Chicago Daily Tribune Newspaper, September 19, 1881, Page 9

THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE: “MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1881—TEN PAGES. 9 . THE PULPI two Sermons Having a Direct Bearing on the Thomas Case. prot Swing Spenks on Heresy Perso. cutions ay an Exhausted a Storie pr. Ryder’s Review of Dr, Thomas’ “" Rolatious to the Methodist : Church. AN BXILAUSTED STORM, KERMON BY PROF, SWING, prof. Swine preached ton Inrge congregation aterday morning In the Contral Chureli. Ha jook n¢ bls thome “AnUixbauated storm.” Fol- * Jpsing {s the sermon: ‘And thoro Was A great onlm,—Malt., vltly 27. Many of tho Ineidenta fu tho life of Jesus hava + peenme tho figures and illustrations in tho mod- qosplritual world. Tho mangor, tho star, tho qomn of thortg, tho ‘crosa, the resurrection, gon passed troin litoral history and vegan to ‘hecouse a part of tho spiritual Iauguage of the puman race, Modern epecch, whun it donis in religious {len and sontiments, 19 ortamented atly by thogo allusions to scenes and oventa which camuo to isd whilo that grenteat of ives yas belng Lvedin Palustine., As tho Illy appears now inall modern decoration becutise It ts en- * gobled by Its auciont part in tho symbotlsin of religion, And politics, and tho beautiful, so too leading incidents in tho bistory of Jesus Christ stand forth agsn part of modern expres: sipp in words or in art. Josus enlming tho tempest comes Up to mind as an cvent which ed tong ARO oUtof tho piuco of waves, and wioda, and thunders, to be a prophecy of n day wben.tho seas of trouble should at tho command of thassine Master sink Into penco, Thosoulin {isapisitual moods, which are many, and often sorrowful, goes to tho material phonomona that ence surrounded ita Lord and naks thom to whis- pértolticssons In tho darker kingdom of tho spirit. Ta tho passage Just rond from the Now Testa- ment that storm which Christ atilled appenrs to- day as an omblem of the discords of mankind shied are chanyed Jnto harmony and even rich, srect music by tho cominand of thisstilloxisting er, The thoological tomnpost which hus made the roligious sen run wildly, and which bas . wreckod go many barks, and bus so often inado thepoople ary, “Lord, carest ‘Chou uot that weperish?” aocms at inst abuting its fury and permitting some, sunsbino and Ught to pour ihrough Its cloud, ‘The tempest hus been dari and long. Geologists tull us that when this gabe waa steaining from Its Intornnl bont there wero surmg of rain which beat incessantly, with anful lightning and thunder, for a hundred ears, This clemoutal war finds itaulf outdone fy'tine thoologleal storm which has prevalited among the Reets nnd betyyoun tho ects nnd ine dividuats, This bas tor many centuries cov: ered tho clvillzod mations wit its uproar and coud, Tho day hus been turned Into night, qany baye been killed in the convulsion, ane many bave bean sore nfrald, Rath guerra aud trinls for horesy, and carly ‘bloodshed in the numo of the Christian raillon, came froin the fuct that tho governments wero religious, und vay new religious fer wis ade~ quate caueo for fearing that anew party would arse of persons who loved tho idea, and would thus become a inchuce to tho Suite. Pagan tho- clogians cauyht Aad pnlsuett Christians because: the pagans wished for empire, and Christians inade War Upon pagans becuse tho Christians wished to hold the central power at Home, or Carthage, or Constantinople, .The Churoh and Btate wero united, and therefore a new taought inthoology was Ike tho uprising of eipratonder =itwas the storin. centre of a revolution. Men didnot, la tho abstract, earo much about the Trinity, or About certain speculative opinions, but thoy did cure for tho ngsumbinges of men which very naturally: wauthored around now dogmas, Phay and his Emperor had agrent contempt for the opinions held by tho early Christians, but they hud & proper respect for tho multitude which was form! ag around those opitions and was duily increasing. Itie nife to make the sflirmation that thoologlent controversy bad ite origin notin the vatue of iho questions in dispute, but in the political power which wnsto be guined or lost by tha partiea onzuued In tha debate, When elvil power began to bo dotnched from eocleainstical atfulra persvoution for opinion taka began to satten and decline, and the flames Gat burned martyra bozan to dio aut. It was found that it did not harm aman muck to hold Calvinism or Arminianism provided tho Stute was not a follower of elthor eystem. Sir Thomag More was beheuded not because his rellyioua oplutone were fnisc, but because thoy Nero not thoso of Henry Vill; and Knox was tried not heeniuao his creed was falso, but bocnusa it threntoned the plans of Queen Mary. Cranmer way tried for treason, but the chirgo wns changed to horcay that hie might be burned if found guilty; thus ahowing that the old trints for heresy originated in tho dears and jealaustes of Kings ot rulura of alt grates, ‘Cyrants watched not tho value of dog- nas, but tho slzo of the crowds whith assembled wound them, sod therofore 1 trial for heresy wasonly atrial for treason fu thin disguise, Tower has nlways been nervous and suspicious, Aaving, porbaps, ronched its throne by vice und crime, it has yenornlly been afraid of some other person's crime, and, Ike the ngsusin in Wash- ington, has feared tho policy it hus pursued. After churches wuro cutupolled to withdraw from tho State they became a power in. thon- telves, and hove often arraigned men for holding opinions that would hurm thelr groat Organization. Unatlo to prove that one at of opinions wera = tnoro harmful than anothor, thoy have deemed it Autticiont to claim that tho opinions were simply not thoso of thotr body. Presbytorians hive are ralgned men, not for holding harmful tdoas, but tor holding Gopreabyldeiau ideas, and Sethe odista have tried men not for proaching falsc- . but for tonebing dogmas not tound in Often the prosecution admits tho honesty and Curistiny charactor of tho person accusod, but compluing thet his tenots are not shos¢ of the prosecution, ‘hua the theolopion) tempest dectines intoa zephyr. In the olden , Hgtes when a heretic wus led ‘ulong toward tho :Placvordenth ho was fusulted by it superatt= Hous mob, which often prayed that curses inlght follow him forever; but {n our ora, When theological court adjourna, Judge, Jur: and accused, and tho frignda of till, Ko bowie falling to ent the best tood they win find, snd ito dlean tho bust sleep thoy can Conx aut of the givinities of tho pillow. All ure intorestod, in- feed, in tho power and spread of dencml- Fy fonnl teachings, but noteo interosted as to fall xt tha dinner tibia of tolivo without a sintlo i te face. Could we, at once, yuo pletiros—a Gindemned heretic coming forth fron) a courtot qyea Mary and a condemned heretic jeauing Yom oO Methodist or Calvinist judgmont-seat, iG Hbould confess that there wus Mitta resom= 6 between tho two acones, Thu axis of thls front religious storm was el¥ewhero aul iis 80. 1t6 central cloud burat long before it {we to our homes. Waure upon tho vory mare kin of this disturbance of the olementa, Bome me Ww stilling tho tempest. ina gh Ae Belmalt that thore witli always bo denom= a onal ideas, and that men who once onter teres tb dunominations Will be expected to rigs tho propositionser the sect of thelr choice, Ln Iman who Jolns o ff club cannot oni? freo “trade and still be & an Member of the club, Whon o lng a temperaneo soclety ho 18 come pty ‘tho stat fs orguulzations would be pegical and worthless unless they should fave eee oxamine the reported teachings und bent of mombery, and to torminute the met ps of those who should be found disse Ngue opinions which tho saulotics wero de tei expressly to overthrow, ‘Theological erage peust therefore bo coneudad tha right to tho temborabip of any whu may bu op. i ns tho regular thology of the body in qnose Dletao nies g gen cannot auy just what thay Bien the Lave Joined a body which saya only bere particular things, They cease to be mom- eat hen they deny the tenuts out of which tho Trteeecie sprang in tts ori, sentiay a eriais For haresy aro logical and es- out wience In to come the pouca of this ro- Peacu eect? Thoanswer iy complox, Vorfect nl gnot Boon appear, Men will ditfor in qitlen as ton asthe human aco shall con: mgychourty. ‘Tho raco is an inquiring one, Hidme cn navor hope tae to tim. wilt over eh hon ail Inquiring minds will reach tho moe calt Not by any possibility can digore ry Judsmont divappear from tho temple of Tle aepenate will bo as lasting us eoctoty. But vith tty ate will diminish In quantity Docguac terest g 2d vance of thy mind mon with beeak #2 smal questions, and serait tn small mutte Mer age id thy day ‘The nog’® least the monof thocurrent century. More or Oo, Adke for more fniluential and theyy (Bisetioal doctrines, and uot only are debate’ nce to number, but they are lesa oponto foughy o2to8t of thecloxtcal wars have beon Ndo wag yor Metaphysical questions where one tured eh Just na clenr as the other, and thus os tha gieiiest an cual division of thy partics to tee ate. Were the question ralwid wuethor Ploug givers Of Curist should Ly bonvet, and Upon fd Kind, vo many would rapk themsaives ccattyes Mirmalive that thare woul) bo ne Ine Were thot the negative side to