UNITARIAN MEETINGS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1189, 26 July 1911, Page 4

UNITARIAN MEETINGS.

The British League, of Unitarian \Y omen, under the chairmanship of Lady Durning-Lawrence, met in June. Its object is to enlist -as many women as possible in the active work of the churches and in those branches of social service in which all Christian churches are more and more taking interest. The subjects discussed) included "The Look-out Section, "International Union,"' and "Fellowship." Though the league is but three years old, there aro everywhere signs of growing interest, a larger outlook, and a sense of increasing opportunity. Tweiitvfivo new branches were added' last year. hssex Hall was crowded for tho evening meeting on June 7, when addresses on vairous topics were delivered. The president of tho association, l!ev. Charles Hargrove, in the conrs? of his address on 'Ihe Present-day Implications and Obligations of the Unitarian Faith," said that denials, however necessary they might still be, were not the principles' of Unitarian Christianity. Unitarianism mci-nt much" nioro than 'sr doctrine; whether affirmative or negative, and its true interpretation had been found at the great International Conifrc.rs which was held at Berlin last yc-ar, when as a descriptive name' it selected the words "i'ree Christianity and Religious Progress." Unitarians, were.Christians by birth ,by inheri-l<ance,-;,ahd,,-iU tftai was-precious" to them in'their faith had come to them through Christian sources/ They believed in progress in religion as well as in fcicnec, and they believed that as tho ages went bv God revealed Himself to men more and more clearly.

The annual business mooting was held on July 8. when the report of Uio past years work was presented. It referred lo the momentous chanse which is taking place in religious thought, and in-the ideals which'quicken-the sense uf reverence anil trii?; in the soul of man. The interest in Unilarianism is certainly mure widespread at the present time than during any previous period of its history. And yet attendance at the religious services in the Unitarian and Fren Christian Churches in the British Isles is probably suffering from (he blight of indifference b quite as larire an extent as in "orthodox" churches. The qucs+ioii is a? to how Unitarians can give greater and richer service to what may be called the New Koformaticm in tteligibn. Unitarians, Ilio report pointed out, have 11,1 quarrel with those who find the encouragements and consolations of relision at fountains from which they themselves cannot drink; but they believe that they have a divine cull to do their part towards bringing religion, with fresh nower and beauty, homo to the minds and heirfs of their fellowmen in this and other lands. The association's colonial and foreign work is growing apace, and is full of encouragement. .Now Zealand and Canada are proving very fruitful ground, and it is not easy to meet the demand far additional ministers for colonial work.