Article June 10, 1905 Issue

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with contributions from Anthony Bilkovsky, James M. Campbell, Samuel A. Eliot

The "kingdom" was the social ideal of Jesus Christ. It was a divine human commonwealth, a moral, spiritual order to be erected upon this earth. It was "light" that by radiation and reflection would illumine every morally dark place; it was "salt" that would prevent degeneracy and decay; it was spiritual ozone that would interpenetrate every soul with its inspiring, life-giving potencies. This divine order began with Jesus' own life. Of those who shared his ideals, motives, purposes, life, he said. "The kingdom of God is within you;" it is a spiritual contagion that spread from soul to soul. The individual is the "seed" that, by incorporating others, becomes a "tree." The individual is the "leaven" by which the whole "mass" of humanity is to be changed. It is in the individual. Christ's true followers have been constantly enlarging the borders of this kingdom. Jesus had no doubt that it would become universal.

Rev. Anthony Bilkovsky.
The Universalist Leader.

When we read the words, "Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you," it is surely pertinent to inquire when were these words spoken? Has the promise which they contain been fulfilled? The advent of the Spirit is here, as always, referred to as a distinct event. Has it taken place? Has the Spirit come upon the church? Need we answer? The Spirit is here, and here forever to abide. His presence is therefore to be always assumed. Instead of tarrying for his coming, we are to rejoice in his presence; instead of waiting for his enduement of power, we are to go to work believing that all the power we need has been made over to us; instead of waiting through weary years of deferred hope for him to come and take possession of us, we are to yield ourselves at once to His influence, doing the work that He bids us in the strength He gives us.

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