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W OUR ILLINOIS CHURCHES. '$ ii -- y REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT, REV. JOHN S. COOK. . Xlie Missionary Work of the Ycar-Thc Superintendent's Report Pre ifl. ‘ sented at Earlyille Convention, Sept. 39, 1897. ^ rpHE convention year, just closed, I has been one of great financial depression. In the agricultural dis tricts this has been felt more severely than during the preceeding year. Its effect upon many of our smaller parishes has been to render the main tenance of regular services difficult, especially so when a chaDge of pas tors made a canvass for funds neces sary. This same cause has retarded the opening of new fields, and the general disinclination to assume fresh obligations, has prevented the de velopment of some promising move ments into parishes. Under these conditions it is a pleasure to be able to report an in crease in the number of parishes and preaching stations where regular ser vices are held. Last year the reports showed forty-two places: this year we can report fifty places where services have been regularly held during the whole or part of the year. The num ber of places having services weekly is twenty five. Those having ser vices every two weeks eight. Those having services monthly seventeen. In addition there are a number of places where occasional services have been held, aggregating about twenty in number, and among them are several promising fields. There are other places, where organizations exist, or where church buildings more or less valuable have been built as L niver salist churches, that have been dor mant during the entire year. Among the most important of these may be mentioned Decatur, Lincoln,Wheaton and Rochelle. This summary will perhaps give the members of the convention some idea of the present state of the church iu Illinois. It is not a story of any brilliant capture of strategic points, or great advances, but it is, I think, a record of steady growth. Several of the movements here tabu lated are quite modest: they may re quire fostering by the church at large for some time jet. Some of them may close their doors, yet in my opinion we should be failing iu our duty, did we not attempt their development into parishes. Of my personal work detailed re ports have been made monthly to the Board of Trustees. It will be more convenient to speak of it here in rela tion to the various sections of the state than to attempt a chronological account. CHURCH PROPERTY. The Sheridan parish has deeded its church building and lot to the Con vention in the usual manner. The Wheaton church has been leased recently to an athletic asso ciation. There is a fund at Mendota, amounting to something over $2,000, the proceeds of the sale of a church property, many years since. I recently visited this city and had an interview with one of the Trustees. He is not willing, as I understood him, for the fund to be placed in the convention’s hands in trust, but would be willing to abide by the decision of a parish meeting. Owing to a recent bereave ment I did not call upon the other surviving trustee. It is probable that a meeting of the parish will soon be called and that a part of the inter est will be used in an attempt to re vive preaching services. THE YEAR. In the year past, I have preached 182 sermons, and have traveled over 6,000 miles, visiting thirty-three dif ferent places, at almost all of which I held public services. I have, no doubt, often erred in judgment, in my attempt to further the cause of our church and its faith. But such strength and ability as I have were given to the work that seemed to me to be most needed. I have been unable to answer many of the calls received to visit parishes or to act on many valuable suggestions made by friends. The work that you have given me to do, might well em ploy the energies of several mission aries. During the year I have assisted or conducted revival services, or series of meetings at Mt. Pulaski, White heath, Clinton, LeRoy, Greenup, Windsor, Hutsonville, Sharpsburg, Cowden, Kenney, Carbondale, and other places. For three and a half months the requests for this form of service were so many that I spoke on the average once a day. THE CENTRAL SECTION. In my report last year the reopen ing of the Mount Pulaski church was referred to. This parish continued under my charge until January, when a circuit was organized and Rev. Frances E. Cheney took charge as pastor. A Sunday-school has been since organized, the con gregations continue to increase, and they are hoping to employ more of their pastor’s time next year. While endeavoriug to organize this circuit, I held services for several | months at. Kenney. Although noth I ing permanent yet has resulted, tnis field is worthy of more attention in the future. Latham was also visited, by re quest. Both of these last named points are