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

about hell. You doubtless have read Of the re.
cent sermons on the subject By Canon Farrar, 1T
Westminster, London, snd Beesher, in New
York, and the object OF nay visit is to learn your
opinions on the subject
MIR. Parker--Yes, 1 have seen something Of the
sermons you refer to, but do not scoredit TO
them tho importance that seems to be given
them by the press. In the Methodist Episcopal
opinion relative to the continued duration and as
to the physical char soter of the punishment for
sin According to the tenets Of faith, on the res
direction day the body reunites with the sonl,
and both will suffer for deeds committed In the
flesh. II Is true that there has been much mod
GRAFTON In the views hitherto held. Mr.. Wesley
had the idea that at the resurrection the body
and sonl would be invested with flames and
suffer bodily papgs. Now, there lie difference as
to the duration OF this punishment. The Me,ho.
believe that emphasis is laid on the mental pun.
ishment, and not the physical.
Rsp.-lf this idea OF the non-existence OF a
hell spreads, do you not think that il will be the
cause of schisn in the church
Mr.. Pho, not that / know OF. have never
heard OF any differences OF opinion in our church
regarding this subject. 1t ia true there were
three candidates for the ministry refused admits
sion by the British Conference last summer for
not believing in the doctrine OF eternal punish
meBt, but beyond these do not know OF q case.
They are the only examples know OF OF any de-
parture 10 belief.
The Universslists now believe in the restora.
ton doctrine, think. In my thought and study
on this uhjsct, and have given much time to
it, have been forced to the conviction from the
scrptnral and philosophical coincidence that the
punishment was eternal. i do not believe, how
ever, that the heather, as was formerly be-
lieved, are condemned to eternal punishment
beoau o Of their not having become mem.
bers Of the faith. 1 think that II they acted
up to their faith the divine mercy OF God would
not permit them to be condemned.
REV. HUGH MILLER THOMPSON
was then called upon at bis reside nee, on Chest
nut street. When ushered into the capacous
dining room OF the rector Of Trinity Church, that
gentleman was absent at the Sunday school oele-
bration Of his flock. After q short delay he
arrived, however, and somewhat flushed with
his iabors he came into the rooms extending q
welcome hand TO the reporter. When questioned
about the subject of Canon Farrar's discourse anu
Beechers pronnnciarnento, he said:
II oan only say this, that had only heard OF
these by reading some excerpts from them. The
English papers read do not credit Canon Farrar
with rs strong enunoiation of these views as l
saa ,reditad 70 him. II mistake not, the Canon
came out in card sfter the publication OF the
report Of his sermon, In which he explained that
he had not gone as far as the press alleged he
had.
"The Canon in his csrd stated that he gave the
true translations from the Greek Of everlasting,
hell and damnation." Ia this perfectly agree
with him, as every scholar must. The ''gnash-
ing Of teeth" ETC., referred to In the Bible, Of
course could not refer to physical gnashing OF
teeth, for there can be no teeth In spiritual life"
Rep-Ihen you do not differ with Canon Far
rar's position2
Mr.. Thompson-He, as is shown by his card,
has not stepped beyond the boundaries of our
creed. He has excepted to the translation OF
certain words, but nothing beyond this. am of
the opinion that fu ure punishment, like that on
earth. should not follow natural laws. 1t has
come under my personal experience that men
would forget friends, family aud everything
else and sink themselves. The oonse-
quence is that they suffer oorrespondingly.
They suffer and the suffering in the other
world spiritual, will be co ordinate with that in
this 1t may be that in the revolution OF time
there may be q ret toratioD, and that those who
have suffered will be relieved from their former
position. revolution that happens in oil of
natures works may come about aud after term
OF punishment the sinner may be relieved. There
is room for some discussion on this subject how
ever.
REV, Oh. KRAMER
was called upon next and requested to give his
views regarding the subject OF material hell.
HE reverend gentleman said that the word hell
was used in the Bible in igurative sense, so far
as he belit we'd. That whether those who we're
deprived OF the presence OF God. for the sins
by them 10 this life, were to be burn
ed in q lake OF fire he was not prepared to say;
that was something he knew nothing about.
That he always looked upon the word hell as .
word to impress the living how terrible 1t was to
be deprived of the preeenOe OF God