abow battles but tthe ne qugstion whether Christ was tho equal the lave ager, (hore Js ng cholve of sides, and by ehaverayew thore must be auch an array Westin wud nx to wusuit uw contict. Whei Suague tayo no vuswer possibly, Ibose Who a, doy tn ora arg quite equally ape dare, 2h yea" and “uo.” Thurefore, oar pte feaulry the mors probability ot Sytrig, 24, 8 olden tne and a ‘hore s Tie tattont? {the mare receut periods. Aagignygnsl tendency of our ugu is therefore Unghie toe auurrels of the Chureb dy di- iireoting Church love ought toward the laws of Chrlstiun prau- tlen over which there ean be lew animosity, Hundreds of dogmns bave been silently with: drawn from tho felda of dlactasion, aud othor theorfos, aul as that of the atonement and of Inspiration, and of heaven and hell, nrooyidently preparing to fallow, it being at fast admiten that many of tho Wiens of rolleion do not admit oF an exact dolnition. All Christinns admit tha fact of an atonement and the fret of Inapirntion and of a heaven and holl, but thoy de not feel willing to put to death nay one whe may not Know Just what is meant by thesa terms, What all admit to ho nm fiet no one can doilne and explain, Even Paul himself could not set forth clearly his vows of tho oltice ot desis Christ, for out of St. Paul one may educo the Calvinistto “bloody mMonement’’ or tho moral Influonea thoory of Bushnell, Whuteyer theory has been ndvaneed Pant bas been ap- penled to as holiing that 9) ai theory, It Is hot possible to fnd a definition of ai terms, Wo tnuet be satisiicd with very partial particulars. If one snys that man basa soul you would bet. tor not nsk that person to ataty what Js aoul, fe qld his efforts to speak and yours to unde stand tho aoul's existeneo will become Inyo! indoubt, ‘Thus many of these spiritual prope sitions which are found In the Bible or lave grown up rround [t must be leit standing ina Perpetual vawucuons Aud peney will result from a general adnilasion of this ambiguity, ‘hore nro clergymen fi abundatica to teny this vaguencsa of relivious nesertion, bit tho efforts of these to give society nb exact totinl- Uon of theological ontities show that whilu thoy deny the thoory of ambiguity thoy om supply, thoir henrers and renders wiih great aturies of tho fact, The efforts of certain divines to tell the religious world just what insniration ia niako tip ono of tho finert thoologlont displays of {ho present time, Having ailirmed avout a yowr ayo tha indofiitness of Christian or religious proposition t waa promptly attacked by one of he most extet pt the oxact, schoo), sermon on A Gospel of Dothnitn bold rathor than elegant Doct tho folfowing fungunge: “So ft tins heen Iately suid, and wo vro biddon with soothing balm and some touches of Oriental rhetoric to sleep aweetly Inthe mldat of a grunt iiyatory, for ‘only Inn vague Christianity can we fine peace,’ | My frlonds, if this be true wo have a revelation which reveals nothing, we huve an army without nv hattle-ory, a Chureh without ftxed bollofs, dootrings dissolving In nilst, iid~ ow for substance, a Jellyfish thnalavy, gasped of thus words which would seem alnrminge deed to one not avoustomet to the orthude style of argumentation. In this discourse which must hive been us powerful ag the tam mor tn tho hundsof Thor, wo are assured tint the way of sufvation (a marked ont with tho utmost vividness, that tinless tho sinner relles upon tho vicarious atonement the Lord will ery out to iin in tho Inst day, "I nover know you. | The honest, tho moral, the benuvolent, need not hope for pence, for Joy must come only’ to thoga * who Bocupt the atoning oxpintory sneriiiee by faith.” But In tuttoring this yery explleit language tho Doctor fell Into werent misfortune. Hobrought in a disturbing efement by quoting from Jesus Christ—Chriat will suy unto you, “never knew you.” Lut turning to Christ's remarks tn full wo are almost patued to lind tut He did not utter that curse persons not holding to the blood atononient," but spoke It to persons who were not vielting the lek nor performing tho many dutics of thls life. In that most solemn of uil tho chaptora of tha Testament—the 2th of Matthow—Josus Christ in porson threntons endicas puntsuinent to all who neglect the duties of eurth, and Ito offers life eternal to all who regard those dutles; and docs this Inn world whuro the alnner must bo saved by hold- ing to tho theology of & Preabyterian! If, a8 tho preacher of the “definit gospel” aflirms, the was’ of salvation fs perfeatly clear and is found by graspng a very certain view of the atonement that pecutlar clearness must have gome to Lhelaulanity long after Christ Himsolf had passod away, If to sustuin the modern nd- vooute of “dotiitness ” we should concede that Christ lived too soon ar thought too vaguoly, we bave not helped much our eontumporary, for, niter he hinas‘found the “dellnit’ words that a sinner must bo raved by fultlt tn the expintary sioritice of the Son of God who fs to explain ta the alinor the theaniny of tho words *fulth, and “expintory,” and * snerifies, and “Son of Got"? Can there be no, debate over those terins in the pian of gatvatlon? This triond of a “rovolation that reveals” scoms never to Daye known tut rovealoed words may have tt hulf-score of iinports Over which tho seots and thoologlins may dispute for a thousand yenrs. Unable himself to prove whut ts tho men used ing of baptize,” or of | presbyter,” or“ bishop" as found in his” own Bible this oxact scholae should boast loss of his clearness of vision. But this clergy- mau well SNustrates tho logical stratts to which {hose come who nicerape to eupply mankind with a mathonuticnl Christianity, | ‘Tbls brother dopended largely upon strony langage, and ask tho tleh of tho ava and tho products of tha kitchen to belp hia conceal tho woakuess of hig thoughts, ‘The almost untverant admission that such torme as “atonomont” and “inspiration” ure vague, spiritual terms comesinte the wodern Reeno to cheek the diacurdaof tho Christian Chureh, One of tho lending Uresbyterian pastors: ol this city, Dr. Kittredgo, has pubticlydeplored: the arraignment of Dr. ‘bomas, and hag offerad to preach for tha suspended clergymen, and bas dono this with a cordiniity full of epirit and benuty—n brotherly action which springs trom the well-known fact there are inany shades of thought and bollof which aro still Christiun, and, 80 far us man can see, oquilly Christian, ‘Kno theological storm {s therefore meeting with great cheoka in our century. Henson {6 re- ducing tho numbor of doctrines na it advances, and with cach simplitiention the probabilities of a mental cuntiet decrease. Not only does rea- son uffect thonumber of essenttl tonets, but it affocts their quality und promutes the davtritios of character above tho dagmas of inystery. You well rewember that the bloody’ wnrd of the Church bave sprang up ont of tho mystorics of rellion, and not out of ita motal law. Renson, fn its touching Ugbtly upon the unknown and fn its exnlting tho Sermon on the Mount, rises ko a mountula rane before the old beating tem- bust under which so muny noblo minds’ wont jown long azo and compels the howluy winds to pause. She sumo bettor roflection notes the yagueness which like a cloud envelopes many of the tertns used In tho plan of salvation, and out of many possible roudorings of sacred words It asks tho intollcot to take its vhoico; and tothe varied minds, tha Luthors. and Wesicys, and Arnolds, and Stanleys says, * You have made different seltctions of Ktea, but you are ult one in all that (8 xood and gront fu roligion.” It remuing to be noted what our nyu has dono to rifoot must Cooply tho otd spirit of persecu- tlun and debate, It hue diseovered that Christ is tho central figure in Christianity; and that thore is no thoology that will oni pa with tho simple imitation of Hislife, The Homan Catho- No religion was putristio and political; it was. based upon the fathors, and the Hinperors, aud Kings; onrly Protestantiam was bakad upon tho dlgeuasions of Bt Daul, out of whose lottars ene tho “flye points” of Calvin and the “saving faith” of Luther. The roligion of the modern: Church {s tho toast “ purel! Christin, for, heyoud any of Its prodocossurs, ft koos tha Ono founder of its walls, and altura, und pulpit, the Ono example of ita conduct, the One Inspiration of ita bymnd, and prayers, and hopes, Hy as much as ail the mpwoatias and dig- ciples aro mado to alt around the fect of this Lord Hetening to 1s words and drinking in His spirit und preparing for His work, by so much doug Chriatianity become a unit und pags on- ward to a better concord of minds and hearts. When the Church looked in a bundred_wiys, nome to Paul, sumo to dames, soine to Calvin, me to Luthor, it enw only diforences of Judg- ment, and wag all tho moro bewiidered ond angry, but when wlloyes shall look along one way, the path of Josus, thon will como a better Disnding of human souls, Long have tho waters buon beaten about by storm, Oh, whata sore tempest it bas boon! Cutholle and Protestant baye boon Ingulfed by the. Dittor waves, Iu his nyony Milton orlod outs Avongo. ob Lord, thy nlauali(ored salnts whoso Lone Iie jorod un tho-alpine MUNNLATUN Cond, gt Hen those who kept thy tuth xv pure of old, Sinan all our fathers worshiped sticks und stones, Forwot nots In thy buak rocord thelr