near to Mount Pulaski,and would form with it a compact cir cuit. The Wbitebeath parish was also visited and regular preaching ser vices were established in January, as a part of the Mount Pulaski circuit. Windsor had been without the ser vices of a Uuiversalist minister for about six years. It has a very beau tiful church edifice, and knowing it to be the home of some very dr-voted Universalist families, arrangements were made for some special services. On visiting the parish, steps were at once taken to provide for monthly preaching and this place was added to the circuit under Miss Cheney’s charge. Greenup being without a pastor, was induced to complete the circuit. Thus four places that but for the work of the superintendent would probably be without regular services, were formed into a self-supporting circuit. I have also visited several times, Sangamon—a rural commu nity near Decatur, the seat of another movement. No convenient place for services being available, the friends are devoting their energies to the building of a church. This is now in process of erection. They have availed themselves of Miss Cheney’s services on week-day evenings since January last. When the building is completed we hope to establish regular Sunday services.—Oakley, and Belleflower: For several months services were held here regularly. Changes in the families supporting our movement made a suspension of these services advisable. Urbana: I visited this parish sev eral times and tendered such assist ance as I was capable of rendering to its trustees, offering to keep the pul pit open and to arrange for the hear ing of candidates. The parish has been under the preaching of Rev. E. C. Towne since the beginning of the year. [Mr. Towne was not in fel lowship and has since resigned. Ed.1 THE SOUTHERN SECTION. All that part of the State below the thirty-ninth parallel embracing thirty three counties and an area of over 16,000 square miles, had but one active Universalist church at the date of last year’s session. This one be ing the Waltouville parish in Jeffer son county, and it maintained ser vices but once a month. No minister of our faith resided within this sec tion. I have given as much time as posesible to this section, visiting it monthly until July last. I visited several of the larger towns, holding a week’s series of meetings at Car bondale, monthly services at Mt. Vernon and at Ashley (dormant for many years) with occasional services at Ina and elsewhere. The prejudice against anything that savors of liberal Christianity, is very great; and the work of build ing up Universalist churches is neces sarily a slow one. As a result of my visits regular services were estab lished at Ashley, in Washington Co., and at Mt. Vernon, Jefferson Co. On the expiration of Rev. J. K. Dillon’s pastorate at Waltonville, these three places were united in a circuit and Rev. E. M. Minor took charge. He resides atMt. Vernon, and is winning his way into the confidence and es teem of the people. He has reorgan ized the church at Ashley, which had long been dormant. Under his leader ship the people have put their church into good repair and established a Sunday-school. At M . Vernon his congregations are g: owing; a Sunday school has been started which is well attended. The movement here has always suffered from the disadvan tage of meeting in a small obscure hall, the best quarters obtainable at present. The supporters of the movement, however, are thoroughly in earnest and determined to succeed. The three parishes forming this circuit are only able to pay Bro. Minor for three fourths of his time, which will not afford him a living. His fourth Sunday he uses in visiting outlying points. If this Convention could extend aid to the extent of SI 00 to this mission circuit, for one year, I believe by that time it would be self sustaining. If this cannot be done, it will, in all probability, have to be kept up by the superintendent, or be abandoned. 1 would most earnestly recommend that this aid be given, with the understanding that Bro. Minor devote the proportion of his time for which this pays to the answering of missionary calls in the surrounding country. SHAliPSBDKG. This parish was visited during the winter, and the continuance of regu lar services was secured by tbe set tlement of Rev. W. W. Slaughter. This arrangement has continued un til the present, but Bio. Slaughter has been unable to find employment for the remainder of his time so that he is compelled to seek another field of labor. His pastorate terminates this month The difficulty is to ar range a circuit in this section, where our churches are small and far apart. Girard and New Salem, were left without a pastor by the resignation of Rev. J. E. June. I have endeav ored to supply Girard with services, visiting it myself and sending others. So far I have been unable to settle a pastor. New Salem