The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-07-04
A UNIvERsAIIsr BRoox1YN1rEs REPLY TO AN

VN'EhSAAiSr BRooKLYNIrEs REPLY TO AN
ORTHODOX LoNDoNER.
To TIM EDITOR OF THE HERALD
In reading over yaur Items OF religious intelli-
gence found one on Endless Punishment TO
which Deg leave TO reply. notice that the
writer quotes IN support OF her theory the taxi
1.-THE wicked Is reserved for the e<y or desTruc-
tion, !" and says by way Of argument ''that which
Is destroyed cannot be renoyated-n Now. II we
accept this referring to the soul OF we take
away the grand fundamental principle which has
been the groundwork and foundation OF every re-
ligion OF every age nation, sect and creed-vlz,
the universal Immortality OF the SOUL Destruo-
ton, II II means anything, means annihiation,
death; and can we apply IL TO the soul in the face
OF the teachings OF Christ ana all His disciples that
the soul 10 immortal and lives foreverf Is II not
more rational to suppose that the words quoted
refer TO that day when the scales shall % removed
iron our eyes, when by death we shall be MADE
alive 10 greater, truer and nobler lieS when the
sins OF the flesh snail be cruclted in the desh-ln
snort, wnen the destruction OF tho body snail give
immortal lie TO the soulY
Your correspondent also refers TO tire WORDS,
aWhosOever shall say, thou fool shall be IN dan ger
OF he'll nre.n III sac will refer to Psalm xviii an
notice that David speaks OF shell" as "ths
agonies OF the dying,n and Will remember that
Christ almost invariably spoke IN parabies. It Will
not be so VERY dinicult TO suppose that, In 3
hRurative way, Christ was literally decrying that
Ieeling OF seifconsciousness which made tne
ancient jews, ike many people OF the present
uay, call HI men lOOlS VINO presumed 10 ulHer
from them. Decrilng this narrowness OF mind
winch mas ever made men blgots ana fanatics, He
warned them or the danger or failing victims TO
their own ignorance and cVncelt, and thus email
Ing untold misery on themselves as they -
templated with remorse Q wasted and mlsspsnt
life from the brink o the grave. And further. II
sne VIII refer TO Psalm XVI. and see that Daviu
there speaks OF he'll as the grave, and II she will
recolect JnRL all men, Without exception, are
wicked, ana must sooner or later come to that
resting place OF all nsshl the grave, she VIII
understand The meaning Of "The wicked shall be
turned Int nell" &c. And now come to the
gist OF her argument tine universal cry OF the
orthodox pulpit els II not pity that clever men
should try 10 make 10 appear that their punish
ment Is not everlasting ri
IL mas always surprised me that an enlightened
pulpit IN an enlightened land can question the
rtgRt OF an enlightened, intelligent people to
TANK and reason lor the mseiyes. II religion can
not stand the light or reasons II 1t bases Its hopes
on the ignorance and fears OF It's deIuded follow
ers; II Its clergy are obliged to attempt TO sup
nance IN others the nberaIity Of expression it
claims fol- ITSELF then, indeed IL Is pity (for the
Churcnl that "clevsr,n intelligent men presume
vital points, or, worse yet. give expression to
their thoughts. deny most emphatically that
the doctrine o. universal salvation giyes men "a
he'll Is the only thing that VIII keep an .gnt.
ened people from evil. AS we looE back to the
dark ages, when ignorance reiened supreme
among tue masses, wneR lear OF punishment was
the one great incentive TO duty, we vice,
tyranny and barbarism 60 hand In hand and rule
the world. To-day, as we grow more enlightened,
every thinking man Is claiming his divine
right as free moral agent 10 think and act for
ceAuve to duty, civilization advances with rapid
strides, barbarlsm vanishes and light begins TO
dawn on beniRhtsd world.
the record OF the Church through all ages, demon.
strate the one great fact. that the hope OF re-
ward is greater incentive to duty than the fe ar
OF punishment; hence deny the authority which
says q doctrine OF love and mercy would Increase
SIN and promote evil. LIBERALIIAS.