The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-12-18

BccchcIism or tnivcrsalism.
What BEEo HER believes and what he
doesn't believe would seem at first thought
to be- OF little consequence. He Is not man
of convictions. and only talks on what hap
pens 60 come into his mind. lie is also
very irrcNcrental person. and his conscience
is exceedingly elastic. In place Of convic-
tions he has impressions. and those TO which
he gave uttcraucc On Sunday were very
Characteristic.
BEEclER could not believe that the ortho-
doN hell existed. for the idea of the eternal
damnatOn OF wicked men aud women was
dispcaeing TO him. II Is not an agreeable
thought that men should be born prcdos-
tined to hell; but the agreeahlonc-s or dis
agrceablencss 81 things does not affect the
fact If their existence. 10 the cOnsidera-
ton of religious doctrines it is necessary to
bring the reason rather than the sentiment,
though BEEcAFg thinks differently.
4. We have said. the variable views Of
such a theological comedian as the hero OF
the scandal trial appear unworthy OF serious
attention. but it must be remembered,
nTlcIuR Is after all the most noted preach
cI ot TIA, Congregational Church. lie draws
hy far the largest salary Of any, and no one
VI Ms HlAiiHANi hAAt illih h'tH a HltdN
meeting house SO full Of rapt or amused
hearers as he. Moreover, Yale College, The
leading COngregationnli-t Institution ~
learning, stands by him in his religious and
moral cccentrctics, and his dcnYminat ton,
50 far a. IL could. has set the seal Of its
approval on him. He told tie young thco-
logical students at Yale how 10 preach and
their grave professors listened aud APP
plaudcd.
All the budding Congregational preachers
contemplate with a sort Of awe BEEclIrK's
wonderful success aud ready pulpit clo-
Quencc and, though they may despair Of
coualiiny him, they cherish hopes that thcy
will az least become nflrH -iis ON q ,omc-
what reduced scale, Therefore, when ON
Sunday he profancly declared, al DO swear
by the Lord JESUS CHRIST, boy His groans,
hy His tears of agony BY the wounds in Hi
side that 1t tine orthodox hell 10 inpos-
shle,' Ac must have startled those young
men. and paved The way t. their becoming
UuiNorsalists. Even though they succeed,
through the efforts Of Beechcritcs like Dr.
PORTER OF Yale College in getting installed
~ Cpngr,g at ionalst pastors, they will be
Unive'sa,ists all the same, u the Rev DR..
TAYLOR says: though. they Will Toe So in
fact. but under different and delusiVe
name. thny Will he religious frauds. But
why shouldn't they he frauds? Is not their
great cXcniplar the greatest Of frauds hilu-
self, and isn't ne the most successful preach
er in the denomination in spite Of il?
Whatever skcptics may think about he'll,
however absurd they may regard the doe
tlne that the Divine justice can only De-
satisfied with the torment OF millions Of
human beings. eternal dainnation Is an es-
scntial plank IN the Congregational plat
form. II Is almost the keystone OF the thco-
logical arch, removing which the whole
structure goes 10 pieces Ii the consequence
Of sin unrnpentod OF Is not eternal punish
mcnt. and if righteousness does not win
eternnl bliss, then the Cougregationali-ts
should at once revise their creed. or, as Dr.
TAYLOR suggests, go over in a body to the
tniver-alists. Nothing Is so bad as sham
and pretencc in n religious communion, and
nothing il 50 fatal to it, SUCCESS in securing
the respect and gaining the adhesion OF
non.
The moral corruption ~ B,eohorlsm, sns-
tanned and whlt.wa-hcl, has already under
mined tine Congregational Church. and nov
It, s"ntimoutality and skopticI-m, it, proian-
tyand llippancy, are making another breach
in the works. With BEECHER preaching
Unvorsaliam in Brooklyn, and Dr. PORTER
acquiescng at New Haven, while young
ministers are finding out that they can Sc
cure the stamp of Theological soundnoss
through they argue he'd away, the outlook is
gloomy indeed ior the churln founded 10y
the Puritans II Is no longer denomina-
ton with definite creed and purpose but
one which changes its belief TO suit varying
circumstances.
II Is becoming evident that the Congrc-
Eationalsts must formally accept Boechcr-
ism or reject it, orelse they must take the
honester course and 60 over TO the Univer-
salsts in public profession as well as in
private lelief. We advise them to think
Vol belure thoy como 10 a doeision.