive ones. You remember what Father Taylor said to cneof the sterner sort,—‘oh I see! Your God is my devil!’ Concerning the Congress of Religions he writes to Mrs. Ward: “I really look on that Congress as the longest stride toward the millenium that I have seen or am like to see.” Concerning his method of compo sition he writes: “Like everything tolerable I ever wrote, it was con ceived in exultation and brought forth with pain and labor. The time at which any new thought strikes me is my Sybilline moment, but the act of composition, so exciting and so easy to some people, is a wearing business, attended with a dull disa greeable sensation about the fore head,—only from time to time it is interrupted by the simultaneous des cent of some group of words or some unexpected image, which produces a burst of the most insane enthusiasm and self gratulation, during which I commit puerile excesses of language and action.” There are occasional outbreaks of hilarious impatience like the follow ing: “Dear Mrs. Fields: Can you tell me anything that will get this horri ble old women of the C-Califor nia off my shoulders? Do you know anything about this pestilent manu script she raves about? This conti nent is not big enough for me and her together, and if she doesn’t jump into the Pacific I shall leap into the Atlantic, I mean the original damp spot so called. “P.S. To avoid the necessity of the latter, I have writteu to her, cordially recommending suicide as adapted to her ease.” He hated going away from home, and anathematized all hotels as in this extract: “The soups taste pretty good sometimes, but their eources are involved in a darker mystery than that of the Nile. Omelettes taste as as if they had been carried in the waiter’s hat, or fried in an old boot. I ordered scrambled eggs one day. It must be that they had been scram bled for by somebody, but who—who in the possession of a sound reason could have scrambled for what I had set before me under that name? Every six months a tavern should burn to the ground, with all its traps, its “properties,” its beds and pots and kettles, and start afresh from its ashes like John Phoenix-Squibob! I have a fine parlor, but every time I enter it I perceive that “Still, sad odor ol humanity” which clings to it from my predeces sors. As old age came on he felt its limi tations and its losses very much, though for the most part he kept cheerful. He studied old age as it were, and reported upon it. A good many letters of his old age are given. To Whittier in 1891 he writes: “I congratulate you upon having climbed another crevasse in your as cent of the white summit which al ready begins to see the morning twilight of the coming century. A life so well filled as yours has been, cannot be too long for your fellow men. I hope your years have not become a burden, so that you are tired of living. At our age we must live chiefly in the past; happy is he who has a past like yours to look back upon. . . We are lonely, very lonely in these last years. The image which 1 have used before this in writing to you recurs once more to my thought. We were on deck to gether as we began the voyage of life two generations ago. A whole generation passed, and the succeed ing one found us in the cabin with a goodly number of co-evals. Then the craft which held us began going to pieces, until a few of us were left on the raft, pieced together of its frag ments. And now the raft has parted and you and I are left clinging to the solitary spar, which is all that still remains at last of the sunken vessel-” To Bishop Lee he writes in 1879: *‘I cannot forget the interest you showed in my early papers in The Atlantic, or the friendly admo nition, not unwelcome, sweet and gracious as it was, that 1 should be careful in dealing with the great subjects ou which 1 had sometimes ventured. I think you will agree with me that since that time a re markable change has taken place in the attitude of men toward each other in all that relates to spiritual matters, especially in this respect: that Protestantism is more respect ful in its treatment of Romanism, orthodoxy in its treatment of het erodoxy, supernaturalism in its treat ment of naturalism, Christianity in its handling of humanity. The limit ations of men are better realized, the impossibility of their thinking alike more fully recognized, the virtue of humility found to include many things which have often been con sidered outside its province, among others the convictiou of the infalli bility of our own special convictions in matters of belief, which appeal differently to different minds. I have tried to do my share in enlarging the spiritual charity of mankind, and though it is delicate, perhaps dangerous work, as our well-being in this and all other worlds rests in faith and obedience, I hope, if I have done anything, it has been use ful, not harmful.” How tender his sympathies were is shown in almost every page, and there were many occasions as the years went on for him to express them, as the companions of his old friends one after another passed away. To Motley he wrote in 1875: “I read your letter