The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-12-16

Inc QucstIOn IN Ittbs
The question IA To the existence of eternal
punishment continues to agitatc the Con-
gregationalists. Another Massachusetts
minister OF that denomination, the Rev. I.
r. MUNGER, has declared his doubts about
hell; and though they are substantially the
same as those expressed by the Rev. MIR.
MERRIAM, q council at North Adams voted
unanimously to install him as pastor of a
church in that town.
This council was presided over by ex-
President HOPKINS of Williams College,
leading light in the CongrcgatlOnalist
Church, and man who lays down the law
for the younger ministers. A prominent
member of the council was President PoR-
TER of Yale College, the foremost of Congrc-
gational seats Of learning 1t is related that
both DIR. HOPKINS and DR.. PORTER warmly
espoussd the cause Of the doubling THOMAS.
and that through their efforts and by reason
OF their great influence, he was given pull
pit from which to spread his distrust in
eternal damnation.
II will he seen. therefore, that the action
Of the North Adams council was very sig
niiicant. The inference from ii Is, OF course,
that the doctrine of hell, one OF the fonnda-
ton stones of the Congregational Church,
rs, in the opinion Of the ministers and lay
men who took part in this council, minor
question. II IL not surprising Ia find DR..
PORTER so careless whether eternal punish
mcnt is preached or not. He was one OF the
most conspicuous apologists for BEECHEE.
and BEECHER's doubts regarding hell are as
we'll known as his easy-going conscience and
absence Of real convictions concerning re-
ligious doctrines generally. Ii may. there
fore bc assumed that at Yale College eternal
damnation will be treated very gingcrly.
and showed aside az one Of the minor qucs-
lions which minister's may ignore. We ar"
surprised however to find DR.. HOPKINS.
| coming from Williams College. noted seat of
| the old-fashioned orthodoxy, SO ready To join
| in treating with contempt the doctrine of
| he'll. and even publicly using his influence
to secure the installation OF n minister who
does not believe in it. Must add Williams
to Yale IA n traitor to the faith which these
institutions were founded to maintain;
The Boston ConOregdtondlisi, tn" chief
! paper ia the denomination. and an authority
on its rules and standards. has been trying
| Ia got the opinions Of one hundred ministers
| IN twcnty-thrcc States, first. as 60 whether
| in their churches and ncghborhoOd- there
| is any essential departure from the OLE
| teaching a. to hell; and secondly. whether
a belief in il should bc insisted on ne Il
| prerequisite 10 the ministry In ,ongr"ga
| uonal churches. II got cighty-thrrc an
| -were Ia it, circular OF inquiry. The great
majority are convinced there Is no es-cniia
| departure on tho subject. though thiitrct
are inclined TO think otherwise. There Is
| -ss-.. che ~>u,a .iinaran.., az onininn ~ I.
the second question. But how can the Con
gr,gdiionalisi reconcile the views Of the ma
jority with the action Of the North Adams
council, brought about by the efforts Of DR.
PORTER and Or. HOPKINS;
Perhaps the most interesting and sug
geetive reply came from the Row. DR.. TAY
LOR, pastor OF the Tabernacle Cungrcga
tional Church in New York. lie was broush
up in the faith Of the :, otch Prcshyterians
who do not tolerate any namly-pamhl
sentiment regarding hell, and therefore Dr
TAYLOR il very outspokon, saying.
| For myself should be disposed 10 insist on ccp
OF th- doctrine asa prerequisite g. tie ministry
| our CONGREGATIONAL churches Either there - dinel
| ence hetvcena Cnnsr, gatontl minister AMI lrive
sai-i minister there .suot II thego i not then lt
the fact be Proclaimed and some of ~ Will not long
known a. ministers u Congregational churches II Tier
is. then to install asa tongregauunAt miis"r who
Uni,"rsahsi IL he party 10 deceit ltsio he quit
whatin business would be- called the irauiul, Mt
trade mark aud oush, to he eond' mined a'di'loncst
There y no escaping the logic Of thin
His utterance proves DR.. TAYLOR 10 be
man Of honesty and conviction, who will no
fight under false colors But If he is righ
what shall We say OF DR.. PORTER and ID
| HOPKINS. who worked and voted 10 accom-
| pish Just the deceit he condemns
Take away from what il known M I'll
evangelical faith the doctrine of eternal Il
wards and punishments the bliss Of heave
for the redeemed believer, and the tortul
| Of hell for the impenitent slnncr-and yo
reduce it to fccblcnass and inconsistcnc
Its vlgor Is gone, and it has surrendered
the enemy. Yet this is what leading Con
gregationalisi ministers and professors al
doing by implication. They really do NJ
know what they believe themselves. and
, cannot be hard with young candidates f
the ministry who are honest enough 10 o
;, press the doubts their preceptors and a
vscrs are too timid 10 declare.
This question OF hell is Il very importa
one, and the Congrogationalists will bc vi
if they keep up its discussion. II there
" no hell, they might az we'll disband.
there is q hell, then let them preach it vi