The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-12-19
UNYAPTIZED INFANTS.
Rev j. ID. MOnat SmiteS Bishop kain
and Editor Campbell - Bishop
Kain's Response.
Editors Intelligencer

Editors lntelllgencer:
Perhaps we mad better not drop the
subject OF the fate OF unhsptlzed infants
until We each more accurate statement
of the views of all parties. Bishop KAN
has given us the teachings of mis- church,
! presume, correctly, but he is reported
rs having said, "The teachings Of the re-
formers OF the 10th century that they
are doomed to the tOrments Of the
damned in hell, well nigh met with the
formal condemnation OF the Council o.
Trent" These may not be the exact
words used by the Bishop in his sermon,
but if they are | think he will find 1t
impossible to show by quotation from the
writings OF the retormeTS Jhst they
taught that infants dying in infancy "are
doomed TO the torments OF the damned
IN hell"
In your editorial comment on the scr.
mon, you say that the Bishops DISPOSE
tioG of uubaptized infants Is great
Improvement on the tate awarded the
little nnocents by those theOlOgians who
havh taught that there are infants in hell
not a span longw You cannot be severe
ly blamed for making this assertion, IN
as much AS il has been so very common to
charge this teaching upon certain class
of theologisns, and the charge mas often
been made by persons supposed to be
pos ed in theological controversies.
Without entering upon the subject tuliy
| can say, what think no one Il sb.c TO
disprove, that careful exaplination by
fricLd and foe of the writings OF Protest
ant theologians and authors OF standing,
has tailed to find any sentences that will
isstlty the charges referred 10. The
worst that can be said Of any OF these
writer's IS that some OF them decline eX-
pressing any opinion upon this subject
for the svowed reason that the teachings
of the Scriptures are not sutticien .ly clear
20 warrant positive opinion. Even
these are few, and belong to past
generations. feel quite confident.
therefore, that the theologIsns YOU
refer to never had any existence. All
Protestant churches so far a | know,
agree in teaching that infants dying in
infancy are saved through the merits OF
the Saviour. While some OF them hold
that infants are involved in the ruin Of
the race, and hence have deprsved ustures
yet they maintain that these dcprsyed
natures are renewed in the case OF a.!
dying before reaching years OF dls3re-
tion, and that thew are admitted to
Heaven without the faith and repentance
demanded OF adults.
| hsve written this not to excite con-
troversy, but merely in the interests OF
truth. j. ID. MoFFAT.
BISHOP KAIE's RESPONSE.
Editor Wheeling Register:
You will please permit me, through
the columns OF your paper, TO refer the
Rev. Mr.. Nofstt to the Acts OF the
Council of Trelt for confirmation OF the
statement to which be takes exception
In the fifth session, held June l.,
1546. nine propositions, extracted from
hereticsl writings o! the day, were dis
cussed. Among them wss the following;
"luat besides desth and the other pen
altjts OF original sin, the fire Of he'll Is It's
appointed punishment SarPi, Fra.
Pnulo), accepted gene7slly by Protest
ans rs y Trustworthy authority, men
tions the discussion upon this los! p'oPo-
sitlun.
Upon the Reformation, says Kali,
the Protestsnts generally have defined
that the due punishment Of original SIN
Is in s.rictncss tamnstIon in hell" Tha
same su:hor, in -peskiug OF the Fathers
ofthe Council OF Trent, remarks: Father
Paul (Ssrp) mentions their disputes
whether they should condemn as hereti-
ca tns! proposition of the Luthersns
that the punishment of originslsIn is hell
fire, and say it missed very narrowly be-
ing snstnemstized."
History o! Infant Baptism, chapter 4.
sections 5 aad g. JOHN j KAN,
Blshop OF Wheeling.
Wheeling, December Is, 1877.