with feelings I could not restrain—how could I read such a letter unmoved? I feel too strongly now, as when writing before that there is nothing I can put down in words beyond a few imperfect ex pressions of tender sympathy, and the assurance that you are constant ly in my remembrance. Every word you say goes to my heart as to that of a friend who knows better than most can know what she was who was part of your life. I keep pictur ing you to myself alone—in one sense alone, in spite of dear companion ships—with your memories. Hence forth I know how largely, how inti mately you must live in these. If your own health is confirmed, as we all trust it will be, I cannot help hop ing that the poignancy of grief will, by the kindly and at last, perhaps, cheering influences that surround you, soften gradually into a sweet remembrance of the many happy years that have gone before. But I dare not attempt to console a grief like yours. It must have its own way, and hush itself to the repose of exhaustion—“lie down like a tired child,” as Shelley says, in those sad and beautiful lines written at Naples. “If you were here I might sit by you in Bilence, just to give you the feeling that some one was with you in the shadow for a moment. I should listen to you, and you would not fear to speak freely with me from the fulness of your heart, ior you know how every word would fall upon my ear.” In due time he himself needed sueh sympathy from his friends, for his wife died and also his daughter who ■ tried to take her mother’s place in his home, and his life grew very dark for a time. But he regained his cheerfulness in the family of his son, Judge Holmes, and passed se renely from the world he loved so well at the age of 85 years. Regret him not. “He surely takes his fill Of deep and liquid rest forgetful of all ill.” Columbus, Wis. EEPEESENTATION IN OUE GENEE AL CONVENTION. BY REV. JAMES GORTON. There is a proposition now before our General Convention introduced, we believe, by Dr. Nash, contemplat ing the enlargement of our represen tation in that body. It proposes, as nearly as we can remember, that all ministers in the fellowship of our church shall, by virtue of that fact, be delegates. It further proposes one or more delegates from each parish. This would greatly enlarge the representa tion, and would make it more direct. At present most of our ministers and all of our parishes are only indirectly represented by a few delegates, elect ed by the state conventions. In a large body, like the Presby terian or Baptist church, this larger and more direct representation might not be desirable or possible. In a body aB small as the Univer salist church, larger and more direct representation would, it seems to us, be a distinct gain in interest, enthu siasm and working power. The great body of our ministers will not attend a convention where they have no business. Those who are near, or who have plenty of means and leis ure, may attend. But that will in elude only a small proportion of our clergy. The number who attend is often too small to make a great ac casion; or, if a great occasion is made, there are too few present to carry home the spirit of it, and to propo gate and perpetuate the wisdom and enthusiasm of the great occasion throughout all our parishes. Most of the parishes are not touched at all by these influences, and have no repre sentation whatever by direct attend ance. The Unitarian body, in their gen eral conference, seems to us to dem onstrate the wisdom and feasibility of this larger and more direct repre sentation among small sects. Their general conferences are always great occasions. Wise and weighty things are said and done; they attract public attention to a degree far outranking our general body, and they are able to send home the quickening spirit of the conference to nearly every Uni tarian parish, as most of the parishes are directly represented by the pas tor, and one or more lay delegates. We repeat then, that in our judg ment this more enlarged and direct representation in our General Con vention is entirely feasible, would be more democratic, and would greatly increase the interest of our ministers and people and the influ ence and efficiency of our General Convention. Such a change, it seems to us, would be a distinct advance, and an immense gain of power for our church, and an immense gain of interest in our General Convention and in its doings, utterances and re quirements, by all our ministers and all our parishes. Somewhat different arrangements might have to be made in regard to our sessions, and in regard to the entertainment of attendants and del egates. But that could all be easily arranged. They might have to pay for their entertainment. Still such a convention might be vastly better for our church than the present small and indirect representation. Our Young People’s Christian Union may be able to teach us an important lesson in this regard, and to put before us a valuable object lesson. Such a change in the repre sentation in our General Convention would indeed be a great revolution; but it would also, as it 9eems to us, be a