wrouns, Ovor almost tho wholo past of the Church Prot- estant and Romanlat might woll pause and lot fall tears of pity and regrot—regret thit, adopt- ing tha Prince of Ponco, they turned Iifa Edun Aotd of blood. Hut the howlug winds have mut witha now obstuule, A siecping Christ shows signs of waking. Je hears the cried of Afis childron who are weary of tho restless tide; Ho will awake tn Ila power aud benevulence and robuke the wild glewonts, and tho batiiod Btorin wit dig on all this m; iM THE THOMAS CASh, SUMMON HY THE NEY. Di, RYDER. The Kov. Dr. Ryder preached tho following sermon yesterday morning In Bt. Paul's Univer- sallet Church, Michigan ayenue, botween Bix- toonth and Eighteenth streota, on *fho Contro- yoray Between tho Noy. Dr. Thomas and tho Mothodlet Church": Judyo rightcous Judgment—John, vit., 24, ‘Tho acrinon which I preach to you this moru- iow compola mo to speak of individuals and do- nominations, if Lcouid prosent tho principles which undoriio all this religious agitation with- out such direct references to persons and sects Tehould greatly profor todo so. As it is, shal) endeavor not to forgot that Tam doaling with persons and organizations only so far ag they represent prineiples, and with those principles 4 tholr rolation to tho Church of Christ. It sometimes transpires in ono's ministry that ho feola called upon to disousa a public toplo, which but for tho call of duty bo would pass over inallenes, My bopo ts that, from imny jude~ pondent position, Ll may bo able to consider tho rolations of Dr, Thomas to the “Mothodise Church, snd of that Church to bim, with- out, of tho one hand, bolog © swerved from an exact judgment through par tality for my distinguished friond, or, on the other, becauso n bis gelond, restrained from expressing my conyiotions asto tho rights and authority of the denomination of which ho is a mouiber, und of bis durios to It, Let jt thon be distinctly understood, and sald onco forall, that jn this sermon we know nothing of Dr. Thomas oxcopt in ble relation to the Methodist Chyrch, and the only jght in which wo aball sook to viow him tain his ofticlal relation to that body, First of all, Jet ua conaldorto what this con troveray rolutes and whero {t Js located. ‘Ihis controversy obviously relates to the dethodiat denomlantion aa an organs: Chrlstian body, and to tho attitude of oue of Its ininisters. and in, thorofore, lueated within that ecclesinstical poly, The brother placed undor auspension elajins to ba a Methodist, and resents as untrie any nflirmation that hele not, He bus heen for many years n tninister In that Church, i full and regular fellowship, sharing the advantages of auch fellowship, and bearing his alnre of the burdens, Thero can be, therefore, no doubt as tohis being nmenatle to tho Viaciptine of that Church, tho same aa If ho were tha humblont momber of the entire fraternity, Blnee, thon, one friend proposes to he a Joyal member of tho Methodist Chureh, the print queation {s, not what fs best for the Doctor as an ladivhtunl, for bis rights us an individual eltizen ure not direotly involved in the ease, Nobody objects to his preaching what bo thinks to ho tho truth, when ho pleases, and ashe plenses, Tho abjection comes fram his clerical nesoel- ates, to tho effet thal whathe preaches and tho xeneral Iniluence uf his mintsirs: are hurmful fo tho truo prosperity of the denomination hr whose mime he speaks, and he is naked tu ro- tre from thoir ministry, that thoy may not, ever by finplication, fndorse opinions and practices which they do not approve. All, therefore, that our worthy brother bas to do, if he feel that his Itverty is reat ed in that particular orgintzns fon, 1a to separate himeaelf frat it. Thore Is pl of ron outalie of that Church and an abundance of people ready to hear what ho has to Biy. * Mut the Doctor prefers not to retire, and ho makes the plea In hls own bebalt that tho dovs trines which be has prenchee and to which ex- eeption fs tiken, are perinissabte, and do not ntluroulas: the esscutnl doctrines of Metbod- ann, Now, this would bo an interesting apectacie to. tho ontaide retilous world, and semewhutamus- ing withal, If this controversy were simply le tween Dr, Vhomas and certuly other pursous. Hut, us we have sald, this fs not the bysuc Atalls 11s Dr. ‘Choumna nen Mothodiat minister in controversy with the Methodist Church—It 1s Dr. Thamns in the attempt to show that certain doetrines tire Methodism, against those who, in the num of the Church, allicm that thoy ire not. Fortunately for our dissenting friend. ho has tho fret of the peculiar history of Muthodisin in his favor, Muthodlem, in Its spevlal relution to the Chrlathin Chareh, has be ayeent retigionus Movement, a8 well AB an orgdnized rellyious hody—bes beon, so to spent, i denoinination, and’ something’ more, Its lending doctrine of freo price Reparated ft from wll ects of the Calyanistle typ and was tho open doar through wi its lletinguiahed founders entered tho henrta of thousands, —e- aiding nino fy his natural sinner, ond in thit atate lost to fuvor_of Gait, It comes to tho world with Mtg offer of pardon in Chriat and its plon of Jove In the Message of tho Uros3, Re- yond those generat doctrines, which every- Whore nt the frat constituted the ehlet and nl- invst tho only themes of tho Methodist pulpit, y little attention waa elven to exnet thuolog= For a time Mothodiim unwise: ly diacouraved speeial trainiinr for its pulplts Bnd treated with disfavor attempts to establish theological sehonts, In view of these facts it would not be strange. {1 Mothoillsm, whon oxposed to tha shurp eyo of theological criticism, should show a vulnerable side, and the doctriual statements of aven Its lending men bo found to be somewtint entangted and contradictory, Lut suppose tls isso; will any one be the Icastin doubt as to what round Methoulat doctrine j87 Does not everyone who tukes nny interest fn such questions know that Methodism shits nt death tho gates of appor- tunity tor the sinner, and holds out no hope for what ure called tho Mually Impenitent? On this question of whether probation fs con- faed to this life, Universilism takes precise! opposit grounil to that of Methodisin, and every public controversy that any Universalist his over had with a Methodist bag Invalyed this dif- feronesof beticf. Metholism and Universaliam have moro in common thin hive tha Calvinistio sects and Univorsullem. For tho central hopo of our Church, for the Anal union of tho raco with their Crentor, ts based upon the belle that tho forgiving morey of Gad Is not only without Unit a8 to mankind, but also without mit ax to duration. Methodism eave, as well ae we, the arnco ot God {a tree to all; but stethodisn con= nos the frecness of this prac to the opportu: nity of this tife, while Universalism dechires thut the gates of Heaven will not bo closed so long o8 there Ia ono metmber of all the family of God absent trom tho Fathor's home, Both de- nominntions Wellove thut this Life ts, ton certain extent, a state of probation—that f(s, that tho chnracter one forms in this world is the oharnetar be tnkes with. him into . tho finmortal world; | but ro Methodist con- sistently holds ‘that any opportunity will bo offered tho sinner after death to repont of his errors nod retrace his steps. . This differenvo of belief a8 to the duration of probation is thon tho dividuuz.line betwoen the two denominations, No Methodist can cross this Hue without being My substantial ucoord with Universallsts, and no Universalist can cross it in the opposit direction withaut sneriticing his claim to tho denominn- tional nano, é Now, It woutd be easy for any person famillar with our chiireh biatury to show that Universal- fem js not everywhere and nt nll thes the sumo; it hng had its opochs and Its difforences of state. ment, but no ano need bo misiod by thorn, or doubt ng to what tho vasentin doctrines of Uni+ versaliam are. Jie would be n vi ny. rast man who sould attempt to prove that Universallats aro in doubt as to thelr central doctrine of tho final recovery of all souls, becauso thoy proach the doctrine of future punishment, and concede that punishment in tho next Ife will Inst as tong nsain does. Universallam doce not moan Par- tlalism, any more than Methodism moans Uni vorsalisin. Itueoms to mo that tho ruling of Presiding Eldor Willing, ng to what constitutes ultimate authority with respect to the doctrines of tho Methodist Church, 1s tho correct ono, ‘Chnt rul- ing Is as follows: “Fho Chair rules that counsel for theChuroh or Soulngel Zor the defenseinay read ns part of thelr speechts from books and authoritica; but when ‘a point Is mentionod in our Articles of Rellion, our Chureb Catochiam, unanimously adupted by tho Gouora! Conference und enforced by tho Rook of Discipline (paragraph 260) and tho cé- tublished standards of doctrine, those works aro uilimute wuthority, Tho Chair does not mean by tho word, ultimate’ thoy are * total put are ultimate authority, and tho views of authors contrary to thym cannot be followod by tho courte of the Chureh.” ‘The substance of this ruling is that tho Artt- clos of itcligion are only one class of standards of doctring, and tt the Chureh Catechlem, “unanimously adopted by tho Generul Coufore enco and enforced by the Book of Discipline,” is. ne much v standard of