900 ( 4 ) AUGUST 16 1906 The Christian Register

But in spite of bigot and sceptic the religious nature in much as possible of its income sent in this fall rather man persists . It must be fed , for its exigence is only than next spring .

than next spring . It might easily be that certain comparable to physical hunger . It is the divinest fact churches could best help on this desired increase of in in human experience that religion so continually scorned , come by appealing twice to their constituency . Ours flouted , denied , springs up in all places and demands its is a work which well deserves being laid before a con rights . Bigot and sceptic are at the two extremes of gregation more than once a year . the arc which embraces an uncounted variety of human No officer of the Association desires to seem ungrateful experience . Between the two is the open , receptive to the large number of Unitarians who give generously mind that sees and adores God in a world not accidental , and in real accordance with their means to support this soulless , godless , but teeming with divine purpose in work . Let none such feel , as they read this and other every pore . Transient systems and institutions may be articles of a similar tenor , that we are unmindful that outlived ; but at the centre , in the circumference , in every there are many such supporters . We are speaking and particle and atom of the universe , is God , who exacts writing not to them , but to the much larger company the open mind which despises nothing , hates nothing , of other Unitarians who do not give what they surely but loves , adores , and trusts . The teachable spirit knows would if they understood the full significance of our work . nothing of dogmatism . It receives God's lessons with We could raise this $ 150,000 if all our ministers entered simplicity and reverence . It seeks for him under all into the matter with high enthusiasm . We could raise forms , and never fails to find him ; for he who seeketh it if a group of devoted laymen in each church were to findeth , and to him who knocketh it shall be opened . enter into the matter with enthusiasm and the full

knowledge of conditions . By this interested work of

many friends we should succeed in conquering that ig American Unitarian Association .

norance concerning the greatness of our mission under

the darkness of which many make but small gifts to the Collection Sunday .

Association . Thousands of persons are giving one or five dollars who could with entire justice to their other

obligations give five or twenty - five dollars , and who In the new Year Book of the Association the list of

would gladly do so if they knew what the Association " days to be remembered ” includes this : “ October 21 ,

was doing . We therefore appeal to all who are deeply Special Day for collection for the American Unitarian

interested in the work of the Association to help us in Association . ” Doubtless this will attract attention , we

crease the interest of all the supporters of all our churches . hope , favorably from the supporters of the work of the

When this can be done , the desired result will be at Association . This suggestion is made to our churches

tained . not by the president or secretary or treasurer , but

I invite correspondence with churches and ministers at the instance of one of the directors , a business man of

as to the best method of raising money for the missionary wide and large experience . It will be remembered that

work . The Association will be prepared early in the at ' the annual meeting of the Association last May a vote was passed , after being advocated by impassioned lars of information , letters of appeal , and so forth , -

fall to supply churches with collection envelopes , circu and influential speeches , instructing the officers of the everything , in fact , that is necessary for the best method Association to endeavor to raise during the forthcoming of securing our resources . The special object of this year $ 150,000 for the work of the Association , and further

article is to call attention to the date , October 21 , and to instructing the president to appoint a special com

request as many of our churches as find it possible to mittee to aid in carrying out this enterprise . The sum fall in with the plan .

CHARLES E. Sr. JOHN . which the Association has thus expressed its desire to raise is more than double what may be called the present contribution of our people for missionary work . Persons of cautious judgment will undoubtedly say that it is not

Current Copice . possible to raise this money . On the other hand those of us who live day by day in the light of the vision of the A CLASH between Japanese fishermen and Americans service we might be rendering to our fellow - men know on Attu Island , the westernmost of the Aleutian group , with confident hearts that it is possible to raise the money

was brought to the attention of the State Department on provided the right word is spoken often enough and August 7 , when the Department of Commerce and in the right places . In truth it is not a gigantic sum to Labor reported that five Japanese had been killed by be given for the spread of a noble religious influence by American fishermen and thirteen subsequently captured a body of people so wealthy and intelligent as are Uni- by the revenue cutter McCullouch . The Japanese , tarians .

in violation of international law , had landed to salt The committee to aid in raising this money will be and cure their catch of fish . In its summary of the in announced later . At present we desire to call attention cident to Ambassador Wright , at Tokyo , the State De simply to our hope of such concerted action as may be partment merely communicated the details of the inci expressed by a very general response to our request that dent without conveying any expression of regret or any all the churches take their collection for the Association intimation of apology . The ground taken at Washing on the 21st of next October . We assume no right ton in the matter is that the Japanese subjects were in a to appoint this day on behalf of the churches . We position of interlopers and violators of law when they are but making a suggestion and a request . If it really landed at Attu Island , and that the American fishermen be an imperious necessity with some churches that the were justified in defending their own treaty rights by contribution be not sent in until the month of April , force of arms . The incident , therefore , was regarded the end of our fiscal year , -a fact which the officers of the as being terminated with the official transmission of the Association , who have themselves been pastors of news to the government at Tokyo . churches , very gravely doubt , -even those churches might , it seems to us , secure part of their contribution on the 21st of October . It would be of very great VIGOROUS treatment of anarchists was urged by Charles assistance to the work of the Association to have as J. Bonaparte , Secretary of the Navy , in an address at