The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1878-01-02
mr.. Beecher's New Religion.
New York Times.1


mr.. Beecher's New Religion.
New York Timesl
Mr.. Bsecher has definitely decided that
there is no hell. On Sunday morning last
he not only asserted this consoling doctrine
with great force of language, but solemnly
swore TO Its truth. This settles the matter;
at all events in the estimation of those who
regard Mr.. Beecher's evidence under oath as
conclusive and unimpeachable.
The sermon in which Mr.. Beecher abol-
lshes hell is in many respects very
remarkable one. 1t is, in fact, denial
OF revelation and the FORMULATION OF
a new religion, based solely upon the
private taste Of its inventors He
takes the ground that belief in the doc
trine OF the Trinity is of no sort of conse-
quence. As far as hei personally concerned,
he admits that he rather believes in the
doctrine, since it is taught in the Scriptures,
and it is hence rather easier to accept il than
to reject it. Still he calls it downright
"heathenism" TO require a belief in it as a
prerequisite to church membership. Now
1t IS clear that IL the Scriptures are revela-
ton from God any doctrine taught therein
as Mr.. Beecher assumes that the doctrine of
the Trinity is-must be OF divine origin. OF
course, he does not mean to say that when
God teaches doctrine it is of no consequence
whether we believe it or not. Hence he
must reject the theory that the Bible is a
uAN1lib ICN6ldllOil anu ludI IL dul SUPER
natural authority whatever.
Having thus abolished the inspiration of
the Scriptures. Mr.. Beecher greatly simplihes
the task of abOlishiDg hell. 1t is no longer
necessary for him to prove that the Scrip
lures do not assert the existence of hell. and
that all the supposed illusions to that I'M
pleasant place are purely figuratlve.
Whether the existence of hell is or is not
taught in the Scriptures is a matter of indif-
ference TO the Plymouth preacher. In fact,
he virtually admits that it is so taught.
Speaking of Adams fall, he remarks:
at is said that Adam sinned, and
that in consequence of that sin the
whole human race fell" Although
he does not say where this is said
but mentions it as though il were a current
rumor of unknown origin, he knows that ut
is said" in the Bible, and that no sect pro-
Tossing to recognize the inspiration of the
entire Bible dreams of denying it. Being
thus of Scriptural origin, the doctrine of the
fall and of the consequent punishment OF
sinners is. like the doctrine of the Trinity,
a matter of no sort of consequence. We can
not be required to believe either in the
Trinity, the fall, or the existence of hell,
since none of them has any better authority
than the collection of ancient writings COM
monty called the Old and New Testament.
All obstacles being thus cleared out of his
way, Mr.. Beecher rejects the doctrine OF the
existence OF hell with immense enthusiasm.
If God created hell he asserts that he is "a
monster more hideous than Satan himself"
Essentially the same remark has frequently
been made by avowed disbelievers in reyela
ton, and it has generally been stigmatZed
by pi0us people as bias 3hemy. Now that il
is reiterated by minister in good standing
in the Congregational denomination, 1t, OF
course, loses any possible faint of blasphemy,
and must be regarded as an eloquent state
r ralirrinr,c ftutb Othar lapouaUa
equally forcible. IS used by the great
preacher and il there really was a hell,
there is no doubt that out of respect to Mr..
Beecher's eloquent remarks, it would be
promptly abolished.
Unlike many other inventors of new
religion, Mr.. Beecher does not claim to have
any personal inspiration of his own. In
throwing overheard the doctrine of the
inspiration of the Bible, he does not attempt
to supply its place with new Plymouth
Bible with the word mot omitted from
the commandments. The new and only rule
of faith and practice is his private taste. lie
does not like the theory that there is hell
for the punishmento of hypocrItes, adulterers,
periurers and other criminals and accord
ineiy ne disbelieves il. In like manner, if
there is any other doctrine of Cbristiani-
ty which seems to him unpleasant
or inconvenient, he can reject IL, and can
substitute in It's place any theory OF his own
which may happen to strike his fancy. This
constitutes his new religion, one OF the
easiest and most enjoyable that has yet been
invented, and its great superiority TO Curls-
tianity will be at once recognized by all who
find themselves cramped and restrained by
the latter Fortunately, Mr.. Beecher had
not promulgated his new religion at the time
when he last occupied the witness stand in
court of law. Had it then been understood
that ne rejected Christianity, and dis
believed IN the future punish
ment of periurers it might have somewhat
affected the influence of his testimony up
tle minds of the jurors. At that time 1t
wes expressly understood that he believed
in hell and he had even asserted in one OF
his letters that he had suffered 1.-The fortunes
of the damned" That, OF course, was-like
AL the rest of his curious spondence-a
purely figurative ASSERTION Tor IL there Is no
hell no one can be damned, and no one can
sutfer tartures appropriate to the damned.
Although Mr. Beecher's religion is nov
elfy in its relation to the creed of the re
ligions body with which be is still connected,
il has often been preached by pure rational
lists. This probably explains why he has
latterly spoken with so much respect OF the
church of Rome. He has doubtless recsg-
uizsd as true the favorite nationalist proverb
that There is no half way between Rome
and Reason" He respects the Roman
Catholic church because its assumption
of infallibility makes its teachings log
ical and consistent, but he despises
orthodox professionalism because, hav.
ing rel cted an infalhble church, it still
clings 10 an infallibie book, and insists that
reason must bow to revelation. The Roman
Catholic WIN has committed adultery or
perjury or any other crime can OBTAIN abso-
luton from the priest; the nationalist sinner
need not trouble himself concerning the
consequences of his crime. since be dlsbe-
lieves in future punishment; but the ortho-
dox Protestant who commits grave crimes
suffers from the dread of hell. Mr.. Beecher
does not care 90 embrace Romani m, but he
secures peace of mind by embracing ration
alism, and there is no donbt that In so doing