grand evolution, for which we ought to be fully ready by this time, if we propose to move forward to the consummation of the largest and noblest things. Chicauo, July 7. RESOLUTIONS. Adopted at the Iowa State Y. P. C- U. Convention, at Bloomtield, June 22. and 23,1897. Whereas, We are in Convention as sembled for the furtherance of the Y. P. C. U. interests in the state of Iowa, and believing that the aforesaid work can be fostered and made more effective, be it Resolved, That we submit to the del egates for their consideration: I. That the convention begin on Mon dap evening and continuing Tuesday and Wednesday. II. That the state secretary shall be from the society where the next conven tion is to be held. III. That each local Union correspond at least once a year with all other Unions in the state. IV. That each Union, upon the elec tion of a new state secretary, notify said secretary as to the officers, membership and general condition, also of each change. V. That we, the visiting members of the Y. P. C. U., extend to the friends of the Bloomtield Union our hearty thanks for the royal and generous manner in which we have been received and enter tained during our stay among them. Of Love and Through Love. Of love and through love. Govern ance of the world has been through love. Religion has grown under a living hand. Nature worship, animal worship, image worship, polytheism, were wrought out into the monotheism of the Hebrews. How was Israel watched over, forgiven and restored at least three times, that she might finally give the world its Re deemer? Vet Christ was spurned by most. God was not dismayed. The Catholic church, Christ’s representative, became corrupted. Luther was called forth by love to help the world and most of all the Catholic church. It never had been a truer church than it now became. Again blight atllicte the church of Christ, John Wesley is called forth; teaches the world how to pray, and is a new manifestation of love, not more to the world than the church of England. Through love are all things. —Rev. C. L. Ball. —Prince Bismarck said of General Grar.t in 1878: “It was a keen pleasure to me to see General Grant. Naturally 1 was eager to visit him, because, after all, an American former president is big game. I expected that Grant would make a deal of fuss. On the contrary, his manner was exceedingly modest—in fact, rather timid. lie seemed ready to ask questions, and impressed me as etu dious and observing, and altogether as a very tactful mar. Grant was quite my idea of what a great citizen returned to private life ought to be.” ■- - — Eighth Annual National Union Y. P. C. U. “ Detroit, ’97.” Full Report of an Interesting Series of Meetings. ETROIT, ’97 ” This familiar slogan, tbe rallying cry of the Y. P. C. U., has rung throughout the denomination, more or less, for the last twelve months. It culminated and found its realization on Wednes day evening, July 7th, when the Young People’s Christian Union be gan its sessions with a “rally” at the Church of Our Father, in Detroit, in the preseuce of a congregation which filled the beautiful church and made standing room at a premium. And it was a “rally” indeed! The attendance was unexpectedly large, over three hundred delegates finding their places in the church for the first session. It was a beautiful sight that was pre sented when the delegations were all in their places. ’Mid the singing of songs and the waving of state ban ners and flags,this eighth annual Na tional Convention of the Y. P. C. U., and the ninth assembly of the Na tional Union, began its sessions. The Decorations. The decorations of the church were superb. The colors of the Union, white and blue, were everywhere dis played. From the central electric chandelier white and blue streamers were festooned and fell in folds over the beautiful auditorium, and the gal leries were draped artistically in the same colors. Below the organ loft was the word “Welcome,” printed in gold letters on a white ground, with the addition of the title of the Union, and the words, “Detroit, ’97.” State banners were arranged along the gal leries and among those represented were Maine, New York, Illinois, Ohio, Georgia and Japan. Among these the gorgeous color of the Illinois banner was conspicuous, and next to Japan, attracted attention. The platform was very handsomely decorated with palms and hollyhocks in bloom, of various colors, this old fashioned flower looming up spledid ly in the general ePect of the decora tion. Rarely has a church been more beautifully prepared for the advent of a series of religious meetings. The singing was enthusiastic, and as each delegation finished, it was heartily applauded and another would begin. This was all preliminary to the regu lar services of the evening, and was continued from 7:30 for three quar ters of an hour. o WELCOMING WORDS. ° O ® oooooooooooooooooooooo At 8:15 the entire congregation arose, and the music swelled into a magnificent chorus, “We march to Victory.” Dr. Charles Fluhrer, of Albion, N. Y„ offered the opening prayer, after which Rev. Lee S. McCollester, the Detroit pastor, who