The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-01-01
TINE DOCTRINE or HELL.
Opinions Of some Of our Eminent Divines
ON the subject.

The sensation produced by Beecher's sermon.
in which he virtually denied the inspiration OF
The Scriptures, the doctrine OF the Trinity, and
the belief In literal hell. has reached this city,
ss we'll as others throughout the country.
Beeehsr's sermon itself has not made very
profound impression, because. as 1t appears, he
enjoys but poor repute as q theologian. and his
views are but little respected by doctrinarians.
But the individual views held by the number Of
clergymen of various denominations. as reported
In the New York Herald, have produced q de.
cided sensation. Il is a matter of surprise to
many that from among 80 many divnes there
should be but one who referred the matter
entirely to the accepted theology Of bis denomi-
nation. The interest manifested in the matter
has induced ne to call upon several OF the more
eminent OF the clergy Of the various denomi-
nations Of this city for an expression of their
views upon the disputed doctrine, the result OF
which We give kele#- Il will be seen that our
clergy, as q rule, stick to the orthodox teachings
OF their various denominations.
Our arst visit was paid 10
MS GRACE ARoHBIsHop rERoHE.
We found the reverend preate In his rooms at
the archbshoprio. at the corner OF Ohsrtres and
st. Ann streets, and we're received by him with
his usual eonrtly sffsbility of manner, which COM
bines the prince In the church, the christian be-
fore his fellow men aud the gentlemen Of the
world.
grace that the object of our visit was purely
Journalistic, and asked whether he had any office.
ton TO giving his ide the delicate sues Of
eternal punishmt nt by fire ~hchis now agitating
the intelligent aud religious world. Finding no
objection to this we inquired whether he had
read the various articles that have been lately
published in the Northern. Western and European
papers, all OF which, the expressions OF thought
OF eminent dvines and theologians concurred in
denial OF eternal punishment by material fire,
some Of them going even so far as
TO DO AWAY ENTIRELY WITH HE'LL.
'sTo tell you the TRUTH" answered his grace,
s'thoueh these publications have come TO my no
tice, have paid very little attention and at
tached small Importance to them. You see,
these are only expressions of opinions from men.
The Protestant scots, with their liberty OF con-
science and Of interpretation have done away
with faith, and their sayings have simply the
weight of individual opinions. Opinions, az you
we'll know, vary according to different natures,
tendencies, characters and idiosy noraces. man
may honestly change his opinions. but faith 10 one.
Interchangeable and eternal The Catholic Church
y not governed BY opinions. Il is governed by
subject on hand, that believe oil that the Catho-
Lilo Church teaches and that Ito teachings agree
not only with Holy Scripture but with the doc.
trnes Of true philosophy. No sincere Catholic
doubts that there is material AZ well 30 an i'm
material punishment In hell.
The human being ID made up OF material
and immaterial parts, the body and the soul;
both live and sin together. Death is but the |
separation Of the two. 1t is. therefore, logical
that both should be punished in the hereafter, |
and this inevitably brings us to the conclusion OF
the necessity OF material punishment, God, it is |
true, may 30 ordain in His infinite wisdom that, |
until the end OF the world and the day of resur-
reoton the soul will be made TO suffer Alone butt
oil unta al 1 MAY m
pear paraaoxical to say that an immaterial body
should suffer materially; but. after all, Is 1t not
during life the soul that receives Impressions, that
perceives them; does 1t not experience JOY from |
4 caress, or shame or anger from blowP
Upon the question OF the belief in real fire In |
hell, his grace stated that there was not doubt,
unless We deny the words of our Lord Jesus |
Christ himself. The Saviour spoke OF an
seternal FIRE" and II would be wilful and unau-
thorized misconstruction OF his words not TO in
terpret them, as he evidently meant them. liter |
ally. What that fire is there Is no basis upon |
which to fix theory, but that 1t Ia material fire
THERE NO DOUBT.
We would have liked to stay longer and enjoy the |
Interesting conversation OF the Archbishop, but |
many people were calling upon him aud we had
TO withdraw.
REV. b. M. PALMER.
DR.. b. III. Palmer was at tea when called upon,
and had but few moments to spare, having
other engagements for the evening. He had
mon, and was very much astonished at the sen-
sation that had been created by it. aud. indeed,
that any general Importance should be attached
TO his utterances. As n theologian he was of
very bad repute, and his opinions were Of no
weight whatever. DIR. Palmet's attention WAS
then called to the interview with DIR. Arthur Cros-
by, OF the New York Presbyterian Church, as
reported in the Herald, in which he avowed be-
lief in place and condition Of punishment for
incorrigible sinners in q future life. but
could not conceive of eternal punish
ment, except on the basis OF eternal
SHINING. Said Dr. Crosby, III soul does not
sin eternally. IL should not, and would not, be
punished eternally. There are opportunities for
SHINING and repentipg in the future life rs there
are in this. Otherwise he could not see the ne.
cessty for continuous or eternal punishment"
Commenting upon this, DR.. Palmer said that
DIR. Crosby had always been known to entertain
very singular views. There Was much that was
subject 10 criticism in his "Lite OF Christ" In
deed, this very lsxity, great deal Of which pre-
the sole cause OF the failure to re. unite the
Northern and Southern Churches. Such doctrine
would not be tolerated among Southern Presby-
terians.
But, continued he, this denial Of future eternal
punishment is no new heresy. With reference
90 the statement OF DR.. Farrar. canon of West
minister. that the words "dsmnation,' HELL"
and Everlasting" were mistranslatous, and with
these words erased from the English Bible
there would be no basis for the popular teachings
about hell, DR.. Palmer said, producing his Greek
Testament aud turning to Matthew, XIV. chap
ter, 46th verse, that he could not agree with the
Canon. II the Greek word there used did not
signify everlasting, eternal, there no word to
express that idea in the language. Reading the
above verse, which is as follows: "And these
shall 90 away into everlasting punishment, but
the righteous into life eternal /" the reverend doc
cor said this verse, following after the two para
bles Of the ten virgins aud the talents, and the
splendid description Of the last judgment, can
have but one meaning. Those who deny ever
lasting punishment must also necessarily deny
the life eternal, brought, as they are here, in
The conclusion ia inevitable, and
il is absolute aDniailation. He. himself. was
pure Oalvinist. and held to the creed Of the
fathers.
REV. LINUS PARKER,
Of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, was
next called upon. mir. Parker, who is man OF
81 b,s editorial desk in the rooms VI the New Or
cans Christian Aduocdte He greeted the rep
resentatiye OF The DEMOCRAT kindly and invited