Boros György (szerk.): Értesítő a Nemzetközi Unitárius Conferencziáról (Kolozsvár, 1897)

A Nemzetközi Unitárius Konferenczián tartott beszédek és felolvasások - Beszédek és felolvasások

its place we find everywhere the democracy coming in and new self-reliance, we find a far larger admixture, in consequence of what used to be rare, the working class element. This has grown up chiefly out of our flourishing Sunday Schools. I regard this mingling of classes as an eminently healthy feature in our churches today; they used to he too select. It was quite common to hear a church described as Mr. so and so’s church, not the minister’s, but the big man’á; and a Unitarian’s pew was his castle; any entry into it by an unprivileged outsider was a desecration, and the oretsider did not try it on again, but went elsewhere or nowhere. This is changed, and the outsiders are sought and welcomed, and they come.

Moreover we do not find ourselves suffering in the sinews of war from the more democratic character of our congregations.

Before nothing was expected of the common people and so they did nothing. Now, they are responsible, and they know it and they fulfil their responsibility. As a consequence our places are better formed in all requirements than ever, the buildings are better, the music is better. It has been an age of new chapels and new schools. How are these structures paid for ? By the people. They work, they pay, they beg. They hold illimitable bazaars. I went to 13 in the past year. So money comes and we are better housed.

And I can record a new outburst of Unitarian en terprice.

There is a forward Movement. The return of Brooke Herford from America was one cause. He came with an enthusiastic desire to stir up new life in our Churches. He obtained a large addition to the funds of the British and Foreign Unitarian Association. Last year they received and expended £ 5745. The local mission societies are at work throughout the land founding new