The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-12-28
MIR. Heecher's Last sunday sermon WAX
lug UP the Mlnisters-Prevalence oi
Limited Untversalistn in ALI TIM
Churches.
New York Herald. !

New York Herald.l
Mr.. Beeeher's sermon last. Sabbath, In
which he virtually denied the inspiration .Qf
the Scriptures, the doctrine Of the Trinity
and belief in literal hell of 2. IRE ana brlm-
stone. has awakened no little thought in
clerical circles. 1t was produced by the dis
cussion which has been carried on in Congre-
gational associations and through the secu-
lar and religious. press during the few weeks
Install I and ordain Mr.. Merriam. pastor
Ram was formerly an editor Of the
Christian Union, and left that paper to take
pastoral charge Of a Congregational church
at Indian Orchard. But his examination by
q council convened for the purpose showed
that he Is not orthodox on the eternal hell fire
punishment doctrine and not as thoroughly
SO and as he might be on the others. The
council therefore refused to ordain him, but
commended him to the church, which subse-
daining and installing him. The, Springfield
Republican and other New England papers
thereafter sought an expression of opinion
from Congregational ministers comprising
the State Association, and of those addressed
more than forty failed to reply. Twenty-seven
would have refused to ordan Mr.. Merriam, for
the reason that the council had refused;
Seven believe substantially as he does, and
others are more moderate in their views.
MIR, Merriam holds that the Bible contains o
revelation from God, but that as q BOOK 1t is
not necessarily inspired; that the doctrine Of
eternal punishment is neither asserted nor
denied in the Scriptures, and therefore he
would not teach 1t, but was willing to leave 1t
where the Bible leaves ito the individual
conscience and Judgment. Mr. Beecher has
warmly sustained his former associate
through his paper, and unable to refrain him
self longer gave vent to his views last Sun
* Herald representative called on several
clergymen Of different denominations In New
York and Brooklyn to obtain their views OF
the disputed doctrines, and the following is
substantially the result
AN OLD SCHOOL MBTHoDIsT'S VIEWS.
The Rev. j. l.. Glider, of York Street
Methodist Episcopal Church, Brooklyn, who
is q neighbor of the Plymouth pastor, read
the sermon in Mondays Herald and was a
little startled with it, but he did not think it
was q wholesale denial of the three doctrines
named. It seemed to him rather a. contra.
vention of the Calvinistic doctrine of partial
salvation by election or the damning OF the
uncounted millions who are consigned to the
uncovenanted mercies OF God than an in
tion At heart Mr.. Glider believes that Mr..
Beecher is evangelical and sound, but as a
one to follow. He Is too impulsive in
his utterances, and 1t Is not
from their connection and then charge him
with heresy and heterodoxy.. Mr.. Beecher is
very injudicious in many of his utterances,
and lays himself open to severe criticism
For himself, Mr.. Glider said he believed In q
literal hell or place and condition Of punish,
ment for the wicked after death. But he did
not believe In a fire and birthstone hell He
thinks those references to such hell in the
Scriptures are figures of speech, and are tC
be classed with those other references to
streets of gold and gates of pearl OF the place
of the redeemed. But Mr.. Glider remarked
that he had not given attention to speculative
theology. He accepts the old Methodist
theology, and gives himself no anxiety about
modern speculations.
PRESBYTERIAN FREE GRACE AND FREE SALIVA
TIoN.
The Rev. DR.. Arthur Crosby, pastor Of tht
Presbyterian Church on Clinton, near Fultor
street, another nsighbor Of the Plymouth
pastor, had not read the latter's sermon anC
hence could not give an opinion on that; bu
he very cheerfully gave his own views OF th'
doctrine of hell. He believes, he said, in {
place and in condition of punishment for in
corrigible sinners in the future life; but h
cannot conceive of eternal punishment excep
on the basis of eternal shining. II a soul doe
not sin eternally it should not and, he be
| lieved, would not be punished eternally. Il
answer to a query started by the Herald re
porter from this statement, DR.. Crosby addet
| that he believed there are opportunities TO
SHINING and repenting in the future life q
there are In this. Unless this be SO b
could not see the necessity for contin
| nous or eternal punishment at all,