has failed to answer all communications and I have been unable to visit that parish. Cowden, has been having monthly services for some months, now, under my directions. The matter of their permanence is not yet settler). I have likewise visited Beecher City, Herrick and the Lorton church, all points near to Cowden. There is a reasonable prospect of forming a circuit in this neighborhood, if the time could be spared to devote to it. THE NORTHERN SECTION. At the opening of the year several important parishes in this section were without services. Among them Eailville, Sheridan and Verona, while Dixon was virtually in the same condition. After considerable cor respondence I was given an opportu nity to preach to the Earlvillechurch as a result of several visits and con sultations, the charge of the parish was temporarily placed with the su perintendent, and for four months I have given it half my time. About the same time the congregation wor shiping in the Zion Hilt Church, near here, were unable to secure Prof. Chapin as a supply for their pulpit any longer, and the building in which they worshipped was des troyed by fire. I have preached for this congregation monthly for the past four months. Three of these meetings were grove meetings, and largely attended. The congregation are now building a church which will soon be ready for dedication. I have also held services at Dixon, Sheridan, Serena, and Verona, dur ing the year. At Sheridan and Se rena three monthly services have been held, and three services have been held at Verona. It is too early to predict results. There is reason to believe that a new circuit may be formed in LaSalle County. RAPATEE AND MAQDON. I have recently visited these places in Kuox County. Rapatee has had services with more or less regularity for several years. Ma quon was visited twice at the earnest request of parties living there. Tt is desired by those interested to unite these two places under one pastor’s care. I have arranged for a series of meetings in the near future, when the neighborhood will be systemati cally canvassed for funds to support the movement. PECATONICA This parish has engaged Rev. W. A. Render as pastor; services will be held every Sunday. I visited this parish when Bro. Render commenced his labors. The parish is hardly able to pay him a living sal-iry. It would greatly strengthen the parish if some near-by point could be developed to co operate with them, but I have been unable so far to de vote any time to this work. Parishes Supporting Services all tlie Time (Every Sunday.) 1 Avon 13 Joliet 2 Belvedere 14 La Grange 3 Blue Island 15 LeRoy 4 Chicago 1st 16 Macomb 5 Chicago 2nd 17 Marseilles 6 Chicago 3rd 18 McHenry 7 Chicago Stewart Av 19 Morrison 8 Chicago Woodlawn 20 Oak Park 9 Clinton 21 Peoria 10 Elgin 22 Sycamore 11 Galesburg 23 Urbana 12 Hoopeston 24 Wauponsee 25 Pecatonica Parishes Supporting Preaching One-half Time. 1 Earlville 5 New Salem 2 Girard 6 Swan Creek 3 Gerlaw 7 Table Grove 4 Little Hickory 8 Lafayette. Parishes Supporting Monthly Services. 1 Ashley 9 Serena 2 Cowden 10 Sheridan 3 Greenup 11 Waltonville 4 Hutsonville 12 Whitebeath 5 Mt. Vernon 18 Windsor 6 Mt. Pleasant (LaSalle) 14 Rapatee 7 Mt. Pulaski 15 Sangamon 8 Sharpsburg 16 Maquon 17 near Morris (Mrs. Newport) Places Where Occasional Services Have lieen Held During the Past Year. 1 Beecher City 10 Ina 2 Belleflower II Carboodale 3 Dixon 12 Hutsonville (town) 4 Kenney 13 Herrick 5 Latham 14 Pesotum 6 Leland 15 Oakley 7 Plainfield 16 Flat Rock 8 lioso Hill 17 Wolf Prairie 9 Verona 18 Lorton,Fayette Co Places Where Organizations or Church Properties Exist That Have ltecu Dormant all the Yrear. 1 Apple Creek 8 Rochelle 2 Decatur 9 Suez 3 Oblong 10 Wheaton 4 Lincoln 11 Woodstock 5 M ils Prairie 12 New Boston 6 West Salem 13 Saylor Springs 7 Rochester 14 Good Hope (Cumber _ land Co) The outlook for the coming year seems to me to be full of promise. The greater portion of the state of Illinois is missionary territory. The opportunities are many. With the passing of the financial depression that now seems assured, we may hope that a more generous support shall be accorded the Convention, and that an increased activity in all our parishes will follow. I have spoken of the three sec tions of the state; each of these could fully employ a superintendent or missionary. There are many fields deserving investigation that I have been obliged to pass by, because to at : tempt their development would re quire more time than could be spared from the work already under taken. There are towns and cities that ought to afford fields for out labors which I cannot enter, because the preliminary expenses of hiring a suitable place for services, advertis ing, etc., would amount to a consider able sum, and there is no fund (but my own salary) from which it could be paid. Respectfully submitted, John S. Cook, Superintendent