The “lyrical theism” of Sam Eliot’s time (1898-192?) had, like the Cheshire cat, evaporated until only the smile was left. World War I did not shake it, but the Great Depression (1929-41) certainly did. That revealed the advanced decay of the economic/social substructure of Unitarian faith. Consciously or unconsciously that faith rested on the assumptions that all good is dependent on the doctrine of private property; salva­tion is by personal character; God is a WASP whose primary residence is in Boston.

Ed: Nate Lauriat entered UU ministry in 1945 using, as he put it “a (very) liberal Christian language. Closely examined it was actually a humanism.”  He served five Unitarian and UU congregations and as President of Five different Districts.  He also had terms on the UUA Board and the Ministerial Fellowship Committee.  He died February 22nd, 2004 at the age of 81.