doctrine as any othor form in'which tho Church expresses its boiler, And {ts to. us a great surprise that the ominout counsel for tho dufenge should bave opjected to so obvious uw ruling as this, Tho Judgment of Eider bas tho sanction of prece- dents In othor denominations, and we shall bo greatly surprised not to find it almost unnni+ mously suatained by the highor courte of bis Church. Dut this trial, so far as it has progressed, is roatly very instruotive lu muny ways. Firat, it shows how Intoilizent goutlomun, who, [t is falr to ussume, Rivan to be Just, may misapprebend tho truo lssue bofore u jury. Our fllustrations must bo brief, Counsel quoted from vurious wuthory und stutamonts of octrino, and cited many {nota to show that viows similar to those hold by the brother on trial for bis falth bad been taught, at various times, by different members of tholr Church, Allthists valuable as information after tho trial hua once commenced, but ua Information only, Mofore tho trial, stich facts might bo glted to show why proceedings should not bo commonced, but after tho cust ls once tukun up tho only rulo of Judgmont that tha court enn know {4 tho atandurds of doctrine as got forth by tho Church in its organized capacity, Tho question for tho court to determing Ia, not whothor agveral brethren are guilty of the par- ticular char brought against Dr. Thormus, but whother ho ts guilty, Again, to justify tho omission of doctrinal statemonta in sermons, and to muke it appear that a doctrinal belief la not of biuding hupor- tance, it fa dutined by tha defonse that Wosley preachod rightcousness, premebed a! sin’ and Iniquity in bigh and low places, and declared = vory — Alttlo doctrine | of auy kind, Ju allthis thoro is unquestionably an cleinontof truth, and yet the ‘impression which this statement ia meant to canvey is Ine correst, For ovory one at all familine with tho {ucts knows that’ John Wesley asaumed tho truthfulness of tho essential dootrinvs of the Chureh, If bo did not attirm thom, Tho depravity ofman sad hia nocd of conversion, without which ho eanuot sco God, were qhmothing moro than vague sontinents to bin, Possibly, it cane uot bo shown that he attempted tn any sermon to prove the oxistenco of God, but no quo doubts that he bad n strony tollot in a persoual God, pour cat Christ was to hit iterully Uod mantfoat in tho fies! Dut ovon wore this statoment fn all reapcots correct, It 1s & wolt-accredited fact thut Mothod= fain, in cortain respects, bas chanyed muro within tha contury than most eccts. Ou tho godin) aldo tho transformation bus been re- warkable. Formerly the wembershipof thut seot wore pot only required to abstain from nearly all aimiecmonts, so-called, but were also diutingulshed from other Christians by tho alinplicity of their dress, and tho plainness of tholr houses of worship. And in referenco tho Intter, ornament was not only discour- Aged, but anything like a" graven faze upon one of tholr mocting-houses,” would have ox- olted the wrath of tho wholo dunomination, a4 jpulicatiog o relapse into idolatry, Hut in those intor years, L aw lnormed, Methodist congregu> Honeprovont as suitable au occasion for suo scountrie proachorsas Lorenzo Dow to declaim against *topkuotl any other; and ag to their church cdilices thoy show thelr goad sense in icing fino wrobitiure as woll as tho rout of ue. nd it laa remarkablo fot, ourlous onough i this connection, it the only Protestant church ju this city which wp to date hus “graven images” upon bolongu to tho Muthouist deaomiaation—the Trinity Mothodiut ‘on Indiang avenuo, Woleb has several face in atone aver ite main entrance, Becond—T'htw trial presents to tha public some very suggestive wtutomonts as to what ouust!- tutce Chriatian doctrine, We pass over, for lack of time tn this present sermon, what is said by the counsel for tho dofeusg in referunce ta ine splration and the true theory of thu gtonemont, aud wsk uttuntion to vertala’ fucts aud alirmas tions in reference to the aid matertal ideas of Hell nnd endioss punish 1. Tt war stated, over and over agninin conaection with the tril, that tho Articles of Keligion of the Methodist Churet do not teach endless puntshineat. ‘This ald not seem to bo denied, Tait not remarkable how the frets aro coming out In regard to ints repulsive and unseriptoral doctrine? Te is now claimed, by a fill and fresh dacusaton of thi subject, that evén thy rent body of the Pharisoes never belteved It. We know thet it wad an exceptional helicf in the carly centurier, and never general until the Dark Ages, and then not universal. In un interview with Dr. AR, fh his conviction, be in reported to have sad, and fs fo tho (neta in his statement. seid truly: On the subject of fitura punishinent thers has it for yenran very jarge tberty ty Germany. Indeed, the velter muy be ented to be almost unt. Verma tore that the fini dootn of the! xan, iy not settled at the moment of deaths and atnost thy whole Church of England fs coining tntu the smo broader filth. Mid Bo, too. Ui the inure scholarly men inmost ot the chorches in this eomntrys 1 ming forward taw wn fine mense tmannd of lenroing aud caretal thought pus that sublect, the result of which 1s to give tien a more hopeful vision of tho. futu: The Kplseopal Church fv thls country du Hot hold its ministera to any donnit of thinkwyr on this subject, nor does tho Reformed Lplecopal Chureh. Tho Mev. Mrs Wilson, of this city,of tue. Reformed Church, has preached and, f belteves lately published book on the anniniiation of the wicked, and bas alllemed that belt. Hue the: inet Eplacos palChureh does not think of giving him any tronble® because of such tented! And tho Congregational Churelt telerat herand Dr, Whiton, Tshould the Methodist Church at this vit of its Articles of Ratfgion and of tho grent creeits of Christianity, aad mating endless pinishment 2 dogma te whom all ber intnisters, to be Tulthtul, muat subseribe.” Tt fook® now us if it wero a mutter of very UtUe consequence, x0 fav us the fate of tho dove rine is concerned, what the Methodist Church may deturining te he true doctrine wa to the dum Of the wieked, ‘Thu tenet of endless inisery, from whatever premises deducted, has res t lisdenth-blow. All that fs required 18 tine for It to die decently. Anu if in theso dnys attempts “are nde te prove” thit = there never =o Waa any. such personage ua Willtum Tell, very likely somo bold epirit, fost to all: venuration ‘for mi- Hauity, nnd with no fonduess forthe delightful theorles of byyane days, will rise up and de- clare that there never was in any Uranch of tho Chureh any such belief ns ondiess punishment: that tho suibatiiutionn theary of tho atonement never was helt by anybody; and that it js a slunder upon bia falr namo to soy that Watts ever wrote any atteh Lymn aa J totmonting racks and flery coats, ‘And darts ta inflict tmmoru! pain Dingod th the bluod of damned Bu And, furthermore, that [tis false to suy that cor- faln people used to slog at tuoir revival nivotings— Mhiia the amp huldd out to burn, ‘Phe vilest sinner may roturn. ‘Three fnportant topies-af xencral fnportance ask ourattention. Tho flrat of these Is denutie national loyal What constitutes denomina- Suoner or later this question: comex heforo every sect, ani every sect tht would preserve ite exiatence te a working power “hits to meet It But in all auch lavesti- gations tho poptitar sympathy Is almost certaln fo Ue on ihe side of tho itecused ministor. “ Heresy-huntitz,” a8 it fs called, fa not popu far, and the brothor who 1A brought to trial Is usually placed upon the rott of “imartyrs to prinelple.”” Aud no doubt there are’ cases where this eihy is wisoly bestowed, since the prosecution Is without reasonable defense, Hut in these days nil falreniinded men will con~ cedg that trials of this class aro not Hkely to be bad, tor no denomination wishes to lose tho surviees of a tisefal minister, or to incur the poptilur verdict of jutolerenue, The real danger which threatens the ugefulness of churches to- day ig not rashness in the expulsion of mem- bora, but a hesitancy to take any netion, which hesitancy Is apt to be intorpreted by the outside world a6 Indifference, In view of these fneta, a very grave responst- bility rests unon the clergy of tho sevetnl de- nominations—a responawility that is more thin watastionl, and which Includes ail the higher nents OF fair dealing between nan and tin, Tho question of denomiuntionnl loyalty IR, however, generally regarded by the public whol- ly from ono siilethat of sympathy for the ace cused, But the other side—the rights of the de= nomination and the duty of the oltending broth- er to It—Ia nt least equally important. For, when One connects hineelt with tho clerical brothor- huod of 1 particular wuct be Just as tents: and alatinctly assufies curtain obligations of fidelity to that sect ng that buds, in Its organized eapac- ity, agrees to ald nnd befriend him. Itiaa reat belp to any ina who desires to do relig- juus work to have tha mom support of a sect that has been built up by the Ndelity of thou- sands of people. Such fellowship is an accredit~ ed Introdietion to tho entire denomination and & recommendation of confidouca ty the parishes of tho order, : Tho relution of tolnister to his denomination jg not elinply one of conveulence totho minister Dimecif, Ilo