of Churches. ANNUAL REPORT OF THE EXECU TIVE COMMITTEE. To the Members of the Illinois Vnimr salist Convention, Assembled in Six tieth Annual Session: Your Executive Committee would re spectfully report that, following the custom now well established, monthly meetings have been held during 1be year, usually on the first Monday in each month. At the first meeting held Nov. 2, 1896, the standing committees were appoint ed for the year. Rev. A. J. Canfield, D.D., Rev. A. H. Laing SDd Mre. A. M. H. Ellis were named for the missionary committee. Rev. R. A. White, Riv. A. A. Thsyer, D.D., and Mr. R. J. Haight for the committee on education, and Mr. E. A. Laniaster, Mrs. M. H. Nash and Mr. H. H. Massey for the finance committee. In pursuance of the action taken one year ago authorizing the retention of the services of Rev. John S. Cook as state superintendent of churches, your committee at once proceeded to make the necessary arrangements with Mr. Cook and to consider tho ways and means of providing funds for his salary. The matter of arranging the terms with Mr. Cook was referred to the mis sionary committee. The funds on hand and expected to ' comer in during the next four months not being sufficient to meet the expenses the president and secretary were au thorized to borrow a sum not exceeding 8500 in anticipation of revenue. At the December meeting, Dr. Can field ae chairman of the missionary committee, reported that arrangements had been made to continue Mr. Cook as superintendent of churches o.i the same terms as had been agreed upon laBt year, that is, $1,500 for his services for the year, he to bear all expenses of travel ing and correspondence. Dr. Canfield also reported that the committee had agreed to allow Mr. Cook $25 to cover unexpected expenses incurred during the previous year. The action of the missionary committee as so reported was approved. The President and Secretary reported that in pursuance of the authority given them they had negotiated a loan of $300 to meet current expenses. A proposition from theWestern Branch of the Publishing House to distrib ute 500 copies of that paper, containing the report of the annual session to pas tors, churches and isolated Universal ists for $10 was accepted, and such dis tribution authorized and paid for. It was believed that the information of the work of the Convention thus dissem inated would be of use and benefit to the Convention. At the January meeting your com mittee was notified that the loan of $3, 300 on the Woodlawn church property would soon be due; that it would be necessary to renew the loan and that the church was unable to meet all of the expense of tie renewal together with the accrued interest and premium on the insurance. This church property had been deeded to the Convention and for that reason as well as others, it must not be sacrificed. Your committee was reluctant to ad vance the $200 asked for to assist the church in effecting a renewal or exten sion of the loan and urged the church to do its utmost in the direction of raising the necessary funds to meet these ex penses. The church waB unable to raise tie funds and, the finance committee hav ing recommended that the assistance asked for be extended, it wsb voted at the February meeting to borrow $200 and to apply it in payment of the ex penses of the extension of the loan pre mium on insurance and accrued inter est. The President and Secretary were also authorized to join in the execution of the papers neceesary for extending the loan five years. At the meeting of May 3rd the funds in eight and expected were again insuf ficient to meet the current expenses and the president and secretary were au thorized to borrow a sum not exceeding $300 in anticipation of revenue. In pur suance of the authority thus given $200 was borrowed on July 13th. Your committee would further report that a deed to the Convention of the church property at Sheridan has been received and that a reconveyance to the parish in the usual form has been au thorized. There was laid before the meeting of the committee, held June 28th, a letter from Rev. Jenkin Lloyd Jones, Secre tary of the Liberal Congress of Religion, inviting this Convention to become a member of the Congress by the pay ment ot the $10 fee required and to send a delegate to the approachiug Annual Session of the Congress to be held at Nashville in October. Reply was made to Mr. Jones that inasmuch as the ses sion of our General Convention, at Chicago, will occur on the same date it was the sense of the committee that ac tion in the matter be deferred for this year. It was also resolved to refer the matter to the Convention itself in its annual session. In pursuance of that resolution the matter is here and now brought to the attention ot the Conven tion and laid b* fore it for such action as its members may deem expedient or best. Your committee would further report