The Leavenworth weekly times., 1878-03-14

atOr OF the human race In terms OF severe
criticism, and ascribes TO the Christian d lily
the attributes of a cruel tyrant."
Hr. BeechcT-'He must distinguish between
the God which the theo,Og'ans have set up
and the one portrayed IN the Scriptures. ]
hold with him, that the God as taught by
some Of the sysi ems OF theology is atrocions
beyond all power Of language TO express. i
thinI. they shock every principle Of honor
aud JusIicc, ana By just - much they are not
the pres znta,iolof & Il ia the New Testa-
mcnt."
EeIOytsT.-"Iave yoa noticed in the papers
an account OF the episode between the " idow
Van Cott and ID IngersoII, and his letter ia
reply to her epithet concerning him %
NJ. Bon, yes; he got the best of he:-
he is more adroit about such things than
she"
n Rp.-'.Eob had the last WorJ.'
NJ. B.-"Yes, she had the anger and lac
had the wit"
Reo.-"Now, in regard 10 the modified ten
dency of Christian thought, which for the
past few years has begun 10 show itseif?"
Mr.. BIT is what regard as the breaking
up of spring, swollen rivers, damaged bridges,
and ice and vaIious catastrophes, and yet, IL
is infinitely better than winter and constant
congelation. think the growth OF the hI-
man mind, The incoming of scientific knowi-
edge and scientific methods is GO l.s 20 disar-
range. TO a large extent, the old ways of look
| ing at moral truth, and there has got to be
growth gradual-not very gradual, either,
| but pretty rapid, and a restatement OF all the
erea, truths of humanity is at hand; and II
| Won do not restate thee truths, iiyou go on
/ -ltnnInuy gOlng 10
drift away from the church and leave 1t TO
copyentiona!iiIes and shams. 1t has
been the labor OF my. mind TO
Give EXPRESSION to al ideas that
would give to all denominations an express
| sion of universal consciousness of mind, so
whatever my preference may be for this
creed or that creed, that fundamental re'a'
tions .of man TO God would stand without
any hindrance by any change. or changes oi
form or statements. There is a change going
on in regard to the subject of future punish
ment not that the punishment Is stricken
out, but the kind of retribution and the pow
ers of retribution. believe that men are
getting more and more to believe that su1er'
ing is not to be eternal. / cannot conceive o.
anything that is more preposterous than the
continuation of suffering when 1t has no oth'
er end in view than suffering.
Rep,-.Then you do not believe in the doc
trine of eternal punishment:
Mr.. B-"I do not. i was long time ii
getting to that point where could feel fre'
TO say so, but ha re reached it. believe ina
men will carry out OF this lille essentially th'
dispositions in which they die, and Will pas
into auothor era, where, alter suffering ceas
es TO improve them, they will depart anu ID
annihilated, one part, but such OF 'hem a
will by further discipline be improved VII
be brought back:
RepA"Then you think portion OF then
: will be entirely annihilated."
Nj. B.-"I do not know 1t, but that Is m.
: opinion, as distinguished from the doctrin
OF Revelation. hold as a certainty that TIL
life does not terminate responsibility OF con
duct that good goes on alter death and eVi
: goes on with penalty, after DEATH"
5 Rep.-.You do not think, then. that thi
life is the only probationary term?"
Mr. B.-"No. i do not think 1t is the ON.
5 term of probation. l think there Is proDa
, tion beyond"
I Rep.-"You believe, then, that punishment
in the future will be a mental punishment!
Mr.. B.-"As flesh and blood are not TO en-
ter into the kingdom of God do not know
how the Apostle could say more plainly tina
we are not going to have bodies there TO pun
ish. think a good deal more than that, bu
il is not worth while TO say ii until 1 al
ready to say it with all its adjuncts and SUI
rouudings plainly defined"