termed in derision by the villagers Potter's meetinghouse.' One Saturday morning in September, 1770, an English vessel was discovered becalmed in the offing, and Potter was seized with so profound a conviction that it bore him his apostle, that when Rev. John Murray, with other passengers, strolled upon the shore, the eccentric planter, without the ceremony of an introduction, met him with Thou art the man,' and a pressing invitation to his house and pulpit. The greeting was a little startling, and not altogether welcome to a man who was flattering himself that he had left his past life altogether behind. But Potter was urgent, and Murray agreed to stay and preach if the wind did not change so that he could go on to New York. The wind did not change; he preached; Potter embraced him after the discourse, and in that hour began the career of the Universalist denomination in America.

"The denomination, as now constituted, is well planted as a church, while its influence has been exerted to a still greater extent in ameliorating the severity of contemporary theologies. It now has two million dollars invested in educational institutions, three of which are of collegiate rank, Tufts College being the most promising. The academic schools take a high rank. In its educational field is the most pressing need of work, denomination must bend its best with the other sects of the time. memorative of the present occasion has been the raising of two hundred thousand dollars for general purposes, a fund which each succeeding year will probably see largely augmented." (138)

and to this purpose the energies to keep pace The special work com

"Well the week of especial observance, within this year of jubilee, has come, has passed by, and has taken its

place in history; and it seems, in view of the scenes'therein witnessed, not sufficient merely to say that it was a success. The Universalist Centenary celebration would, of course, have been all of that, wherever and under whatever circumstances it might have been held; but the recent manifestation may be considered even more than that: it was indeed a triumph; a grand gathering of the immense army whose mission it is to disseminate and spread abroad the doctrine of 'peace on earth and good will to men.' The spontaneous manifestation of kindly Christian feeling from those of other denominations was most gratefully and cordially received and highly appreciated, as going to show that difference of opinion on points of theology, honestly entertained, were no bar or hindrance to the coming together as brethren, of all believers, on the common ground of Christian faith and trusting hope. Having enjoyed the inestimable privilege of being present at this happy reunion, we will just make note of some of the thoughts and reflections suggested by the event, which will ever hereafter form a bright page in the history of the church universal.

“It would seem that all things were combined together to produce the most perfect enjoyment of all. The elements were most propitious, even much more so than could be reasonably expected just at that season of the autumnal equinox; the rays of the September sun just tempered to the right degree by a gentle breeze from the ocean; the nights most luxuriously comfortable; and, to crown the joy: of the feast, there was the vast multitude predisposed to be happy; and, of course, with all their surroundings, they could not be otherwise. 'The peace and dignity of the State' was, as a wise precaution, duly and properly represented; but I think the official position was a mere sine

cure. So far as I have been able to learn, there was no occasion in which their services were required, and during the whole time no accident or casualty occurred to mar the pleasure of the occasion.

"It was a most interesting scene to look upon: the earnest, intelligent faces of that immense auditory, every individual intent on catching every word that fell from the various speakers; and to see and hear the audible smile' that would ripple over the surface at some happy hit, some harmonious allusion or illustrative anecdote, or the gesture of approbation that would follow the enunciation of some great principle of faith and doctrine. And the music of those noble hymns seemed to rise spontaneously, as it were, like the song of birds." (122)

PART XI.

THE FRUITS OF UNIVERSALISM.

UNIVERSALISM GOOD IN ITS EFFECTS.

In this Part of our labors, the reader will discover what has been written in relation to the fruits of our faith; its influence and tendency; its moral power in the formation of character, and the education of our people in all just and righteous duties. The highest value we can place upon any system of religion is that which flows from its PRACTICAL Workings; from its moral bearings to save and bless mankind. And this is wherein lies the chief beauty and glory of our precious doctrine, so full of hope and encouragement, that all will finally bear fruit to the honor and glory of God. (c)

"The morality of Universalism is of a pure and elevated character. There is no fact of which we are more firmly persuaded than this. All that is necessary to make every Universalist a good man, in the true and proper acceptation of these words, is to make him in practice what he is in profession. There is nothing visionary or fanciful here. The practical Universalist must be a good man. All those who carry out the principles of the doctrine we profess, in their practice will be what the Gospel requires men to be, lovers of God, and lovers of mankind. We are well aware that this doctrine has been charged with exerting an im

moral tendency. We have been told times without number that it encourages sin. Now we meet this objection with facts. Of two professed Universalists, one of them striving to illustrate the principles of his faith in his walk and conversation, the other being a Universalist merely by profession, but giving no particular heed to the system as a rule of practice, — which will be the better man? Which will be more likely to love God as a Father, and to regard and serve men as brethren? There can be but one answer to this question.

"What a moral power would the order of Christians to which we belong exert, if every professed believer of Universalism was a practical Universalist! An unbelieving world would again be constrained to say: 'Behold how these Christians love one another; behold how earnestly they labor in every good word and work. They are • Coworkers with God.' No conviction ever rested in our heart of a more undoubted and enduring character than this, that the religion of Jesus, in its purity, is the greatest blessing that heaven has vouchsafed to mortals. It is a lamp to guide our feet in the path of duty, and the sweetest solace in every season of trouble. Let us love Christianity in its purity, and we shall be blessed of God." (3)

"There is also positive good in believing Universalism. For all that is amiable in character, reforming in influence, pleasing in contemplation, happifying in practice, and beneficial in consequences, in each and all the other systems of religion, are here retained in all their loveliness, in all their power, and in all their benefit. Nor are they merely freed from the pernicious and debasing alloys of error and of practice with which they are there united and mixed up; but they are also extended to infinity, made