presided during the evening, made a short address in the formal opening of the Convention After cordial words of welcome, he announced that the clergy of the city had been invited to attend the meet ings to be held during the week, and all had answered kindly, wishing success to the Convention. He an nounced several churches that had responded to the proposition for sup plies from the Convention on Sunday. He closed by saying,“You young peo ple comprise the force which is to bring about an understanding among the churches,—a unity which will be another evidence of the growing power of Christianity to bless the world. I beseech you in this conven tion to cherish this Bpirit. Yes, the very spirit of Christ to lead us on.” As Mr. McCollester closed the Rev. Elmer J. Felt, of Tacoma, en tered the church and was greeted with applause which continued for some minutes. He had just arrived ou the evening train, and what the Detroit papers described as “a dra matic entry” was only the belated ar rival of the national president on his long journey from the State of Wash ington. After the National President had taken his seat on the platform, the mayor of Detroit, Hon. Wm. C. May bury, was introduced, and made a brief welcoming address. The Mayor of Detroit. Mayor May bury’s address was in good taste, and was a cordial expres sion of good will to the assembled visitors. “We are all Universalists,” he said, “and therefore, we believe in universal hospitality. We are Uni versalists in another sense. We be lieve there is nothing too good for the children of men. We believe in taking advantage of every worthy modern thought. Our vision is for the present and for the future, with only kindly respect for the past. We do not mourn progress, and we want to encourage you in your work.” A reference by the mayor to the municipal law controlling bicycles, caused much merriment in the con gregation. Detroit is a great bicycle city, and its fine boulevards are crowded almost all hours of the day with passing wheels. The mayor continued: *•We have a fine system of municipal laws. One of them is against ‘scorching.’ We understand you have brought your wheels with you. Scorch! That ordinance is re pealed during your stay here. It would be a great shame to fine peo ple for scorching now when the great est scorcher on earth has been at us for three days.” This was a reference to the extraordinary heat which had afflicted Detroit, as well as all the rest of the country, for a week or more. In the church at this very mo ment the thermometor was above 90. The mayor closed by speaking of the advantages of Detroit, and said that after the visitors had seen the city, they would not wonder at Detroit’s conceit. Detroit, ’97, Committee. Dr. W. S. Anderson, chairman of the Detroit, ’97, committee, followed, and spoke of the work of preparing for this convention. The committee, he said, felt more than repaid for its six month’s work when it saw the suc cess of its undertaking in this first splendid meeting. From the Trustees. Mr. C. A. Newcomb, a well-known friend of our church, extended the visitors a hearty welcome, speaking on behalf of the trustees of the Church of Our Father. “We are glad you are here,” he said, “and will give you a good time, but do not let the fun put your work into the back ground. Our work is to spiritualize the materalism of the day. We want not alone enthusiasm, but intelligent, well directed enthusiasm. When the mayor said we are all Universalists he spoke truer than many would be lieve. The Christian world is rapidly coming to a universal understand ing.” East and West. Rev. C. H. Vail, of New Jersey, re sponded for the East to the words of welcome in an appropriate manner, and was followed in the same strain by Rev. A. C. Grier, of Wisconsin, as speaking for the West. “It is sub limely ours,” he said, “to band our selves together to demonstrate to the world that this grand doctrine and faith of Universalism have in them every element for the fulfillment of every life-condition, and it is to for ward this sublime faith and to bring in the fuller life and faith that we as semble in Detroit in this our Nation al Convention.” Rev. Mr. Grier referred to Rev. A. J. Cardell, of Boston, and Miss Clara Adams, of Lynn, who, he said, with him were to enjoy the distinction of being the parents of the Y. P. C. U. They had all three met recently in Boston, and had gone to the top of highest building in the city, and were photographed as the “parental trio.” The Y. P. C. U. was the lifeblood of the Universalist Church, and gave new force and direction to its move ments. Its importance could not be over-estimated. After this came the reading of tele grams, conveying the prayers and good wishes of absent members. The President of the Union was formerly introduced by Mr. McCollester, and at once proceeded to the organizing appointments of the session. A call of the roll disclosed the pres ence of about three hundred dele gates, aud President Felt announced the committees of the session. Credentials—Dell Ellison, New York; Ralph Neeland, Massachusetts; Miss