that with the aid of the money borrowed the current expenses have all been paid; that the $300 first borrowed has been re paid and that there are still outstanding two notes of the convention for $200 . each. The $100 voted last year to the General Convention has not yet been paid and that part ot the salary of the State Superintendent of churches due for his services this month is yet unpaid. In addition to the income from parish quotas and from interest there has bsen received this year $33.99 contributed by Sunday-schools. This plan originated in the Uoiversalist Woman’s Association and the contribution came through that association. The association has itself contributed towards the missionary work of the convention the sum of $185.00. The Young People’s Christian Union has contributed $100.00. There has been received from the General Convention 842.02 being one half of the Cent a-Day pledges collected from this state. The treasurer has col lected 8387.73 in interest on the Perma nent Fund of the Co: vention. Tte Per msnent Fund remains the same hb last year, 87,240.49. Included in this is a fund of 81000 now converted by means of a foreclosure into real estate, which ie at the present time almost unproduc tive of income. The Permanent Fund ought to be increased. The rate of Life Membership Certificates is a con venient way of increasing the Fund. These certificates cost only 810.00 and the purchasers become life members of the Convention. The S10.00 becomes a part of the Permanent Fund and affords a safe and sure income, available every year for use in the Missionary work of the Convention. The income from parish pledges or quotas has been somewhat diminished, owing no doubt to the financial strin gency through which the country has passed and from which it seems now to be emerging. With the return of better times the income from this source should increase, and, we hope, become greater than ever before. Ihe expenditures for the year have been as follows: To the State Superintendent for salary. $1 500 00 To the Woodlawn Park Church.. 200 00 To the Secretary for salary. 100 00 To the Universalist Publishing House. 10 00 For printing circulars. 0 00 For printing programs... 4 00 For interest. 10 15 81 830 15 The Superintendent of churches has rendered monthly reports showing the places visited, the work done and the sums paid to him on account of his services. He has been paid at the end of each month that part of his salary due for the month less the amount of the sums so paid to him. A study of the reports of the superin tendent arouses a feeling of regret at the inability of the Convention, by rea son of the lack of funds, to do more mis sion ary work, There can be no ques tion as to the policy of maintaining a superintendent or missionary. There ought to be at least two superintendents —one for the north end and another for the south end of the stats. Besides the usual number of officers to be elected this year there are to be chosen by this assembly three clerical and six lay delegates to the biennial session of the General Convention to be held at St. Paul's Church, Chicago, beginning on the 19th day of October 1897. In conclusion your committee would remind those assembled here that the past year haB witnessed the passing away of three persons who were pre eminent in the Universalist church work in this state. Their lives were so exemplary that Universalists should be proud to refer to them and should strive to emulate them. Rev. H. D. L. Webster was for many years a clergymen in fellowship with this convention. Mr. S. N. Brooks was long an officer and was for a short time the president of this convention. Mrs. G. B. Marsh was foremost among the noble women of the church, aDd for a number of years represented this state on the Board of Trustees of the General Convention. We recommend that the committee on resolutions pre pare suitable memorials to these three to be spread upon the records of this convention. For The Executtve Committee. By Geo F. Hughes. Secy. THE liYDEK FUND—REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES TO EARL VII.IiE CONVENTION. The Trustees of the Ryder Fund for the relief of superannuated clergyman would respectfully report: That at the last report of the under signed trustees on Sept. 25, 1896, there was shown to be on hand to the credit of the income account of the fund at the date of said report, the sum of $114.13, There has been received from interest since the date of said report to the present time, in all the sum of $773 50. making a total from cash on band and from receipts for the year of $917.93. There has been paid out of said in come account to beneficiaries during the year the sum of $525 00. There has been transferred from the income ac count to the permanent fund invested the sum of $200,00. There has been ad vanced from the income account to pay for insurance