THE
CATHOLIC WORLD.
VOL. XXIV., No. 141.—DECEMBER, 1876.
Copyright: Rev. I. T. Hecker. 1877.
THE UNITARIAN CONFERENCE AT SARATOGA.[89]
The Unitarians in September last held at Saratoga their biennial conference, and we have looked over the issues of the Liberal Christian, a weekly publication of this city, for a full report of its proceedings, and looked to no purpose. It has, however, printed in its columns some of the speeches delivered in the conference, and given in extenso the opening sermon of the Rev. Edward E. Hale. Before the conference took place the Liberal Christian spoke of Rev. Edward E. Hale “as one of the few thoroughly-furnished and widely-experienced men in their ranks.” This notice prepared us to give special attention to the opening sermon, and to expect from it a statement of Unitarian principles or beliefs which would at least command the assent of a considerable portion of the Unitarian denomination. More than this it would have been unreasonable to anticipate; for so radical and extreme are their divergencies of belief that it may be said Unitarians agree on no one common objective truth; certainly not, if Mr. Frothingham and the section which the latter gentleman represents are to be ranked within the pale of Unitarianism.
The Rev. Edward E. Hale has not altogether disappointed our anticipations, for he has given expression to some of the ideas most prevalent among Unitarians; but before entering upon the consideration of these there are certain preliminary statements which he makes deserving some attention.