must wive to tho Church, ne Well na tiko from ft, Tha Chnech dogs not exist aunply to exalt him, vor docs hq exist merely to Rerve its but, whita the Church alds nud etrongthens him, be is bound by overy high moral obligation to ald and strengthen It, any one suy, This is ecclesiasticia certain extent it Is but, happily, It is. that kind 4 of ceoleainaticisin that sculs tu preserve tho In teyrity of the order and bolds no man within It forn sinzlo day who wishes to leave it. If we tire corrovt {n these positions, no cler- yinnn should ask for tha moral support of the denomination, whose fellowship he bas foro single hour fonger Utn be Is in sympathy with it, When he finds that he dacs not any longer Indorso the recognized doctrines of bis Churetr, and antuyonizes his brethren und thoir methods of work, I eubmit, for the courideration of all fulreminded people, both in and out of tho Chureb, tho radicul queation in such caso is, not whethor he shall force bis Urothren ty withdraw feltowship from bim, but whothor, under such conditions, he will cunsent to retuin ft. No mutter what muy be tho professed love of tho brother for that Church, no muttor what fareanal Incovanlence or oven injury it may indict upon him to teave It, if it shalt become a matter of gonoral notoricty, not based upon some hasty word, but upon the ute torances and nots of oaks that ho f¢ not an: Jonger In henrty intelectual sympathy with nis Church, wint rumalne for him but te aay to bls Chureh, fully, frecly, and without ony mental equivocnton'or rusurvation: Breturen, theso ure my thoologleal opinions, those ara my fecl- ings and purposes; and If, jn view of them, tha constituted authoritis think I should withdraw: front your fellowship, I will cheerfully do ao, love this Church, it 1s my religious homo, and it has conferred great benullts vpan me and mine; but 1 you think, in view of what you know of mo, of my work, and of my toxching, that wo sutinot uny longer work hipully togetuor, then suroly [ will withdraw my fellowship, and 1 fay peroudl Dicsslug with those of you who mutn,” In applying thyso remarks to the Mothodist Church and to Dr, Thorns, I am compelled te suy,and 2 aay it in sorrow, and only becaugo £ wish to state my convictions frcoly, It seems to mo that Dr. Tnomns should bave rotired from tho Mothodist catumunton tmmedtately utter to action of tha Nock Hiver Conference, Tho judgment of bie ministerial brotbron was thon deviured against bim, and from that hour his position has beon open to ariticlm, and in some Fespects u fateo ones and it will bo more and moro unjustitindlo when tested by nigh morality ag he carries bis case forward and scoke to got a fuyorable verdict from the bighor courts, ‘At $8, Of course, cass for mo to understand why tho Dootor wishes to remuin in tho Sotho. fat Churen, and why those, buth in bis donom- fnntfon and aut of ft, who are in substantial uc- cord with bis rellylous gplntong, esire that he should romuin thore, Hut this question, us tt seems to us, hus passed boyond tho realin of dlosiro, and bag become’ ong of — duty. That ho would do goed” to retain whoro he {5 in patton, tho hurder forms of religious thought held by many of hi brethren, {6 uot with either you or mean open question; but while ho fs dolug this good work anny ho not, if his relation to hia Chureh be a fulso one, be doing no stall hari ulso? This 1a tho solonin jase that gonfronta mo ns Ll view thie cnse, and tho judgment which I havo ox- prersel 4g the conclusion to which I have been forced ta como. If, 1 ropant, the question wore, “Shall my Christian brothur be permitted toox- orclse tho right of frev speech?" 1 would defend tbat right ae against all but that is not tho question under In, for ny ono objects to his teaching what ho halds to be true, and thera ts Sleuty of rou outside the Methed- fat Church in which to doit. Tho second topic that aska our attention is whut wo nay terin Intelicctunl dishonesty. By Intellectual” dluhonosty 1 mean bylng false to ono's Foal convicllona—believing one thing and aoeraingly, porhups actually, toaghing wus other, The distinguished brothor whosu namo Lhuye often used in this sermon bus for some thme past quite frooly expreased bts rellylous bu- of, In tho days one bls honrt wns twnado heavy Py perainal bereavement. Not ouly f bis own household, but othors whom ho loved, had aulted out upon the durk wen that rollg round all tho curth, aud, ux ho followed thom with bis prayors, qucations ae to the truth. fulneas of certuln theological opinions came to his mind, and, ike av honest ia: a Natonod to these questions, and tried to wer them, ‘Thoso Anjword, ad thdy shapod thomeolves In his mini or theo hopes, ua thoy wore croated (big breast, found expression i) bis sermons and talks, He did not just then think #o much jo whether they wero Alvthodiam ua whotbor ey were true, Hu wastbus Jatcllentually. hon est, and out of this intulloctusl honesty has procouded what, we now soc, Far bo it mo ta “intimute avon that 10 brothron. who dittur from bin ora nut Just a9 honost tn tho profession of tholr bellut a8 bo fs. 1 wish Pythons rematkg to in atitute nocomparison ug Letweon porsona, Duc to urge tho hinportance of uu honest recognition of une's Tual opinions evorywhero, and especial. Jy fo tho pulpits of Christendom, no matior who decuples them, Nor do f wish to say that ono Ia to preach any yauary, that comes {nto bis mind, «for thut ts to trille with the avlritual intervate of bis pe aply but loyalty tu one's convictions ao- forbide tho preaching of doctringy which by dues not belive, or the recognition in public of opinions which fn private ho rejects, Liver- allty I¢ commondable—thut Js, & fiberulity that (3 ‘bonovt because convimont—put oa libs varality Unat roquires deceptive practices to gustan it, an employa cho — aacrod ottices of reilylou for tha dlaplay of ite cuuntiog, 4a nolther honorable nor useful, Our age fed ng for the (ruth, aud for men who will fo! jow It wherover it leads, Aud whoever, lu any communion, 0 leg tn this respect an equiv: heels to resect por tha mural ainple; and those “tiborallty 7 "which ts lostoaling need to take pitwont tho sich Intellectunt dow heod to tho kind of morality they ara enenur- aging. ‘Ttro-faccdness jn othor departments of life js universally condom wand f think it will be dificult to show wheroin Intellectual diss honraly as to one's opinions is anything less than tis, The third toplo that asks our attention ts, that bellet or alisbellet in certain doctrines not ea- sential to the: Christian nrine should, be re- warded axun open: question (nthe Christian Church, 'Thisia the poutton taken beth by the counsel of the reenaed and the neeused himself, It !9 tho name position that his been often dos fended inthis pulpat. Christian peoples fron tho very beginning of Christianity have dif- fered in'their belief in referenee to the ellicacy of the death of Christ, the (rue theory of ins splration, and tho fittre puniahment of the wieked. They differ in their conv there toples now, ard i ull probability will cons thug ta do so for tha next century, In the early: Urion, belleyers holding to these opposing: tons worked sido by sde—Anmibilutionat, falist, Universalist—and why not now? hey are all Coristling, ond” who shalt select one Interpretation “of the words amt office of the Muster and tony hat nine to those who do not adopt ity Under= derstand we are tuiking about tha Christian Haine now, and tot whit constitutes a Bapelaty Methodist, or a Universalist. Methodiam can inake tts erved Just ue mirrawor Just us Leoad as it pleases, 80 far ua that creed stintl relate to the faith of it4 own people, and by that erecd, thus formulated, the soundness of thy fulth of ita diinisters way be Judged; but Methodism must not stop outside its own church-family and deny the fraternity of the Church of out eommait Lord to those who do, not understand corinlin doctrinal statements ag (t does, Now, du this ehuren trinh it the published recounts are cor. rect, both De. Thomas and his counsel mare the Iuistake of confounding Methodism with the Church of Christ, They ay that certaln ques: Honk ahouid be reyaried as open questions it the Church of Christ. But that docs not happen to: be tho Ixsue before the eceleslasticul court—not what should be held to bo open questions In the Chureb universal, but whit shall be regarded ns. sound ducteine by a branch of that Church which hes a determined religions botief., iow. ever, It ty interesting to note tho clearness and Toree with which these brethren sce the wencral duty, in ita wider relation, even If they are a fittie contused In the special application of It, Aud, having token this eminently correet and catholic position as to open questions of doa- (rinu in the Christian Church, we ehull expect Brother Sheppard, tho gentlemanly pastor of the North Division, Hrother Axtell, Urolher Miler, Rrother Tbotnas, and all others of like Uiefeaaions, herenfter when thoy give a fist of Vhristiian sects, not to stop with the names of ec-enlled orthodox donaminntions, but bring In all the members of the Une-Church family of Christ, Of course. such excellent and consistent brethren ag these intend to stand by theirown record. io In tho narrow Hmits of the trial under notica A practival Wuatration is given of the dinsine Vir views