Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1878-01-31
[CoMMUNICAIEp
***** CHARLES Co.. Jan. 20, 1878.

***** CHARLES Co., Jan. 20. 1878.
To the Editor Of the Independent.
As proposed, in former letter, to OBJ
trude myself upon your further notice, in
case of Frightening of my sunless skies
you will reasonably receive this as the her
aid of that happy event. But you are once
again the victim of disappointment, as l
still am of social tnartyrdom
| have no racy gossip wherewith to re-
gale your genial temper, no scenes Of merry
delight, or serene enjoyment to excite the
envy of the selfish Were to wait for
topics Of local interest in this arctic. region
of sepulehral quiet the Millennium would
find me still in waiting. fear this adverse
situation will necessitate painful action on
the part of your unfortunate correspondent
am seriously thinking of petitioning the
Legislature for a change Of name as under
present circumstances it cannot indicate my
calling as my worthy and beloved sponsors
guaranteed it should But | will do my
uttermost to sustain the sacred confidence Of
my pious sureties, and if can't fluid mate
rial at home for my vocation, will look a
broad in search of it.
Upon review of the various subjects
now claiming public attention, it will hard
ly be denied that two, among many Others
are traught with serious interest to society.
individually and collectively, aud one Of
them to the concerns, not this world but
OF that to come. IL is equally clear that
they are falling to enlist that consideration
which their Importance demands. AS coun-
try newspapers generally seem by their 81
lcnce, to overlook or underrate their signi-
ticance, | have thought that brief refer
ence thereto might not be unintercstng to
your readers. | allude to the new theories.
lately pronounced, respecting future pun
lshment, and now agitatng the christian
world; and the old familiar, irrcpressible,
aggressive bugbear- woman suffrage
Several clergymen of great eminence and
! influence have recently startled the churches
by denial of the ancient and universal
| christian doctrine of hell Notable am ne
these is Henry Ward Beecher, who, while
admitting retribution for the finally inpen-
ltent ignores the existence of eternal pun
isdment. What the degree, character and
duration Of the punishment may be, he seems
not prepared to say being unable to satisfy
his mind upon this dread subject He i
certain, however, there is no hell Another
large luminary of the church, Canon Farrar,
of Westminster, comedies with him on this
point. Indeed, he is more outspoken and
positive in his avowal OF belief than Beech
er. This bold Engishman declares from
his pulpit that he does not hesitate, nor fear,
to stand in the presence Of God and the an
gels, and deny that there are such words as
hell, elimination" aud eternity in the
Bible; and that the revsorS who have been
appointed to give new version Of the scrip
lures will not do their duty if they permit
these words to stand. Such public, almost
defiant utterances, coming as they do from
such IA voluminous and learned author. pro-
found scholar and eminent philologist should
not be lightly passed over or derded.
Some difficulty lately occurred somewhere
IN the North concerning the appointment.
to pastorate of a clergyman wlo mad been
charged with heterodoxy in disputing the
wholesome, and popular. and highly cher
isded, and benign doctrine of hell BY
way of settling the matter, circulars were
addressed to a large number of ministers
requesting their opinions upon this terrible
subject. A large number answered in true
orthodox style, no doubt deriving much
satisfaction from the contemplation of the
prospective torments of so many of their
friends and acqulintances of the rest,
some sent eyasive answers and the remain
der kept silence. These last have been
pronounced wisely. silent Placing them
among the heterodox party, as We are bouni
to do, and admitting the wisdom Of thsir
silence, which we are not bound TO do, We
are left to guess in what this wisdom con-
slsts. Perhaps they fear the influence of
the new doctrine upon ecclesiastical repose
aud harmony. or upon their own influence
and exatation among their followers, or the
effect of its open espousal upon profession
al character and consequently upon their
worldly prosperity and this last IS likely
the true conjecture. But no matter what
reasons may be given for their silent wis
dom, little can be said for the morality
of their retcence If they publicly preach
doctrine while they inwardly ignore its
truth. they are arrant hypocrites and i'm
positors Truth and candor, to say nothing
of pioty demand that they proclaim the
faith that is in them, whatever il he and
if their followers judge it false and hereti-
cal. let them Step down and out" aban-
don their mission, and pursue some calling
that does not violate their conscience.
But what is TO be the result of this new
departureY' The various innovations that
have been, for several years, crowding upon
long and established principles Of reli-
gion and ethics, aud the calterdinarian O.
pinion now so widely and freely promugl l.
ted, seem to indicate probably rapid spread
of this new tenet, and any that may follow
it. It is this tendency which invests this
bold movement with such signal interest.
1t is painful to contemplate the up-rootiag
and destruction of firmly fixed institutions
which have been hallowed by time and sane
titled by universal adoption. 1t is more
painful still to reflect upon the fearful scenes
OF discord. fury and hate which must ac-
Il III