The People's vindicator., 1878-01-26
THE DOCTRINE OF HE'LL
Opinions of Some of Our Eminent Di.
vines on the Subject.
Y q DnmOcr,t

The sensation produced by Beccler's
sermon in which he virtually druicl the
inspiration of the Scriptures. the doctrine
of the Trinity, and the belief in literal
hell. has reached this city, as we'll as
others throughout the country. Beccher's
sermon itself has Not made a very pro-
found impression, because, as it appears,
he enjoys but poor rcrutc as a thclogian,
and his views are but LITTLE respected by
hoctrinarians. But the Individual views
held by the number of c,ergymen of vari-
ous denominations, as reported in the y.
Y. Herald. have produced " decided SEN
sation. 1t is q matter ofsurpriSr to many
that from among so many divines there
should be but one who referred the mat
ter entirely to the accepted theology Of
his denomination. The interest manfrs-
ted in the matter has induced us to call
upon several of the more eminent of the
clergy of the various denominations Of
this city for an expression of their views
upon the disputed doctrine, the result of
which we give below 1t will he seen
that cur clergy, as a rule. stick to the or
thodox teachings of their various denom-
nations.
Our first visit was paid to
HIS GRACE ARCHBISHOP PERCHE.
We found the reverend prelatc in his
rooms at the archbishopric, at the corner
of Chartrcs and St. Ann streets. and wore
received by him with his usual courtly
atfability of manner, which combines the
prince in the church, the christian before
his fellow men ami the gentleman Of the
world.
Without many prclimnarics we stated
to bis grace that he object of our visit
was purely journalistic, and asked wheth-
er he had any objections to giving his
ideas on the delicate question of eternal
punishment by fire which is now agita.
ting the intelligent and 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 divines and theologians, con.
cured in denial of eternal punishment
by material fire, some of them going even
so far as
To DO AWAY ENTIRELY WITH HELt
ITO tell you the TRUTH" answered his
grace, "though these publications have
come to my notice, have paid very little
attention and attached small Importance
to them. You see, these are only express
sioDs of opinions from mon. The Protes-
tant sccts, with their liberty of conscience
and of interpolation, have done away
with faith, and their sayings have simply
the weight Of individual opinions Opin-
ions, as you we'll know, vary according to
different natures, tendencies, characters
and idiosyncracies, A man may honestly
change his opinion, bnt faith is one, un.
changeable aud eternal. The Catholic
Church is not governed by opinions, it is
governed by faith. can, therefore only
tell You about the subject on hand, that
l believe all that the Catholic Church
teaches, and that its teachings agree not
only with Holy Scripture but with the
doctrine of true philosophy. No sincere
Catholic doubts that there is material
rs well as All immaterial punishment in
hell.
The human being is made up of mate
rial and immaterial parts, the body and
the so, ]; 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 in
evitably brings us to the conclusion O.
the necessity of material punishment
God, it is true, may so Ordain in His inf
nate wisdom that, until the end of th(
world and the day of resurrection tht
soul will be made to suffer alone, but i
will experience material suffering. j
may appear paradoxical to say that a,
immaterlal body should suffer materially
but, after all, is it not during life the sou
that receives impressions, that perceiye'
them; does it not experience Joy from ;
caress, or shame and anger from blow
| Upon the question Of a belief i'll rea
fire in hell, his grace stated that ther'
was not doubt, unless we deny th'
words of our Lord Jesus Christ bimself
The Saviour spoke of an eternal fire.
and it would be wilful and unauthori
zed miSconstruction of his words not to in
terprit them as he evidently meant them
literally. What That fire is there is NJ
basis upon which to fix theory, but tha
1t is material fire there is no doubt.
We would have liked to stay longe
ana enjoy the interesting conversation 0
the Archbishop, but many people wer,
calling upou him and we hal to with
draw.
REV. B. NJ. PALMER.
y DR.. b. N. Palmer, was at ten when cal