The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-12-23
HELL MODIFYING CREEDS.

Mr.. BEKcHIR ms LAST SUNDAY SERMON WAKING
TIED uN1vERsAL1sM IN ALL THE CHURCHES.
Mir. Beecher's sermon last Sabbath. In which he
virtually denied the inspiration OF tho Scriptures. the
doctrine OF the TRINITY and belief In literal he'll OF
nre and birthstone, has awakened little thought In
clerical circles. II was produced by tho discussion
which has bcen carried Congregational associa-
lions ana through tho secular and religious press
during the few weeks past because OF the failure OF
council TO install ana orda.n Mr. Merriam pastor OF
church In Massa; husetts MI. Merriam was formerly
an editor oithe Cstidn Union and LETT that paper TO
take pastoral charge OF Congregational church
at Indian Orchard But his examination bysa
council convsned for the purpose showed that no 10
not orthodox on tho eternal nell Are punishment
doctrine and not MS thoroughly sound as he might be
on the Others The counch therefore refused TO or
dam him. but commended him to the church which
subseq took the responsibility itself Of ordain
ing ami Installing him. Tho Springfield Republican
aud other Now England papers thereafter sought M
expression Of opinion from Congregational ministers
comprising the State Association, ana of those ad-
drosscd moro than forty failed 10 reply. Twenty.
seven would have refused 10 ordan Mr.. Merriam for
the reason that tho council hnd refused Seven be.
love substantially rs no docs, and others moro
moderate IN their Vows Mr.. Merriam holds that the
Bible contains revelation from God, but that as
book II Is not necessarily inspired: that the doctrine
OF eternal punishment Ii neither asserted denied
In the Scriptures, and therefore he would teach
IT, but was Wiling leave II whore the Bible leaves
Ito the individual conscience and judgment. Mr.
Beecher has warmly sustained hrs former associate
through his paper, and unabo to restrain himself
longer gave vent TO his views last Sunday.
HERALD representative called on several clergy
men OF different dcnom nations in New York and
Brooklyn to obtain their views OF the disputed doc
rines and tho following is substantially tho result
AN OLD SCHOOL MErHoDIsrs VIEWS
Tho Rev. J. l.. Glider. OF York Street Methodist
Episcopal Church. Brooklyn, who Is ncig hbor OF the
Plymouth pastor, read the sermon in Mondays
HERALD and was little startled with It, but hc did
not think q Wholesale donial OF the three doc.
trines named. 1t seemed to him rather contraven-
ton OF the Calvnstc doctrine oil partial sava,on by
election the darnning Of tho uncounted millions
who consigned TO the uncovcnanted merces OF
God than Nh Endorsement OF tho doctrine OF universal
salvation. At heart Mr. Glider believes that Mr.
Bcecncr Is gelcal and sound, but as tneoiogan
ho Is IA very poor type for any one 70 follow He 10
too impuistc IN his uiteranccs, and II Is not
sale 10 abstract his theological utterances from
their connection and then charge him with heresy
aud heterodoxy. Mr. Beecher Is very injudicious
In many OF his utterances and lays hmsoli open TO
severe criticism. For himself, Mr.. GLIDER he
believed In literal hell or place condition OF pun.
snmsnt Tor the wicked alter death. But be did not
references TO hell 10 the Scriptures figures
Of speech, and " DO Chased with those other ref
crsnces 10 streets o. so'a aad sa'es o. pearl o. inc
that he had not gwen attention to speculative tho
ology. He accepts the old Methodist theology, and
gives himself anxiety about modern spccuIatons.
PRESBYTERIAN TREE GRACE AND FREE SALVATION.
The Rev. DR.. Arthur Crosby, pastor OF tho Prespy-
terian church Clinton Fulton street, another
ncighbor or tho Plymouth pastor, had not road tho
lattcrs sermon and hence could not give opinion
ON thai, bu he very chceruIly gave his own views Of
tha ncfr aafh qI IA aaid m MIA
and In condition OF punishment tor incorrigibe SIN
In the future lilo but he cannot conceive Of etcr
punish except the basis oi nal SHINING
II q soul docs not etsrnnly SHOULD not aud ho
believed would not be punished cternay. In,answer
10 query started by the HERALD reporter from this
statement Dr. Crosby added that he believed there
opportunities Tor sinLng and repentng in the future
lie rs there IN this Unless TINS DO so hc could
tho necessity for continuous eternal punish
ment at all In answer 10 another inquiry the Doctor
remarked that he believed tho salvation OF Christ 10
offered freely to every man. woman and child de-
scended from Adam. The opportunity Is given them
to accept or reject It What tho mole OF punishment
IL 10 DO, how God Will cloct reconciliation with
SHINING Souls 10 the hereafter he was not prepared TO
say. HIS ninu was not quite clear on that point
But every man who SINS has In his conscience
gnawing worm greater than any physical pun shmcnt
that could be endured He had known men during
his pastoral lie whose crimes were known only TO
themselves, their pastor ana Their God, and who,
nevertheless, suffered punishment u thousand-iold
greater than the OF land would have inflicted
upon them. Put such man. SAID the Doctor, right
under the throne God and he could not BIO HAPPY.
HALrrxG BkrwEES Two OPINIONS.
INC rev. W. r. hatnciu pastor oI otfeos
Methodist Episcopal Church, New York, took view
OF Mr. Bcccher's uterances similar 10 those held oy
Mr. Glider, Of Brooklyn. He believed Mr. Bcccher 10
iptcnso hacr OF the Calvinistc idea oil redcmp
tion, suffering and puDishment for sin and that III
combating that idoa lao permitted himself 70 DO car
ricd AWAY further than be would be wiling to go IN
cooler aud calmcr moments For himself Mr.. Hat
ncld said no not an extremist he could not 90
with the Univcrsalisis the hanc nor with the
Calvinsts Tho other lie bel ewes In place and IN
condition Of blesscdness and OF woe, oil reward aud
OF punishment IN The future life. He cannot accept
the doctrine OF material hell IRE for tho wicked, aud
yet there many passages OF scripture that seem TO
teach that But on the other hand, there are many
passages also that 10 teach sort OF limited Uni.
vcrsallsm, wherein shining men Will make peace with
an offended Cod He believes that the time is coming
when The crccds OF Christondom must DO revised on
these doctrines.
me Rev W. T. Dixon, pastor Of the Concord Baptist
Church, Brooklyn, believes In The fundamental doc
trinss OF tho Bible held by the Evangelical Chris
tians lie had glanced through Mr.. Beccncrs sermon
Ia tho HERALD Monday, and read little OF II In the
presence OF the HERALD man yesterday, and was
shocked especially that sentence which kens God
to Satan damning muittudcs OF souls Tor the mere