on the premises on which the trustees have made a loan, the sum of 815.00, making the total amount of disbursements from the income account 8740 00, leaving a balance on hand of 8177 93. The only change that has been made in the investment fund is that payment has been made of $200.00 on hie loan by Moses Kahn, Bnd (two loans of 8200.00 each have been made from the fund to the Illinois Univerealiet Convention, taking the notes of the Convention therefore,) eo that the fund has bten in creased during the past year by the sum of 8200 00, making the total amount of the fund now invested the sum of 812, 350.00, being an increase of 82,350 00 above the original donation of 810 000.00. All of this amount is invested in loans secured by first mortgages on real estate, with the exception of the said sum of 8100.00 loaned to the Convention. In terest on all the loans has been paid with the exception of the loan to James and Annie L. Gould of $1,000 00, which was made August 10,1896 This loan is amply secured, but owing to the fact both the parties who signed the note and mortgage, husband aid wife,have died during the year, having no chil dren, but both leaving a large number of collateral heirs who are endeavoring to straighten out the title among them selves by some purchasing the othere’ interests, the interest has not been paid, and the trustees have been obliged to advance for insurance the sum of $15.00 on the property. The property, how ever, iB ample security for the indebted ness due the trustees, and the interest, and the amount advanced for insurance will undoubtedly be paid by some of the heirs within a short period. All of which is respectfully submitted this 25th day of September, 1897. Solomon W. Straub, Lewis Cordes. Edward A. Dicker. THE PLACE OF DEATH IN EVOLU TION. “The Place of Death in Evolution” (Charles Scribuer’fiSons),by Newman Smyth, is an interesting book, though it is not easy to see what evolution in the strict sense of Darwinism has to do with the theme. The word is used todescribe the organic processes of change which fit animals in the course of time and after many un fortunate generations for a new environment. It involves the infer ence now held for a certainty by tha majority of scientific observers that these organic changes produce all the differences of species. But every where these changes imply resistance to death; that is, to a breaking up of the organs; and they point back hypothetically to a time when death was not, because life was confined to organism that could not be dissolved except of their own motion. They must point forward also to the same sort of immortality in the cells of the disintegrated organs which have been worn out in the service of a composite living creature. But they give of themselves no hint of an inorganic existence. The soul is absolutely uuknown to evolution. All that can be said is that the soul tnd immortality are not contradicted by the evolutionary theory. Dr. Smyth can use modern biology only by way of analogy. The continuity of nature leads to the legitimate inference that the pro cesses of life are not completed in mortal man. But, on theother han the inference that evolution is a movement toward perfection seems questionable. Is this so invariably true that it can be used as an axiom? It certainly seems to require proof from somewhere outside of the evolu tionary theory. If that is the case, then the whole theory of a better life after what is called death rests on evidence of which evolution has no knowledge. The author, indeed, points out a striking coincidence between the teaching of biology that sex and death come into the world together aB prerequisites of the rise of life to a higher order of beings and the teaching of the New Testa ment that both will be unknown to the world to come. Fission, which corresponds in cell life to both birth and death among the higher animals, is not reckoned by biologists as an interruption of life. Yet the cell, after it has divided into two new cells, is not the same that it was. If there were such a thing as a conscious cell, could it be imagined as enduring the rupture of its parts without the complete death of its consciousness? It must seem that the biologists in coupling sex with death have yielded to poetic ideas of symmetry, while, on the other hand, the doctrine of the New Testament is simply that the future life will be inconceivably different from the life that now is. Practically the latter puts a negative upon all analogies, and Dr. Smyth, the mo ment he really sets about imagining what the future life must be, does the same thing. Evolution in this world is a process of differentiation. It takes advan tage of all variations either to destroy or to build up the species in the in dividual. It might be thought that the same process would continue in the next world. But Dr. Smyth in sists that it will not, and he maintains that the fixity already attained by humanity physically proves that in the spiritual world there will be no change such as is implied in birth and death. Already man is a spirit ual being rather than physical; his development has ceased to be an or ganic process, and it must be this de velopment that will be continued after death. On the whole, Dr. Smyth’s argument, while less strict and more poetically put, is for mod ern materialists what Bishop Butler’s was to the deists of an earlier time. It accepts the facts of science and then shows that materialism cannot deal with them, and that any solution of the problem requires theism to make it come out right.