PREFACE. THE contents of this volume owe their origin to a series of meetings held in London at the end of May, 1901, in connection with the International Council of Unitarian and other Liberal Religious Thinkers and Workers. This Council was formed a year before at Boston, U.S.A., by representatives of liberal religious thought belonging to different countries who were attending the Anniversary meetings of the American Unitarian Association. Unitarians have seldom sought to place any limits on religious fellowship, and the invitation to the meetings in London was in these terms: 'All under whose eyes this notice may fall, of any church or of no church, who are willing to come together for the study of the essentials of Religionthings too great for dogmatic expression and too exalted for credal affirmation or denial-all who desire to see the world become better, and who are willing to work together for this betterment, are cordially invited to the meetings of the International Council. In the best possible way the meetings will be fraternal, not sectarian. We will erect no walls of separation not already existing we will aim to ignore them all, while emphasizing the great commandment of Love to God and Love to Man.' With few exceptions, the meetings, although largely attended, attracted only those who had already identified themselves more or less definitely with the Liberal position. Such fellowship will, in fact, remain thus contracted until it is realized that the permanent truths of spiritual religion, which Liberals of all churches affirm, are of infinitely more importance than the historical forms about which men may learn to differ without suspicion or mistrust. The old confessional restrictions will then fall away of themselves. An increasing number in many countries are preparing to adopt this position. When this battle is over, liberal religious thought will take its honoured and acknowledged place in the world, and the support of numbers will not be wanting. Such a triumph is, however, a long way off. 'Clericalism' is a potent force in the civilized world at the opening of the twentieth century, and 'Liberalism' occupies a small place a mere speck on the horizon-compared with the organized hosts of 'Orthodoxy.' The justification and the need of an organization of Liberal religious thinkers and workers are self-evident. Freedom of thought can only be attained through conflict; and it can only be enjoyed by unceasing vigilance on the part of those who have reached it by personal effort, or inherited it from the brave and strenuous souls who lived in days gone by. But the small and scattered forces of Liberalism in religion have good reason for encouragement and hope. The addresses and papers in this volume are a striking testimony to the variety, the strength, and the unity of liberal religious thought among many minds in different lands; and if all the correspondence had been included, the existence of a large and wide-spread devotion to the principles and ideals set forth by the speakers and writers would have received fuller illustration. It is to be regretted that Mrs. Humphry Ward, much to her own sorrow, was prevented through illness from preparing her paper on 'The Preservation of the Christian Ideal amid Changing Forms of Thought,' for she, on more than one occasion, has borne eloquent testimony to the power of religion over the life of men who unhesitatingly welcome the full light of modern science and criticism. The report of the Rev. C. W. Wendté, and the record of the proceedings, printed at the end of the volume, relate the brief history of the Council, its principles, work, and ideals. The meetings in London were attended by representatives of liberal religion from many lands, and delegates in large numbers were present from those Free Churches in Great Britain and Ireland, usually called Unitarian. About two thousand people listened to Mr. Stopford Brooke at St. James's Hall, and Essex Hall was crowded during the reading of the papers. The spirit of earnestness, harmony, and enthusiasm displayed throughout the week was a characteristic feature. The addresses and papers, amid considerable variety in the presentation of thought, showed a wonderful unity of feeling and aspiration. The Committee charged with making the arrangements are greatly indebted to many generous givers and workers, who made it possible to carry out so successfully the programme of proceedings. They specially desire to place on record their appreciation of the ready and valuable response given by the writers of the papers contributed to the meetings of the Council. These papers form an interesting and instructive survey of the condition and prospects of liberal religious thought at the beginning of the twentieth century. The translation of some of the papers by foreign writers was very kindly undertaken by the Revs. J. Estlin Carpenter, A. E. O'Connor, E. L. H. Thomas, and Mr. Charles Weiss Papers descriptive of the Liberal movement in India and Japan did not reach England in time to be included in the proceedings of the Council. A reduced copy of a group of Officers, Foreign Delegates, and others, taken by Messrs. Elliott & Fry, and a few portraits of speakers, whom it was not possible to include in the photographic group, are added as illustrations. They will help to keep fresh the memory of personal friendships which were formed during the meetings. It only remains to add that the next meeting of the Council will be held in September, 1903, in Holland or Switzerland. Meanwhile, communications may be addressed to the Secretary, the Rev. C. W. Wendté, 25, Beacon Street, Boston, Mass., U.S.A., or to the Rev. W. Copeland Bowie, Essex Hall, Essex Street, Strand, London. W. C.B. London, September, 1901. |