The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1874-08-12
THE INDIANA HERETO.

THE INDIANA HERETO.
Charge Against the Rev. r. A. Good
win, Of Indianapolis Liberal
Views and HIS Last Book the Cause
Of His VINO and What
He IL.
INDIANAPOLIS, Aug. l, 1874.
The chief topic of conversation
hereabouts is the arraignment and
early trial of the Rev. I. A. Good
win, one of the oldest and most
popular Methodist preachers of
this State, on the charge of heresy.
Mr.. Goodwin is q native of Indiana,
and one of the first graduates of
Asbury University, and the fact
that his ministerial labors have
been in what is known among Meth
odists as 1.-The local ranks does not
initiate against his relative rank.
Much of his life has been spent in
the school room and in the editorial
chair as a means of living, while he
has devoted his time largely to
that class of gratuitous preaching
for which local preachers are noted,
commanding always the largest and
most attentive congregations i'll the
city and country. Possibly the in
dependent turn of mind which has
resulted in the book which is now
the uppermost theme of converse.
ton and discussion, has contributed
largely to his pulpit popularity, as
it did to his success as an editor.
He thinks for himself and expresses
his views in plain and unmistakable
Saxon, whether according to the
formula of the creed or not. A
few years ago he published book
on the subject of sanctifcation,
entitled The Perfect Man" which
was severely denounced by those
Methodists who make that subject
a hobby, for while it was sufficiently
within bounds to not justify any
charge of heresy, itdealt with some
of their extravagances with char
acteristic plainness and severity.
The book had large sale and is
yet one of the most popular books
in the market with those who do
not go into extreme notions repre-.
sented by the so called national
camp meetings. But it was reserv-
ed for his latest, we hope not his
last, publication, 1.-The Mode of
Mans Immortality, to awaken such
hostiities as 10 put it into the
hearts of his offended brethren to
stand it no longer, hence the pros
ecution for heresy which is now
pending. This book is unique and
, wonderfully original Necessarily
much of the ground had been gone
over before, and some of the views
are not widely different from some
of the views of the late Baron Swe-
denborg, though the process of ar
gumentation is different from that
', authors S.
The basal idea of the book is the
assumption that the mind is the
, man, and that the body is mere
. temporary tabernacle of this man,
, to be cast off and abandoned for
ever at death, hence there can be
5 no such thing as a future resur
rection of the boly. He quotes
from Bishop Buffers analogy"
= to show that after all this is the
j prevailing opinion of tho Protestant
e Churches of Europe and America,
a and that their theory of a resurrec-
: ton is at variance with their more
deliberate and sensible convictions.
> He finds in the Mosaic account of
creation inspired authority for q
e preAdaoic man, which, according
g to his theory and the Bible. may
S have existed millions of ages before
G the epoch introduced by the cosmo
geny of Moses. To say the best Of
e it, this chapter is ingenious, and
y will repay reading by any man who
y is willing to investigate from a new
u stand point. The booktlaims the
4 Bible as of supreme authority. and
/ deducts from it that there will be
# NO second coming of Christ and no
e burning up Of the world-no end
h of the world, no lake of literal fire
e. and birthstone for the wicked, and
d no walled city, or ''sweet fields be-
r yond the swelling foods" as a
a dwelling place for the righteous,
- and no suspension for day of the
d pains of hell or joys of heaven,
ct that all may be judged at once.
" It is for entertaining such wicked
II views as these that the Rev. John
'p B. Knott has given notice that Mr..
g Goodwin must withdraw from the
~ ~ church, or recant his book, or be
f. expelled. 1t would hardly be ex
h pected of such man rs Goodwin
at that he would do either of the for
Sc mer, or would tamely submit to the
y. latter; hence lively fight is expect
ed. Mr.. Knott is man of aknowl
10 edged ability, and Mr. Goodwin cal
,g hardly be regarded his inferior. II
T. will determine, as in the Patton
Z Swing trial, whether historic Meth
no odism or actual Methodism shall
I'd prevail.-Inter Ocean.
ag We learn that Reese Kendall, Esq
Il | ~