The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-12-31
Religious Drllt ana DIscusslo,

Religious DRIFT and Discussion.
At no time in the past have secular
newspapers so generally discussed theo.
logical questions. Theology few years
ago was thought to be topic appropri-
ate only for newspapers profsssedly
religious. Now 1t ia discussed as part
Of the news Of the day by the leading
papers with almost the same freedom as
politics and finance. What the result
will DO no one eau foretell. Tho New
York Nation thinks that very great
change has come and is coming over the
minds people on religious topics. The
New York Poa (Bryant's psper) thinks
that il the recent utterances OF Beecher
and Canon FarrAr Dean OF Westminster)
are to obtain, that an essential change Of
questionable benefit must speedily occur.
The Chicago Tribune proposes, with a
view Of arriving at q more satisfactory
status Of public opinion, that Mr.. Beecher,
on one hand, and some such man as
Rev. DR.. Patton (who prosecuted Rev.
David Swing for heresy) on the other,
shall engage in profound and exhaus'
tive diacuSsion Of the whole subject Of the
life beyond the grave, especially in regard
to the punishment. Of the wicked. The
Springfield Republican thinks it unwise to
press the question Of the probable
state Of those who die in sin upon can.
dida,es for the ministry las in the case
Of Rev. MIR. Mirriam), who are otherwise
unobjectionab candidates. The Gin.
cinnati Gazette of Saturday discusses the
tendencies Of the times at considerable
length, and with more than ordinary abil.
lily and intelligence. While 1t comedies
the extensive prevalence Of different
views in regard to the future from
those formerly held; yet 1t argues that
the subject ia just as far from being dis
posed Of as ever. It sees no immediate
prospect ahead for more settled state Of
public opinion, and for the following
reasons among others:
Revelation apart, future state is at
least probability. On the other hand,
II Is NOT at all impossible even on atheis-
tic grounds. II man came upon the earth
without the agency Of an intelligent first
cause, the same blind necessity or eyolu-
ton may consign him 70 an endless hell
as well Is to an eternal sleep. Granting
that eternal may mean long and Infinite
duration, Ia It q priori any more unreas'
enable that obstinate offenders should be
punished forever than that wise and
omaiscient God should have created q
race with the knowledge that every mem
Der OF Ii would fall into sin? Ia 1t more
incredible that the asgrantly wicked
should be 90 dealt with than that thou
sands and tens OF thousands should be
brought Into being only 10 perish BY the
crimes Of others, or by heaven inflicted
earthquakes, pestilencea and iamines
5CoucedinR even the ultimate salvation oil
ail,it would seem TO human judgment
arrange that final happiness should be
provided BY such an expenditure OF pre-
liminary misery"
We might mention as pertinent 10 thl
discussion that is now going on in regard Il
thespbiect Of mans probable future, TIT
lselusesot Rev. Joseph Cook every Mon
day iorenoonia fremont temple, Boston
Z AZ showing the interest in his lectures
which have now continued for year, vi
quote asfolloxs from hia remarks las
Monday.
- When this house isas full as II is to
day there are In it-among the flteei
hundred or two thousand pereons pres
emit and representing all ahades Of opin
ien-at least three or hve hundred VII