Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-09-27

saa0ssus Passage ia de History Of Rsiisssa. opia

kfFpu4 tht New tSIh Welt~-4
For some time past the religious community
has been disturbed oy some curious reports OF
certain vital changes alleged to have taken place
In ths theologscal opinions of Rev. Henry WARD
Beecher Accustomed 20 the frequent, aud in the
main harmless, sagafies Of this eccentric clergy
man, his friends At first paid little attention to
these rumors. but more recently the subject has
been 20 openly mooted in the city Of churches
that some inqcify was necessary. The result
has awakened the s--atest astonishment and sor
rec among his many friends, Who are said TO
have found that his reported conversion to the
doctrines Of "Unvers.lism" was based upon
something more than mere sarmise or the hasty
expression OF soge momentary feeling Trust
ing. however, that ths change in his religious be-
liefs was only vagary OF the mind which has
frequently before given evidences of want OF
balance. they have said little about the matter,
chaTitsbly hoping that the evil would work its
own reform. Mr.. Beecher, however, is not
man TO allow bis light to remain hidden under
bushel, and, like all proselytes. prompt to pro-
elisha bis newly found opinions Our readers
can imagins the astons nent of a large portion
Of his congregation. which, with the kindest but
most mistaken intentions, had been kept IN ig-
norance OF the circumstances OF which We have
spoken. reading hrs bold announcement OF
his beliefs in q three column article IN the indie
pendent Of this week. under the title OF Re
marks He'll"
Mr.. Beecher's intimate relations with that
journal. aud the frequency With which he has
contributed to its columns. have probably rea xed
the usual severity OF editorial scrutiny. fact
which will perhaps account for the publication Of
this strange article in the pages Of strictly or
thodOx religious organ. Our space fOrbids the
rsprinting of the entire paper. which would 9th
er~ise be interesting as a curious passage in the
history OF the religious beliefs Of the country.
We give, however, is most promipent points.
The occasion for the article in question was
The following note. addressed to Mr. Beecher,
probably by one 'of those who had heard the
vague reports of bis change OF opinions:
Will you please tell me, in your lecture room
talks, published in the independent. what you
mean by he'll, aud future punishment Nv mind
is yearning for something higher and more spir-
itual; bat, before l can advance any further
must have these terms explained by a liberal
Christian man.
DEFINITION or HELL-wHAT Is PCRGAToRYl
Dir. Beecher commences bis reply by giving a
definition Of hell, announcing at the very outset
il will be seen, bis opinion that il is not final
but an intermediate state-a purgatory where the
wicked are punished for the sins of this life. and
fitted for future existence. The holiness with
which he signifies bis conclusion, that punish
ment will not be everlasting. will astonish even
those Who know the iearlessness with which he
has always thrown himself into any movement
with which he has become connected He says:
BY the term he'll, as 1t Is popularity used, we
mean-or mean-that state in which. after this
moral life, the ncorrIgibiy wicked are left TO
their own suffering and punishment II you ask
me the meaning OF the original word-kades
reply; THAT means the state OF the dead
phich Immediately succeeds this life, and trhich
Is intermediate beftteen this life and the one ,rhch
Is 10 come. Or, II you ask me what he'll means
ia the ordinary usage, and IN my usage. | reply
that il means the state in which the incorrigibly
wicked are herded together and suffer the legiti.
mate result of their wckedness | need not,
therefore, answer the second question, as ID the
meaning of future punishment.
HI OBJECTS TO BEISG "BApeERrp AND BEArEN''
THRoUGH ETERNITY.
Starting 10 give the reasons l0t his preselt
opinion. be paints the following picture of the
orthodox belief, and presents the doctrine which
has hitherto been taught ia his own and the
larger number OF churches in tie city N THIS ex-
tra0rdinary light The unfaifncss oi his picture
and bis Strangely exaggerated statement, will.
however. alisnate from him the sympathy of
many who MOULD Otherwise be disposed % look
leniently upsn what they might think the honest
doubt of ed honest seeker after truth
There has been mode OF presenting the doc
trine OF future punishment. and there has some
times been a spirit employ Ell 10 the use Of il as
motive. tciich hare been TepUisiue not 10 sdV
shooting Not only have We received this doc
trine as IL has come down 10 Us clothed with ma
terial fgares aud Illustrations, but these figures
and Illustrations have been maenl6ed and worked
mp until the doctrine, as it i presented by human
interpretations and expositons, Is simply horrible
IL has been supposed that death was one vast
slsughter-house of torment. where wrCtched, and
hopeless, and helpless creatures. for the sins Of
life. were, by every conceivable method of ex-
quisite physical pain. badgered and beaten about
in an endless gyraton Of suffering. Look al the
"Inferuo" of Dante, "a an exposition of the
prevalent opinions of his day. Look at the
Last Judgment" of Michael Angelo. az An OF
position Of the physical ideas of torment OF his
day, where devils are gnaNing the skulls of the
damned where men arc pitched about with
forks where all possible modes of bodily dis
tress are grossly. savagely, hideously complica,-
ed. And consider these as presentations OF a
state Of government under lrhich Christ is The
manifesto ton % God
rHE REASON FOR his CHANGE OF BELIEF.
This " materIalism' in the ordinarily received
doctrine OF orthodox churches, he gives as the
main reason for his present belief, adding thereto
the insufiiciency of argument by which the more
commonly received opinion is sustained
This extreme materialisn this utter barbarity
of the ideas which have so widely prevailed re-
specuuk future punishment has been one chtCf
Of the modern reaction that has taken plac,
on that subject. Then We have not, perhaps.
made the matter much better by the arguments.
derived from the world, of moral government.
which we have advanced to Justify future and
eternal punisbm ent. AID ,chiei seem not 10 be at
oil sound.
WHAT Is TIRE INSPIRATION?
As a curious exampleof Mr. Beecher's opinions
as TO the inspirations of the Scriptures, we quote
in passing. the following sentence, in which be
says of the apostles
% Though 1 consider that they were Inspired
yet | cannot but feel that. emanatnc from him
(Christ), Il is different from what il would have
been il II had emanated from either OF them"
WHENCE CoNEs THE IDEA or HELL
But the remAI kabe feature is that this doc
zine does not appear in the Old Testament at all
and that in the New Testament i. is might al
most say. but lust alluded 70 anywhere else ex
cept in the teachings OF our Saviour
HORRIBLY CHARACTER OF TnE ORDINARILY RI
CrIvEp OPINION
IL is very awful and painful view | feel
sshsa look ugOR society and think Of that doc
Jine, as should # looked into a crater /
shRdder. ! hide nv eyes and heart from it. Ii
toucaes me TO the core OF nv life. positively
dare not think of it in certain moods IL is a
dreadful thing.
THE iSrERNFDiArE STATE
But then, ss this i the teaching OF Christ.
spiritual teacher. in respect - men who are 10 60
out OF this life as spirits and "a dxaU IN a sr;,,,