which brethren of the ¢nme Fect-are tuking Upon similar themes. Brother Axtell, in his impetuous defense, oes welt over tito tue Indetinitness of rationalism. He Is reported ns saying: "Christianity gathered about Christ not dogtnas, not doctrines. Wesley suid, Think and let think,’ ‘This was the basis us to opinion, Helizion had nothing todo with opinions.” Did Brother Axtell really mean to sas” to the breth~ ren who constituted the Jury of that court that the Chrletlunity which they profess bas natin todo whth opinions, and that Wesloy, when he snid * Down with bigotry and én,” meant to ex> hort tho bellevers tu throw uway thelr opinions taut they might more eflicientiy tight agalnat Sin? Dy people thut have y9 oplutens yenurully Maxe vallint soldiers tn’ the war against evil? Aid ia It true that Christianity gathered about Christ not dogmas, not doctrines? — Woulds our enthuslastic Urother huve us believe, that the early Christians bud no_ opinion abuut Christ, and that Stephen, and Cornclluer and Peter, and Paul, and the innumerable coms pany who. in those dlatant ages, gaye up theht Hives in de of the religion of tho Cross, diy #O because Un ‘udmired the Mau" who dre. upon it, but had no detinit bellet as to whethoy He was nybody iu purteainr? And Lf doce be Neve and advocate such Jooa0 and inneeturate viows of Chrtathinity, wuat 1s he dolng inside the Methodist Charen, und, as to that, whut is bh dojug upon aCorietian platform under any det nominational nnine whatever? And yet. for al this, Hrothor Axtel he a very useful minis- ter of tho Methuidlst Chureb, and perhaps tat very inorning prenebing gooth sound, consorvias tive doctrine to bis cungregition. In contrast with tho“ Hberalism " of Brothor Axtel, wo hive the conservatisin of Brother Parkhurst. There scoms to be no rearomeble doubt ny to his orthodoxy, ‘This is his statement of tho bellef of the Methadist Chureh: |. Thy Methodist Church believes that man is an offender; that God, us King, is oifended, 2 God's law suys that punishment must bo In- feted for the offense, 3. Christ comes forward, moved by tho love of God, and offers Himyolf a sacrifice for sin, ‘This wag to reconcile the Fathor to ua, 4. God now comer to tho sinner by tho Holy Ghost. und the Word of God, and offers to tho offender forgivences and holinoss, on the coudt- von thnt he will accopt of Chriet us his Eavlor and his Master, 5, This tIfo {aan opportunity to accept Christ and be saved, «At the generu! Judwment-day nil that diedJmponitent, rejecting Christ, must fore ever come under the penully setup tho of. foulea King and under tho wrath of the rejected umd. Here wo havo tho substitutional thoory of the Ktonemont in its woret form. It remains to bo geen whether, io the higher courts, this will bo beld to boan “oltictal” statement, To us tho theory Is slinply horrible. Every’ word of it which covera the ldca of aubetitudion we bald to bo false, Chriat dled for us, In our behalf, not {nour stoud, Thero is not’n line in the Now Testament, not even in tho Epistles of Paul, that touches that Christ died to pincate tho wrath of tha “offended” God. and what form of statement cin be more repulsive to n sensi tive, relfytous mind tbnn to refer to tho tender and loving Christ as “under tho wrath of tho rejectod Famb?" And yet Brothor Axtel and Brother Parkburst are working slde by side jn the Mothodlst com- munion, and, for aught J know to tho contrary, aro worklog hurmeniously. Suroly, If brethren holdlug to views so dissiilar tony be tolerated in tho saine sect, bow clear it 1s that toleration with respect to tho great body’ of belluvers should bo vers proud and full, and that betict Upau vertaln topics, upon which Christiins have ulwityd differed, should bo regurded na open and bot determined questions, ‘Those of us who have had experience in de- nomlnationul work know that the practicul ditii- oulty, in euch cigey as this of Dr, Thoms, is to doterinin vhon tho constituted authorities shall say, Patience ceases to hoa virtue. A Drothor may, by pecullaritics of orginization, or under oxcitunient, oceastunally say unwise things, and yet be all the while in fafth aud in hoart Joyal and -truc to his Chureb. It is evt- dently the persistency with which one urges bia oxeuptionnl views, and tha attitude which tn the publio Judgment bu is thought to occupy, that {8 an important clement Indetorinining whon hig pretbren shall ask biin to define his position. ut why single out ono mat and not another? ‘Tho wnawor fs because ony man" alu- lea nut" himeolf, and another doca not, Can lor conipels mo to say that tho Methoitlst do- notntnution allows, and always hasallowed, great Mborty of thought among tts minlaters, It isa tolerant sect, and Ido not think that Dr. Thomas: would ovor have been cullod to account for his theological opinions bad ho not, by the boldness and frequency of hia stutements, and his public and private attitude toward his denotnination, virtually compelled bls. brothrou totuke up his cusc, {4 attltudo was under- stood by the gencral public usa challenge to denomination, and they would bave fallen In tho publfio cateem, and lost tholr own soll~ respect, had thoy not gseateds Jcannot, thore- forw, binme the Rock Kiver Conference for coltiny Dr. ‘Thomas tu appear beforo thu and doting his position. In a Church trial ono {s almost certaln;to find something that ought not to have beon said. Tue following remarks by Brothor Parkhurat ought never to bave been uttered, both because they ore discourteous and untrie. Bothor Parkhurst {8 roported to havo sald: © Thoro wus but one reason fora future probation, and that was ademro to sin duriug this probation. The man who was boly and godly didu't want it; the man who wanted to sin here did want ie ond Dr. Tonmas proached tt becuuse it went down, and becwuse, without it, bo couldn't draw tho people,” 1 nsaumo thut the brother who uttered thore words jsnman of humauo fool ings. And, it 80.8@ bo hus contemplated tho doom which his bellof {ntilots upon a large part of tho humun family, haa be never wished that the doors of opportunity wero open on the other Krave, 60 that these prodigals 0 Fathors houso might roturn to their homo? Of the many over whoso romaing ho hus stood and spoken words of love, has thore not been ono whom, with tonging desire, be has fallowed into tho dark vulloy, an Jn the agouy of bis soul braved te God Tor lls foruivoncss and salvation, jay, brother, you mean pot what you eye You are too good a man to think that of others, and In viow of tha Jatenoss of the hourand your weariness froin tho ard work of tho say, it is hopod that your friends will merulfully forget that you vver ul- tered those unkind sentoncey, Tho guctriny of future prybation is not amely odroun ora desire. We bave, ad a foundation for {t, the fact that thia lifn leg state of proba~ tion, and thogo who deny that the noxt Hie will be, are required to show why probation, undor the moral yoverument of Uod, should not be contiuuaus, God loves sinners in this world and pardons them now. bose who duny that be wil love and pardon thow jn tho next world Inust give a reason for thalr bell tho fact that God does love and pardon, and we ure not Ingically required to show that Me will always do tho samo; but jt ts for those whd deny the position to show that Ilo will not. Tho presumpt jon aon tho side of the Univers enlist Churub, with Ite dontrino of a continuous ovation, We have tho right to assumo us tha asivof our religiuud thought that au infinit God, whowg nuture Ie tove, willbe the same in nature and purvoug, in all worlds and with ref: erence to all Hia ciildroa, but the opposlt of thls cannot be assumed, but must be provon truc. But, itis sald, ain 6 puntaued bore, and why not thora? ¥¢g, anil aln ts repented of and forylven hore, and why not there? The gue truth to be kept ever tu the mind tn solying all questions of this nuture js thut God Jquity as iniquity, not Vecuuse it te fn this world, or otber, but because ft is aryl and as such leads tho beurte of naukin tho home to whieh thoy belong, Jt {a wpparent frou this trial, from many siiu- away frou bates ine: Har trinis, from the books that are feaued, and from the theologicnl Investigation that 14 going forward an all aides, that tha true deetrines of tho Guepel of Curist are one after anotlor com Ing into recognition, People may enll thom by itoring names, and they may oxist In tho coms inon mind some: from ench other, Dut they re nei part of tho Gospel of tho living ¢ mis £8 reported to have auld, FP nin thotlox Methodist, lo know whetbor ho | hat detache a the fone rs ot ist. but an ore Cortitluly tho Dootor atzht Tniverseliat or nut. and it certainly does not breome me to aiinn that he Ja, contrary to bis expllot deetaration that he 1s Not. though it dows not Kurprise ma Ro mitch to have hhn say that, m6 Ut he is an “orthodox Methodisn”" But, asf vlow tho | enae, the diteulty a with our frlend of the People’s Chure! ‘ ith thins the Hong, what Unt Dut. ta they po they do not in thelr minds form a aysten af res Theious thonght, and §9 sean to then te be inerely moditications of Une olt bellef, aud not foundation-stones fora new atruetire, IUfs related that a traveler was making escorted by a cotored guide, Altor ther teattly, separately, n Jour. a ne, Hittle un ine teh stinali tren, What