—New York Tribune. A PRACTICAL CHRISTIAN ‘ I want to be a practical Chris tian.” So said one whose eyes were open to the real bearings of a Chris tian Profession. Now this practical Coristianity is just what the world wants and God desires to see. This is a very prectical age. The charac teristic feature of our modern civili zation iB the adaptation and applica tion of the products of genius every day life. We have disencumbered ourselves of very much of the form and fuss and sentiment of old times and have reduced principles to prac tice. The two great electric lights of the world are Franklin and Edison. And while their work is iniimately and logically related, there is a great dif ference between electricity as Fiank l n knew it, and as Edison knows it Franklin bottled it; but Edison has taken out the cork and set it at work. Now the world needs today a Chris tianity as practical as its electricity, as brilliant in its illuminating power, and as energetic in its application. We want it to shine, and we want it to drive. We do not condemn the church. It has done and is doing great service. But it can do a vast deal more. Too much of its power is bottled yet. It needs such a shock as will startle it out of its pews and forms and conventionalities. “ Too much wildfire,” was the criticism of a staid, prim, proper church member, speakiug of the work of an earnest and enthusiastic laborer, who did not confine his methods altogether with in regulation lines. And we said in reply, that we thought even “wild fire” was better than no fire. But practical Christianity does not kindle wildfire. It is as far removed from the one extreme as the other. There is and always has been a tendency to mistake sanctimony for spirituality. Some people ooze out religious unction a* they do perspira tion, and gain a reputation for saint liness, while yet their piety sadly fails of practical efficiency. “ Re member your profession,” was the oft repeated admonition of a certain stern visaged sister. This was her “down brake” signal for her unfortunate husband, when ever he seemed in danger of switch ing off on any side track of hilarity. Religion to her was a steep up grade to be traveled with slow solemnity. A quaint old Methodist minister, at the close of a protracted meeting when emotion was at a white heat, was thus accosted by the leader of the service: “Oh, don’t you long to be in heaven, brother? Are you not pining for your discharge?” “No,” was the somewhat unexpected reply, “I don’t I don't want to be where I ain’t wanted. When God wants me he will send for me.” Those who key themselves down to a funeral tone are not practical Christians, and neither are those who live in a sort of spiritual abstraction,out of sympathy with this life, and idly gasping into another which they do not see at all. This woild is the place to get ready for heaven in, and he who takes the lower place contentedly and efficient ly will be invited some day to come up higher. The practical Christian exemplifies the all-sufficiency of the grace of God on all lines of allowable human in terest. He not only siDgs of peace and good-will at Christmas time, but he weeds out ‘‘the roots of bitterness” and does not keep any pet grudges. He not only prays, Thy kingdom come, but he gives more than a nickel to the offering for missions, and dares sometimes speak to some sin ner about his soul. He does not keep his piety with his hymn book in his pew, but puts on the Lord Jesus and walks in him, so that all take knowledge of him that he has been with Christ, and as old Rowland Hill said, even “his dog and his cat find it out.” But alas, as Whittier says, “It is easier to be pious than it is to be good.”—Isaac L. Kipp, in New York Observer. The Universalism We Need. If we really mean to grow and extend our Church we must be Chrietian, Bib lical Univerealiste. Zoroaster had “a sort of Universalism.” The Reformed Jews also believe in the final salvation of all. But they base the doctrine ex clusively on philosophical grounds— very well so far ae it goes; but a merely philosophical Universalism can have no future. The world wants Christian Univereliem. There ie no call for any other.—ifer. Dr. Sweet ser.