The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-04-28
ELDER RYAN is ais own DEFENSE

what he said, and why he said II, In Re-
gard 10 Au intermediate state.
Editors lntelllgencOr.
There seems 10 be considerable Commo'
ton, in certain directions as the result Of
sermon preached in the Fourth Street
NJ. L. Church on Sunday morning last.
ain sorry, not for the sermon, bat for
some features Of the entirely unexpected
aud l still think the uncalled for "com.
notion" Us some have been pleased 10 de.
nominate 1t.
Lat first thought, Notwithstanding some
buzzing about my ears, that II was prinCi.
pally confined To a few persons and did
not amount to much, but yesterday l was
told by q good brother Of the said church,
who, TO me, manifested considerable feel
inc on the subject, that II was Bponta.
neous uprising Of the congregation to
condemn. still think he was mistaken,
for know that the condemnation was not
general. But whatif Il had been The ques.
lion with me IL, "what Ia TRUTH" Now,
do not write for those who were at Fourth
Street Church Sunday night, for they
heard what wss said, and II would perhaps
have been we'll II they had followed the
example Of the noble BefeanB. Butt have
acme dear friends In the city and out oil ~,
hppides those who were at church and
heard me, These friends read the 1NTELLt.
oENcER, and want them 10 know what the
difficulty Ia. Well, now let us candidly en-.
ouite what was the occasion OF this "spon.
taneous uprising 10 Condemn2" The
theme discussed was the condition Of the
departed between the time Of death and
the general judgment, which Bishop r.
g. Foster oil our church suggests may be q
million OF years. Now, II would be strari Q
Il any one should object TO the discussion
OF this subject when we are all 80 person.
ally and Immediately interested In II. No
one would, we presume, provided the
discussion should be on q line with their
pfeConCeived opinions. And here want
10 state for the benefit Of the honored
editor OF the tNTRLLiGRNCRR that this sub.
TACT has not been remanded by the
thoughtiul TO the domain Of the unknow.
able, as stated In his issue Of the Goth.
More has been said and written on this
subject than would all bis
ofice with books as the result.
Now tho simple position taken by us was
this, that there is an intermediate state
or place where the dead remain In q state
Of conscious enjoyment or suffering, acCor:
ding 10 their respective characters, until
the final resurrection and judgment, and
then, and not Until then, will any be ele'
waited 10 the heaven Of heavens, nor any
one be sent to pefdltion; that these states
and conditions have not been, as / Under.
stand the Scriptures to teach, and will not
be awarded Until the final judgment day, !
stated, after a lengthy introduction, that
OF course, "a understand II, no one has
ever yet been saved In heaven, and that
no one has ever yet been sent to hell.
This is The sentence which is said to have
nearly "liited the people of their seats. y
II such WAS the case did not perceive II,
for, as remember II, the people were
very quiet. neahtto say, II / did not, In
addition to the above statement, that
EnoCh and Elijah might possibly form
exceptions.
Now this is my view Of the subject, and
10 cay the least ] have right 10 II, In.
deed I value II highly, for II has cost me
something. ! believe II 10 be taught In
lie Bible and hence in hatmony with the
truth. Further, want to cay, In justihca
lion Of my position, without giving the ex
iSnSiye line Of Scripture argument, that