fa tts river?" saul the traveler, * js fa the ‘Chick? River," said the guide, The velor did not re; enll the name of any such river, and, as they passed one | they “wera goon upon thy wink Of anotier stremm, And what u this riveck™ = aiid the — traveler, “This is the ‘A’ Uiver,” roplted 14 tho * Hom" Itiver. and then the niteredt w Soon they’ tnd 10 cross and thon tho 1 d, while the tray pulde, rt yatoul upon the: border vor much larger than any they bad vs ytt seen, And what ia this great river?” asked the travelor, “Thiy wigwered the guide, © fs the big steed thatail thy other [tte ones make up, You have hnd tho * Chick,’ and Ay anid the * fton,! and thes 1? and thot Ny’ and here you: have: the Chickuhominy,” Suine of our friends in the other denominations who desire to have It un derstood that they do bot belong tow, may nnd thele mental states Ulustrated by this fneldent, Thoy have cros Tt and nnd ~ Ver" and snl" livers, und if they nover reach'tho full. flowing strenin, of which thesa several branehes aro a part, it may be that the real rerson ig they have never united the sep: urute ayllubles to see what thoy pelt, In conclusion, 1 have to any that this trial oms phasizes what in innny ways fa nutde evident, Tho progroas of religious thought cnunet be arrested. Thoologleal juquiry will xo forward, ‘Phe tanger, undoubtedly, Hes in thy tendancy, aud fn tho Mlspualtion to give the ponwar approval to men and meumures, attnply DecHuRe they nppose tho exlating orde: The is Very Bittle about these diseussions In any was: new tous, Many of the idens whieh soem to be haved with so much Joy, when labeled with sure other denominational mame, wre ua farnil- fur ta dns the faces of lfelone frionds, But while this work of theological Investl- gation yoes forward in other communtons, wo must tuke heed that falthtul and earnest work for the Mastor ia dune within our awn borders, Universalism is not what ia technically called ratlonaism—nor in philosophieal sp ution, ot leven at plensing hope—but tho Christian inith ux we understand it; and of which tho Criss of Cheist Is the central fact, ‘Thy rule as to fraternity hetween the differ. ¢at denominations seems to bo a plain. one. Ench seet should doling ita « faith, and peo which suite them theso various religious denoimtantions are ches of the one lnillvisibly Church of reof all wholove Hin and try to serve Hin are members. 1 am a (niversdlist. My ‘ictions are clear and strong. Into that ht waa borns In Mat Church foxpect 10° dle, und to that harch T fondly look to perform for me tho laxt oflices of religion. Hut that ts no reason why [should not bid godspeed to any Taithful dixoipte of the Muster of nay namo whatsoover, “Ile hos his right of eboice us tu faith andas to fsellow-workers, and may be farthoron Inthe heavenly race thin 1. Tha Pharisees condemned the Master beentse He did certain avts on the Sabbath-Day which they thought were unlawful, From their polntof view, thoy were consistent in eo regarding those feta, Hut Jesus, int words, shows then tho errur of thelr position, and requires of thom f Jidgment less accordiug tothe letter and nore according to the spirit, thut they may “Judge righteous Judgment.” Christ is the aplritual Lord and Master of us wl by 1s tevehing and example we obtain our views of God, of ¢ and of tha Immortal Ife, Through tlm we expect redemption from sin. and, by spiritunt union with God through tun, we hope tually te attaiy to holiness aud happiness. CONGNEGATIONALISM. BESIANNUAL MEETING AT ELGLN. Spretat Disvateh to Tha Chicago Tribune, Earn, DL, Sept. 17.—The seumt-annual meet- jug of tho Elyin Assuciation of Congregational Churches will be held at Crystal Luke, Metlenry County, Oct. 10 and 11. ‘Tho progrum will bo as Tollows . ‘Monday—7:00 p. m.—Sermon by J.D: Wells, of Woodstock. Tuvsday—8 to 0.0. m.—Dovotlonal exerclacs, led by tha Rey. Il, 11. Munron, of Bartictt. Dito 10—" Keg tion as Rolnted to Free. dom of tho Wil," opened by tho Ret. C. Ee Dickinson, oF Et yer ad ‘ollowed-by discunglou. to Tl—* Tho New Hevision; What Shall Wo Do Witn It?” Pho Rev. HH, W. George, 11to12— Business. 1330 p, m.—“ Systomatic Giving." Brother J, peels. of Huntloy, ‘Sucrameut of the Lord's Supper; sermon by tho Rey. 8. D, Belt, of St. Charice. * 4tob—" iow Cun We ‘Interust tho Adalt Members of Congregations in“ Sundny-Schoot ork?” Tho Ruy. H, M, Skeets, of Udiia,, W—Miasionary uddrasses, Tho Hov. James Powell nnd othor visiting delegates ure expoct- ed to by present. All missionury soclotioa us woll ue churches of tho asaociution will bo rep: raseuteil by delegutes. : MISCELLANTOUS. RICHEY, BISHOP OTMATONEY, Speetar Dupaten to The Chicago Tribuntes Dunugue, kn, sept. 18.—Tho Cathedral was crowded this morning to listen to the eormon pronched by tho Itt.-Itev. Hlahop O'Matonvy, Coudjutor Bishop of Toronto, Canada, who Is hero visiting Mishop IMenteasoy. lls subject wag tho raising of the witow's son from the ded, which be used to lustrate tho raleing of those dead in trespass and alu to now Hf of hollnega by tho power of tho Churen. IIc is 0 tay or Heblo presonco und tiv yratorioal ability. A FAREWELT SERMON, Dr. Vaweott, pastor af the Methudist Church, this vity, predehed his farewoll worinon today, ropuritory to his departure for thy vonforence, ‘rom which It ia expected he will be appoluted to Despliines. Dr. Faweett is ono of the ublest prenchora lu tho Htnte and a wenticmnn of fine bool qualities. His departure is regretted by everybody, A set of resolutions compllinontary to bln and regret sit hls departure wore pursed: by tho Church Quurterly Conference bola Fri- day, ——__. THE COMMUNISTS And the Howl Acatnst ‘Capltal— Troublo with the Lincoln Park Com- IMiswlonore, Instend of thotr usunl indoor meeting on’ West Lake atreot yesterday ufternoon, the Sa- Cinllsts, to the number of about 100, hled thom sclyca to the shadis and yragsy plats of Lincoln Yark, So great was tho throug of outelde yis}t- ora aud plousure-scokers at tho park, however that the ttle coterio of plonickeracauld scarco~ ly be slngicd ont. Thoy wore a quict sot and pertectly harmiesa, and only mot with ono tn- terruption, ‘bis ocourrod nbout 4 o'clock, when, butuking themselyes to the shade ot a clump of otnia, the plonickers furmod a clrelu,with Goorve M.Blonn in tho centre, and prepared to Haten to bisharangue. Attia juncture three or four park policemen stopped ch and announced that vo spuukiag would allowed, Tho Sovlalists Mssurted 11 response that thera Was Nothing 10 tho rules or regulations yovernivy tho purk to prohibit thoir speaking, and it thoy—or, at junst, Mr, Slaan—proposed ty go ahead with the oratory, And go ahead Mr, Sloan did. Tho policy Offered no Curthor objection at tho tino, ut ong of tho oillcers told w ‘VisuuNny repartor Mftorward that warrants would probably bo sworn out ugiinst the spenkors today, and that nO arrests bud bom uttempted beontisa It was feurod that u fuss would be the rostlt, Mr, Blown talked aguiust grinding monopolies. Tondlorda, and capitallats, and ho was fullowed by Mr. ‘P..d, Morgan. Infor tho guthoring seit terod the following resolutions wore adopted: Heaolved, ‘tbat in Chivayo, us in every other page Jn tla world where bo sists, the Jandlord 1é tho natural fou of buinan -progress, and tho Gnemy of the human raca, Resolved, Wout the world's biutory proves that na land was ever fertile enough to support both landlord and tonunt; that ite self-preservation requires of suvioty tho absolute extirpation of tho systom by which any tan te enibled to live upon the valiio producud by othoray that rent, protits, and usury are alike legal iniquity, an at war with true olyiizution, Resolved, ‘hut we proclaim a war which shall know no truce upon tidividual jund-ownerablp, usin the generation past the Abolltioniety did Upon Muneownursblp, and cull Upon overy ullon- ‘horn or gon of an niente Join us In our attompe Jo prosurve the next generation from the In evitable sorfdom resultant fram the infernal ayatom Siteanltety That ag the Li gud stroot railway manopalics under (uotr eburters cau by taken by the city, we will do all iu our power as oltixons aad voters to crush thot out of existunce, ao that Sho aity willno longer be deprived of the use of it Strocts for the benollt of corporutious, and the citlsens cau be trunsported at avtunl cust, a A Hea! per aint oe i Peopto are conatuntly, chun . thelr homos , from Eaut to West phn trom Worth to HOUth or vice-versa, in searet uf a bualthy state, Lf thy; would learn (a bo contented, aud to use tho vel> ubrated Kiducy-Wort wueu sick, they would bo much buttor off, ‘The whol aystom cast bo kopt tiv houlthy state by this slusple but elfuctuyl remedy, Hey large advertisement, WORKING WOMEN. A Largely-Attended Meeting on Their Behalf at Central. MusicsHall. Addresses by tho Revs. Dra : . Ryder, Everst, Little, Law- renee, rnd Thomas. A Movement That Deserves’ Christian Sympathy. Contral Musie-Hall wos crowded yostontay Nfternoon when ‘the hour appointed for tho, tneeting to digciss pinns for tho amelioration of the condition of workingwomen arrived, Fally . two-thirds of the audience were of tha nox ou whose behalf tho meeting hiut-beon ealied, Tha Key, W. IL Ryder, D. Thy prosided, and among the clergymen on the platform wero the Tey. Mr. Law » tho Hov, Goorke C, Lorimer, the