The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-05-21
BEECHER AND BLAZES.


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BEECHER AND BLAZES.
uen,x nj Henry ward Reecher to Crit.
cism of HIS View of Endless Punish-
ment.
Mr.. Beecher was interviewed on the hell
question by reporter of the New York
Herald the other day, when he reiterated the
views expressed in his famous sermon on
"The Background of History" and said: IL
think there will be temporary rousing up
and preaching of the old-fashioned doctrine
by many clergymen and a judicious silence
by even many more. But 1T must be borne In
mind that no system OF questions and letters
sent out by religious newspapers, will ever be
able to reveal the secret thoughts OF men.
The changes that are going on. quietly but
surely. are not yet ripe. | think that men
are falling off from the, old doctrines without
seeing their way clear to replace them with
new. But that which regard with peculiar
hopefulness Is the application OF the best
resources Of sacred learning to re-examina-
tion OF the scriptures, and to an examination
from the Psychologist statement OF the whole
question OF sin, of penalty and OF destiny.
. We have not yet heard from the thinkers
0Q.--Do you Intend to enter yourself more
fully into this CONTROVERSY
Mr. Beecher-I do not intend to become
controversalists, and yet in due time, in
tend to givea further and more elaborate pre-
sentation Of the fruits of my thought than
have ever yet done. am In no haste; the
question ID too vast to be settled in day.
There is more light to break forth out OF the
word of God than men believe. The night ls
!, far spent, the day is at hand and the
watchers can afford to wait patiently for the
full glory OF the Sun OF Righteousness. which
shall come "with healing In Its beams"
Q.-Do you regard your position as pract1,,
cally severing you from the Congregational
denomination?
Mr.. Beecher-That is a question which is
~ lat md nph M IN "
thy Is with 1t, and | individually hold the
body Of doctrines that belongs to the Con-
gregational churches of the world; and !
claim that no doctrine Is fundamental, except
that which Ia fundamental to the formation
of Christian character. man may set aside
a doctrine that is fundamental to q system,
and hold that he ought to have liberty to do
SO. There are many doctrines as stated ny
Calvinistic minister's reject, and yet they are
in communion with the orthodox Calvinistic
churches, II I denied the fact OF SIN
or the desert OF sin; Ii denied the
conceive that men might regard my further
connection with Congregational associations
g inexpedient But as to the doctrine OF sin
tAlness and its desert, the need OF regeDera-
tarist, and the efficacy Of the Holy Ghost,
;a more orthodox than most orthodox men
lie habit OF my life has been to put emphasis
uIbn those views which had an educating
faIbe ana an Immaculate fu1lueDCe upon lut
la and conduct of men. 1 am preacher of
liiAto life, and Judge of things. by their edu-
ca Ag influence. | have never been builder
OF ABSTRACT systems; ] have never been in
with doctrines In their logical rela-
Llossio system. although have been educa-
ted In that way, and have full appreciation
of It, The life force of truth has always
been that which has had influence upon man,
kind. 1t is to be hoped that neither personal
feeling nor sectarian and partisan influence
will be allowed to muddy the clear stream OF
discussion that will soon begin to How. The
subject Is one OF tremendous Importance; 1t
ought to have the best Judgment and the best
scholarship of the best men, undisturbed by
anger or hatred, or jealousy: There are al
ready in press books that will give to the pub
lie great food for reflection and there are
others preparing. / believe, however, That
God in His providence Is raising up great
moral Influences in the world at large, which
will give to another generation higher
standpoint, clearer vision and sounder be-
Q-How would you classify the views or
the subject Of future destiny that are gen
ers NJ. h Beeoher-rhere are the humiliation
lists, the restorationists, the Uniyersalists
and the two forms OF orthodoxy. me ann
ture immortal; that all men perish except
those whom Christ gives, through faith II
Him, the gift of eternal life. The restora
tionists believe In an indefinite degree OF ais
clDl1DhTy Suli6IHlR III OHG oohSA Ah'f -
the end, will be blessed In the restoration
all souls to purity and heaven. The univer
salists hold that at death the spiritual condi
lions which meet the outgoing. soul are sucf
as entirely to transform it and bring it into
q new sphere of life and peace. The ortho
dox of the old school believe ia the eternity,
conscious suffering on the part OF the linaliI
impenitent. That there is large section Q
orthodox who hold the belief that probatloi
does not cease at death, but that, further thal
this, whether it is the annihilatlon OF SOM
and the restoration of some they 90 not un
dertake to say; it is point on which no llgh
has been thrown by scripture. they may D.
said to teach that men will suffer as long a
they sin, but they do not feel at liberty to sa.
that men will sin forever; they hold that tn
New Testament teaches, certainly, no sue
doctrine as that men will continue to SIN 1oI
ever who go out from this life impenitent Sin
ners
Q.-Have you observed that many good me
have expressed themselves AS shocked at tn
irreverence OF many passages In your sermo
on the Background of History?
Mr.. Beecher-That which is irreverent t
one man Is not irreverent to another: Cel
tainly my spirit was not irreverent. The II
tensity of the expressions was but falr
measure of the intensity OF my feelings, an
the whole drift OF the sermon, as well as tn
whole drift Of my nature, was TO magnify, an
not to minify, moral influences TO present
the hearts of men more glorious and ne
less influential view OF the divine nature an
divine administration.
Johnny on snakes.