The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-01-06
HE'LL.

i OF Rev. Hugh Miller Thompson, of Trinity
Church, with the very eloquent passages ex-
traeted from an address Of Bishop Wilmer.
which we print this morning, will SEQ that the
free-thinkng doctrines which have made such
Roadway In the North, and even invaded
Westminster Abbey, have but slight foot
hold here. Southern thought Southern So
elety, and. consequently, Christianity in the
South, clngs with fond and loving tenaeity
| to the anchor Of conservatism, and with q
stalwart faith yet resists the demoralizng In
| fluences which, in the so-ealled higher cul-
ture of the North, have almost made virtue
and honor terms of ridicue, If not OF re-
proach.
The fact, however. cannot be disguised that
there 10 n strong revolutionary tendency
amongst the Protestant sects of the world
against the orthodox traditions and theories
of the Church. Reading critically the views
so well and clearly presented. even by the
Protestant ministers of New Orleans who
our representative interviewed, we find that,
in our judgment, advanced and dangerous
ground has been taken. None Of the reverend
and honored ministers interviewed stand
resolutely by the material hell. The Bishop
OF Louisiana, whose noble and most beauti-
full sermon we print this morning. holds far
more conservative position than the others.
| without drawing the subtle distinction, inn
| possible Of comprehension by ordinary
| minds and questioned by the highest. be-
| tween the material and spiritual, he stands. a
stalwart captain Of the Prince nf Peace, de-
| livering his teachings as they were given to
his keeping. He says:
Against the universal judgment of the
Church 1t Is objected that tho eternal duration
OF future punishment Is n doctrine inconsistent
with tho infinite GODDESS of God. What oracle
have men consulted that jus lies them in this
that enables them to define the limit Of Gods
wrath and cemeney2 In searching the Book Of
Nature without the aid Of revelation there Is
quite as much to make us fear hell as to hope
for heaven
The humblest creature whom God has
blessed with intelligence will understand
these strong and glowing words. but the
deepest scholar would be lost in labyrinth
of doubt and uncertainty had they been ac-
companed by subtle disauisition upon the
difference between material and spiritual
punishment and suffering.
The venerable and venerated Archbishop |
Perche, of the Catholic Church, broadly |
af1irms the existence OF material hell that
the soul will suffer material punishment: |
that there Is real fire in hell. The Arch |
bishop affirms that the Catholic religion is |
not governed By opinion. but by faith, and |
that the Catholic must accept literally and |
trustingly the words of the Bible upon this |
subject.
Upon an entirely impartial review Of these |
opinions, it seems to us that the Catholic pre-
late holds the only impregnable fortress of
the Church against the aggressive and mex
orable philosophy of the age, which threat
ems with overthrow and ruin every idea. faith
or superstition of the past, which cannot de-
fend itself upon rigidly logical grounds
There was a rugged grandeur in the words
Of Martin Luther who, when warned not to
enter Worms, said "Were there as many
devils in Worms as there are roof tiles, /
would on. 1t Is neither safe nor prudent to do
aught against conscience. Here stand /.
cannot otherwise. God assist me. Amen"
But those stupendous words were the begin
ming of the revolt against absolute faith I'M
der the spread banners Of which philosophy
and free thought in these later days have
ranged themselves, threatening to become
The dominant powers and sweep away every
sacred or venerated creed Or superstition.
And yet could mankind have better spared
the free and enlightened philosophy which has
the mind, or that sublime and
mysterious faith whose fervor and strength
we're such that when heard in 1.-THE passion
lte voice Of one man, rugged, steel-clad
Europe trembled beneath his words and fol-
owed him whittier he listed?"
Perhaps it is too soon to answer this stu
)endous question. The imperious and icono- .
Elastic spirit, which even from the pulpit, has ,
Questioned the existence of hell and eternal
punishment will not pause with the over ,
throw of those ideas. Bishop Wilmer very {
says, 80 dispute this truth [the
doctrine of punishment is to endanger the |
whole Gospel" Strange that eminent and .
ealous ministers who have recently denied
he existence of hell have not seen the great
orce Of this truth.
If minister of the Gospel may to-day .
reach against the doctrine of hell and ever
asting punishment, why may not another |
ne next Sunday deny another doctrine Of the
'hurch, and why may not we and others I
eny the whole Christian scheme and pro-
ounce il mere system of philosophy?
1t has been denied, indeed, that the idea of c
Material hell is d fundamental doctrine of the
hurch. Be that as 1t may, 1t Is an indis-
utable fact that 1t was as much through the
error which that idea excited as the hope in .
PRED by the plan gof salvation that the I
,hurch obtained its power and wealth in the
liddle ages; and it is equally true that the [
radual emancipation of the mind from that
sarful belief has been accompanied by I
decline In the fervor of religious feel
lg, and the development Of that sentimental I
eligion which is tending to make the church i,
/ the eyes Of the ungodly a hollow mockery
III, therefore, the doctrine of hell Is about to | :
Q surrendered to the memorable philosophy
the century, we are approaching great
revolution. The Church will be !