Tey, H.W. ‘Thomas, tho Rey, Arthur Little, and tho Rey. Chories JL Everest, ‘Tho mangers of tho alrair ninouineed thitt each aponker would be Limited to ten julnutes, a rule whieh was nd hered to throughout, Tho consequence waa that the clating and needs: of workingwomatt Were presented in clear-ent, foretble Bpeeed, and every word told. Altowother the gathoring waa ‘fA tnost successful one and eatmot all ot effect. Tho Rev. Dr. Hyder sald the meeting was held on Sabbuth afternoon, and fa tho interesta of religion and morality (t seomai, (tting that tt should beopenod with p . Hor this purposy beentled upon the Rev. De. Lawrence, who made avery brief prayer, alter whieh tbe cholr of tha First Methodist Cottrely sang an anthem, “Prepare ye tho way of the Lord.” dr Iyer aatd that, without exeveding the mits of netund truth. It econ bo suid that: Colengo responded well to the demands of pube He charity, Notwithstanding tho fire nad other setbacks, tho people of this elty bad dans well, Tt kad seomed, hawaver, to persons Interested in tho detail work of such cbneitics that something in the tntitre of a central organiza. tlon should ba effected. On this oeension they had met inore especially to tnke counizaned of mutters relating to the lutereats of workings Wwaniens women who were striving by nll honor uhle means ty carn tor thonselyes a ving. THE REV. CHARLES I, EVEREST spoke ou "The need af more syinpathy toward SrIF-aupportinw watt by tho Christinn publie. Mi that int Coristinn fand sich ns Americ i for appealing for sy te pathy for thoge compelled to: hither.” Eepeelally Was this trio where women were conceracd. At the — Centenulal position the Womap's: Department formed” tho grenteat yattenee don, and women walked thers with a prouder step than elsewhere. ‘The periis inelient to tho Sel-support of women should bo considered. The Very name of xelf-eupport Iinplled poverty and the xuppression, at least temporarily, of those higher and nobler tr tha of rellnement whlel distinguished womer he cold ebitl of estrange- uient drove many women to destruction, It Wnato bo considered ‘what could be done to give to working girls thit sympathy and mother-love which alone could shield thei trom temptation and danger, Neither oxpostulation hor sermons would serve to Kave these, but motherly ond alsterty eymnpatty y would do fo, If this convocation suoull result in extending a helping hand even to one of these poor girls, thy meeting beld upon a holy day would be uiply-bicrsed, ‘To exert this sympathy was elven to Christian women, and in oo other way: could they more nearly approach to tho grand example of the Master. * THE REV. ARTHUR TATTLE took for his text. “Formation and preservation better than reformation.” fe sald be bad come to the hall more tu learn than to fnstruct, as he wis deeuly interested in tho work of tho Women's Christian Association, That organizn- tlon sunzht to work aloug tho Ine of scif-belp- fulness und preservation, ‘Thera were plenty of agylunig and means for thoreformation of those who bad fatlen from tho puth of virtue, But in thie cnge it was sought to save women from tho lemptations whieh beset thom on their entrance into city Hfe, ‘Thousands and tens of thousands of young women poured Into Colenio yearly, in searoh of honorable cmployment. lt often hap- pened that tho first weak of ‘the young mun or young woman -in # great city was of the xrentest unportanco ju shuplog out the ify of that young min ar wom. Tho Womnn's Christlan Association made a strong and eurnest appent to tho holp- fulness of Christian men and women, for It pro- posed tnking charge nt the new-comers from the first doy of shutr arrival, ‘This work, hho ros, gretted to ety, bud dean nogteceed by tds churches, and in this respeot thore had been a frout fallure., It might bo that those girls, Jorced to toll fora living. wero not mblo to pree seat ao griceful un Appeariuce 18 others mure favored, but this only called upon tho Christian Church moro emphatically to do something for thom, Contingrations should be checkod in their inoiptency, and reformation was not half as easy aa.formation and protection, For those Fonsona.a-sucloly which sought tu ‘save wowen one and dauger sbould be supported and assisted. ‘Tho cholr rendored another anthom, ‘ What a0 ane Arrayed in Whito Robes?” after cl TOR NEV. MR. LAWRENCE 7 spoke on *3:honced of a transient homo for giris—strangers coining to tho city for oinploy= ment and education.” Ho said ho had bad somo oxperlence in Philudelphin with such a home, but regrotted ho hud not more thoroughly stu ted the subject. The home preveded the Curls tinn Church, and would outlive ft. Want these Women pleated for was not u stopping-piacs, » rofuge, of at asylunn buty home. ‘hero could bo nothing more dreary or terrible to tho youns, aud ospecially to women, tun to ba oust hometess and friondless into strange olty. The home was now kh soutimont, but a necessity. Men and women must be given Opportunities {f thoy wore to risc, and much cottld be done to give Buch opportunitics to tho thousands who caine to Chicago for work. What was necded was a home for wotuen where thoy could rest and bo safe. Suh a home yust not ho a rifugo or an asylum, but a place to whieh every woinun would have a right to go. ‘The whole fdea of charity should bo swopt out of existence, for this snould he a movemont which should consurvo the selt-respeut of thoso rdcoly+ ing Its bonollta. . THE REV, GEORGE ©, LONMER, D. Dy Bpoko on * Workingwomon's Wrongs," He commended the Woman's Christian Association for the work {t huddono, and plonded eloquently tor {ts support, The Unitod states could not alford that womanhood should deteriorate with- fn tha borders of the land, As womun preserved thoir virtua and eharioter tnen would retain thelr manhood, Young mon comlug into the clry were readily recutvod into society, and moth- erd of families contended with cach ather for the privitexe of entertaining them, But what famlly.oyer sought to bring Into ite Bosom tho young workingwumen? ‘They were practically Dutensts fromsuctoty, and even In tho churches the *dear young men” were well looked itor, whllo” the girls who wero compelled to labor for a tlving were neglected. There things might bo very unpleagant to talk avout, but they were true. Tho working-class of wom on Wero not appreciated by women or cared for by women, [Applnuse.] There was no rengon Why mothors and daughters should not take a Prictical and direct inturcat In shopewiris and workingwomen, Children uot four fvet high Were compelled to work twelve and thirtoy hours a day, aud ho was informod that the mort Christian ntuyer of female Inbor in tho Curl tan olty of Chicago was np Jow, The spoaker: ook hia but off to tho Old Disponsution. (Ap. plane, E Dr, Lorimer eatled attontion to tha misorable wages pant to girls for tholr invor, and naked whit wauder It was thit such poor creatures SHOULD GO To THE BAD, to had seon un instanco of 9 poor sowing-wome nn who dled lust New-Yenr's Duy. ‘on tha Woat Bide trom cokl and hunger, Tn bis tirm opioton tho entire system of labor ng ut pregont constr , tuted wae Utturly Wrong, and unless something ‘was done to ameliorate thut system there wie a torrible the before tho country, {Appinuscs| Thora was one lvswon to bu taken home, and f they bad not got vory far In suvinl solance, tho! dnd already teurnud that Thou shalt not gr the face of the poor" was m Divino cominund, In gonelusion Dr. Lorimer wade 9 most oloquent appeal for the protection of woulen frout the insults and persecution of ot ployors aud others who consider auch poor girs hs their natural prey. ic damanded that avery nan who should be called upon for protection by such victing of Icentlousneas or greed should: pound tou jelly the rusoy! who bul dared to ine suitor Wrong one who ought to be by rights held wae ward of tho cutire community. THE REV, Di. THOMAS was received with much applause,and proceeded tospeat uf tho work dono by the Goou Sumari> tuu Bocloty, of which fur several yoars be had boon walrector. ‘nis soulety was not acbaority, and worn who availed themselves of Ite 1 Vintages bad not to consider thomselvod putts pee As bo understood ft, the movement now - uaugurnted wav dovignud to carry ou dust auch, Work ue thhi—furnleting hoes for women Brub Work for Womon—but on nv puch larger Beale. Ty was 8 splomn fact thut women tolling Crags day to day inunbealthy fyotorivs and tenemonte could not enn a decent living, and bad no Chance whatever to sive a dollur, din thonghe tho whole vystem wroni, and provounced (hut Yulews wauiot ling was ne tho foundations of wooipty would overturned, A.-toan inlght fall, and if be reformed bo waa made 4 bero Of, aud presided at tempersuce mootings. Hut lo 0 woman full aid—Lod pity bor, for mun would not. Fow would say to bur uy tha Muster ui “Nelther dol coudumn thee; qo and slp uo more," 1 quotation whlob tha epcaker tutendod to kuep in bia Now ‘Toatument, oven though the oylsor# had thrown Jt out. He beleved the ovila of (ha presont systema would be ameliorated dh this country and In this efty, and without reve olution or trouble, ‘Tho goryices concluded with tha conection of funds to meet tho expenses of tho nicotings aud the sinwlug of tho Doxology, Nomattor what your fevttugs or ailment la, Hop iittere will do yuu good, Feuve ite .