Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-11-06
THE HEREsY CASE OF DR.. THOMAS.

dbtOhStOA VI VIC iAaJOiApS thiOo5hOos viz
country, very interesting and important
heresy case has developed in the Methodist
Episcopal Church, and as it is certain to
cause much discussion, and also to involve
larger considerations than appear technic-
ally to belong to it, the readers OF the
RECORD UNION must be informed concern
ing the facts. The accused is the Rev.
Dr. H. W. Thomas, for the past three
years pastor OF the Centenary NJ. f.
Church in Chicago. DR.. Thomas has been
very acceptable and popular preacher,
but his theological views have aefore now
given umbrage to his Church, and
two years ago the Rock River
Conference thought it necessary to
caution him against heretical tend
encies. This warning, however, did
not have the desired effect. DR.. Thomas
had reached his views through honest in
quiry and meditation, and being convinced
of their soundness, and not believing that
they were in conflict with the cardinal
doctrines Of his church, he not only re.
fused to give them up. but when, on the
10th OF October, he preached his farewell
sermon in Centenary Church, he took the
occasion to formulate his advanced views
in the most explicit manner, and practl
cally flung down an unavoidable challenge
to the church. The points on which Dr.
Thomas differs from the old fashioned
Methodist theologians are, the nature OF
the Atonement, the duration of future
punishment, and the plenary inspiration
of the Bible. His views on all these ques-
lions are by no means what can be
called radical, and III comparison with
many which have been candidly
avowed of late years they are
really conservative and timid. 1t is the
more necessary to realize this, because it
adds greatly to the significance of the
pending charges of heresy preferred against
the doctor. The sermon in which his con-
fession of faith was made was a very noble
and manly one, and we only regret that
we have not the space to publish 1t in full.
The moderation of the doctors express
sions, however, may be gathered from
few extracts on the principal points of con-
tention. For example, he says "Now
" take the doctrine of the Atonement /
''believe it. But do not believe the old
s'penal butcher theory of the Atonement,
siwhere you make Jesus Christ sinner,
land punish him for sin, and execute the
''penalty of broken law upon man who
had never broken it, In order that those
''who had broken it could be pardoned.
"To me such theory simply distorts,
Z. overthrows and undermines the very
root-ideas of justice and morality.
g believe in Gods great moral government
over men, and 1 believe He came forth
g in Jesus Christ that ne might further the
ends of that government and bring peace
and harmony among all His children as
g far as may be after the law but I do
mot believe that any penalty was ever
executed upon the innocent Jesus Christ.
In regard to the doctrine of Eternal Pun
ishment, he said that he fully believed in
punishment after death for men who die in
their sins. He believed also that the law
which Furnishes sin is essentially eternal.
But he said 81 do not believe the old
literal, terrible ideas of hell-fre, in
ar e
shall be consciously tortured forever. L do
" not see how any man of good sense can
believe it in this day" He then frankly
declared that he could not accept the
views of John Wesley on this sub
jeet, and he added, 81 pity the
q church if that is the theology we are
'''to have in the future years. He
could not look upon such belief without
repulsion. :" | tell you, my friends. he
proceeded, such an idea negates the
s. thought of God. With the picture
" before you of vast numbers of those who
" lived on this earth, men and women,
forever suffering in such torment, you
''cannot think of God, because to think of
'' God you must think of superior good
"ness, OF superior excellence, Of unfair
"nished justice, of everlasting mercy and
sspure love. You cannot think of God |
''when you think of any being that is not
50 as good as your highest ideal makes Him.
" And no man can look upon such pic
"ture as that and not feel that somehow
''God ought to have done better. tell
I" you that if I believed that doctrine
II should never smile again. If
81 believed it 1 could wish that l
g had never been born. If believed it | |
"could wish that the race might perish
" from the face of the earth. Ii l believed |
{" it l could wish that star after star might
"pale its light till the heavens were yelled |
in utter darkness. II l believed it
" could wish that God Himself were ami
Inflated" This remuneration of the hell
FIRE theory of Wesley and Watson is re-
markable for its energy and intensity OF
conviction. In fact there is a liberal
sweep in it suggestive of Colonel Ingersoll.
Doubtless it was more emphatic because
the doctor was conscious that modern
thought, even in the Church, leans more
and more strongly in his direction.
The third point on which he declared
his difference from the Church was the
theory of plenary inspiration Of the Bible
He stated by way of preface that he be-
lieved that the Holy Scriptures contain
"all that is essential for salvation, so that
''whateyer is not taught therein, or can
mot be proved thereby, should not be re-
sgarded of any account. believe that.
81 believe that God has spoken to us in
"the Holy Scriptures. 1 believe they con-
"tain revelation of His villa clear,
"unequivocal law of human duty. be.
"lieve it. l believe implicitly in the
teachings of Jesus Christ. don't sup
"pose that in ali instances we have the
"exact words in which the Savior spoke.
But do suppose and believe this, that
'we have the consensus or substance