The New York herald., 1872-12-31
THE METHODIST MINISTERS.
AnnihilAtbonism Refutcd-A DcstructfeU- :
fst "Heretic'' Presents HIS Views


Lively Debate.
Yesterday by invitation, the Rev. N. s Very, Of
Poughk psie, read an essay before the Methodist
preachers on the doctrine OF conscious existence
after death, in which he handled decentralization
tsts theories 80 effectually that 1t seemed, both
logically and theologically, they could have no
foundation to stand upon. He took mp the Scrip
tural texts relied upon by the advocates OF annih
aton in support OF their theories and 80 dssected
them or placed them in their trne relations to
each other that the very opposite OF annihilation
was proved by them. He took up also the originals
of such words as, in our translation OF the
Bible, are rendered 'life" and "death,n
"everlasting'' and eternal" 'helln and
'.grave,n 'ssonlo and "sprit," "neshn and
.'body,n to show the varied meaning Of those
words, and then, examining the theories OF
annihaton founded upon the words he showed
the utter absurdity OF giving to every such word
the same meaning in every relation. As an Illus
tration, among many others which the essayist
gave, was this, where the words "wlnd" and
"spirtn in our translation have the same Greek
word in the original:-''The wind bloweth when
IL listeth, 30 Is every one that IL born OF
the spirit" BY substituting wind for spirit the
absurdity OF the text and OF the translation VIII be
apparent. Mr.. Terry then examined the passages
OF Scripture in which
THE DOCTRINE OF CONSCIOUS EXISTENCE
after death is taught, and answered the annihila-
zionist directors to the parabolical teachings OF
Jesus Christ, in which the doctrine is mainly
formed by showing that the parallels OF the Saviour
are all based upon matters OF fact or Of common
Truth would not teach SO important q doctrine as
this by any other than methods OF truth and
illustrations OF fact. The so-caled parable OF the
XVI XVI " was 'I examined ana found to con:
tain all the elements OF act ana none none or OF
9esn i s or S the Luke
parison OF It with ether parallels will demonstrate
this position. But, for arguments sake he ad-
mtted the parabOliC character OF the narrative,
and from that basis also drew the conclusion that
conscious existence after death is taught thereby
M. Terry then went on to prove the absurdity OF
very many passages OF Scripture, II we admit that
physical death brings with Il the extinction or
that to him to die was gain, but the speaker failed
to see what gain he could have in view II death
brought annihilati0n to him. The promise OF Christ
to the thief on the cross was mere mockery II He
simply meant that that day he should be with Him
in the grave instead OF IN Paradise And so also o.
many other Scripture passages Inc
DURATION OF THIS CONSCIOUS ExIsrENcE,
whether in bliss or woe, was next examined when
.severlasting,n "iOr ever and ever,n "without
end" &c, and that the bad as well as the good
have this conscious existence was also demon
The Rev. DIR. True, being known to have some
peculiar views on the subject was invited to speak.
In his preface he acknowledged himself "destruc-
tionist,n but not an annihilatonist. His theory Is
that God has given His law to mankind through
three representative persons-Adam, Noses and
Jesus Christ. That with the PRONUNCIATION OF th..t
law in each case the penalty OF death was con-
nected, and that it would not have been law had
not penalty been attached. That death to Adam
meant destruction or nothing, but that the inter-
position Of Christ postponed the day OF judgment
and OF punishment and that we are now living
under q dspensation OF mercy, and not OF juSlg-
ment. That as the hres of the valley OF Hinnom,
from which the idea Of Gehenna or nell IS taken
OF the latter which the Doctor believes to be ma
teral, will eventually consume the souls and bodies
of'the wicked, That the wicked dead are reserved
in darkness" or, as the Doctor otherwise ex-
pressed IT, locked up IN Ludlow Street Jaii, as It
were until the day OF trial and final Judgment shall
take place. when they shall be turned into hell, and
that while
THE SOUL As A SUBSTANCE SHALL EXIST,
the destruction OF oil It's functions and faculties
viii take place probably gradually until all are de-
stroyed. The Doctor did not seem to be clear IN
now suffering any fiery punishment or not; nor
did he seem TO see the injustice OF God locking up
aat as netweeP COD ana the sinner he deems the
judgment settled at death Nor could he satisfac-
tory explain to the brethren, on the principles Of
his own theory, how just God could continue to
innict punishment upon being whom lie had
previously robbed OF all his functions and faculties
DIR. TRUE CLAssED AS A HERETO.
Dr. Trues theories we're considered 80 heretical
that DR.. Curry courteously dissented rom them
and and called HIM % to crder while Mr. corbist1red up
should not be permitted in body OF Methodist
preachers and the uterer thereof should be hustled
ont OF the Methodist Church. Mr. COrbitt was Sc
verey rebuked by several brethren for his dIscOur
teous language toward the Doctor and also toward
the presidmgofacer, whose call to order he refused
10 obey. Drs. Brown, Crawford and others
favored the fullest liberty OF speech in
their meetings DR.. Crawford thought II Methodist
doctrines could not bear to have the poughshare
OF criticism struck deep into the subsoi they ought
TO know it. He did not think the meeting was at
all responsible for the views OF DR.. True. He knew
them Beforehand and it was upon his motion that
the Doctor was invited to speak; but he did not
subscribe in single particular to them. He
thought that the circumstances" were unfortu-
nate because reporters and others besides preachers
were present. But still he was content to have
such persons present, though he was himself often
restrained from speaking because Of the knowl.
edge that representatives OF the press in their
meetings.
THE DOCTOR GOOD METHODIST STILL.
DR.. True explained that he did not try to hold his
brethren responsible for anything he had said. lie
thought he had been very roughly handled after
having been invited 10 speak. He had reason to
know that his views were held by Q very large
portion OF the thinking men Of British Wese yanism
and by very manv in this country, aud he did not
think they could be successfully refuted. He was
thp leas a Mafh cf fnr I'M viox