UU's are not "agin" tradition

Most outsiders apparently believe that Unitarians are always, under all circumstances, opposed to anything that can be called traditional. They assume that when a Unitarian runs into a tradition he will automatically be "agin" it, as Calvin Coolidge's preacher was "agin" sin....a good case can be made for the proposition that Unitarians are more concerned to maintain traditions than their critics are.

--Frederick May Eliot, "We Have Enormous Resources in the Treasury of the Spirit," Christian Register, 1936.

Rev. Eliot was, of course, not referring to the tradition of merging (or mingling) of the waters or the water communion (or ceremony), since the ritual is only 30 years or so old. But, I think he is right that UU's understand and value tradition. It's what connects one generation to the next, and one person to something larger.  "Rank by Rank Again We Stand" celebrates tradition.

Rank by rank again we stand,

from the four winds gathered hither,

Loud the hallowed walls demand

whence we come and how, and whither.

From their stillness breaking clear,

echoes wake to warn or cheer;

higher truth from saint and seer

call to us assembled here.  

 

If you are soon to celebrate the water ceremony, may you find joy in the tradition of standing together for higher truth.