N. y. Hayes, Connecticut. Auditing—George R. Haigh, New Jer sey; Ruth Earle, Rhode Island. Resolutions—Omer J. Petree, Massa chusetts; Geerge Keudell, Illinois; E. L. Freeman, Michigan; T. T. Nelson, Maine. Recommendations and Reports—Geo. L. Perin, Massachusetts; Carl F. Henry, Ohio ; B. W. Jones, Vermont ; Leslie Moore, New Hampshire; Mrs. Rose B. Stewart, Indiana. Religious Services—The pastor of the Detroit church. J. Lyman Wood, of New York, J. W hitefield. of Massachusetts, and H. J. Litchfield, of* Wisconsin, were ap pointed secretaries. PRESIDENT S ADDRESS. These preliminaries over, President Felt began his annual address. He said in part: “Salvation is our program. From the meet insignificant plant in the woods to the human eou), the strug gle is for somethirg higher. In man the effort is to reech the infinite. The eeri ousneesof today lies in the weakling grasp with which we take hold. It is the peculiar business of the Y. P. C. U. to strengthen that grasp. The burden of sin, the crushing weight of dieap pointment and sorrow, finds no relief outside the philosophy of the church. I have longed for a single voice to arise and call from sea to sea, in a voice which all must hear and follow the principles of the Universalist Church. “The Y. P. C. U. must desire above all else to assist the denomination in im proving its opportunities. We are not members of a little norof apoor church, but one which daily grows in strength. The growth of our organization makes a greater responsibility necessary. It w as easy to handle at its inception, but it iB growing large, and its management is a serious matter. If it is matter for congratulation to have builded so much in so short a time, it is matter for grave thought to rightly conduct the force we have called into existence. Our firBt work is, of course, religious, but very close to that must come the upbuilding of the denomination. Tha order is nolorger a baby. It must conduct itself as an a dult. It is with earnest prayerfulneBB that I bring before you the great prob lem of how to show the world a united Universalist church. No Division Wanted. “We will never be bo large that we can stand a division. Our unity will come, but how? There are grave difficulties, but they must be overcome. They must be overcome on the floor of this conven tion. The Y. P. C. U. has worked along lines of its own. It will be difficult to form an amalgamation which will not cut off some of its privileges. The church can afford to give a point. Our organ ization is of more vital interest to the church than similar societies are to other churches. We must have such a union that a general convention of the Universalist Church will be the ruling body. At the same time the parent body must not in any way abate or smother the Y. P C. U.'sfeeliDgof inde pendent responsibility. The question is before you. Silent be that voice which shall rise in discord. Closed be those lips which shall epeak words which shall give ub cause for regret. I bring a mes sage of confidence. There is no real cause for apprehension of danger to the Universalist church. We are strong and represent a church whose voice Bhall be heard.” After the several notices weregivem the first meeting of the convention! was closed by congregational singing and the benediction. O FIRST DAY, THURSDAY, JULY 8. o ® O OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO At 8:45, promptly, Thursday morn ing, the convention began the ser vices of the day by a devotional meeting, conducted by Harry A, Hersey, of Massachusetts, The topic was, “Sources of Power,” and after a short exposition of the subject, many brief addresses were had, and the congregation united in several hymns. One of the delegates said, “I am prouder than ever of the Uni versaliet Church. Men are crying for the bread of life, and our faith supplies what the world needs.” An other said: “The most helpful words that I can speak are these: ‘I am a Universalist.’ They are helpful, be cause they enshrine faith, and the faith the world needs.” The morning session was mainly devoted to business and reports. The large attendance filled the church al most to its capacity. It was a remark able congregation, nctwithstand ing the great heat of the early morn ing. Rev. C. P. Nash, of Michigan, offered prayer, after which the “Glory Hallelujah” chorus was sung with great spirit, Prof. Straub, of Illinois, leading. President Felt ordered the roll call, and announced some changes in the committees. During the interim be tween the close of the devotional meeting and the opening of the business session, the New York dele gation which had assembled in an ante-room, marched into the church singing its state song. The Southern Work. The reports of the officers of the Union was the first order of the morn ing. Rev. W. H. McGlauflin, the Southern missionary, was the first of ficer to make a report. He was re ceived with applause. It was the sixth report he had made to the Union,and he expressed gratification at the fact that promises early made have been and are being fulfilled. During the year the missionary had (CONTIS UBU ON KOVKTH 1-AUK.)