The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-03-16

A CORRESPONDENT writes to the N. Y.
EUen''ag Post touching the views re-
ported in that paper of the Rev Morgan
Dix and Rev. Heber Newton with regard
to future punishment. Mr.. Newton.
when he was interviewed by the reporter
for the Post, represented that eternal
punishment is not doctrine of the Epis-
copal Church, and stated that "half the
ministers in it in the United States could
preach good Universalist sermons next
Sunday without being called to account
by an ecclesiastical court or interfered
with In any way" Commenting on this,
the correspondent of the Post writes:
1t evident that you labor under the impress
sion that the Episcopal Church. like MANY of
the denominations around her, is based upon the
views and opinions of the clergy forming her as
ISOLATION, and that therefore the notions and
theories of those holding prominent positions
show the tone of the body. This is a funda-
mental error. The Episcopal Church is an his
torlc BODY; She possesses creeds, lturgies, for
mulas and standards of religious TEACHING
These tell her doctrine; these show her views
1t is matter of no moment what few indiyid-
uals may doubt or deny so long as YOU find the
contrary contained in her doctrines One of the
individuals referred to, when asked by your re-
porter that most pertinent (albeit impertinenO
question, how he reconciled his position in the
Episcopal Church with such teaching" endeav
ored to show the entire freedom by which he
found himself able to teach what he pleased he
cause Che declared) the Episcopal Church had no
dogma" concerning it.
Three times week he is directed by the ru
brio to pray " from Thy wrath and everlasting
damnation Good Lord deliver usr' Whenever
ne Is called upon to visit prisoner in sudden
danger of death, he is hidden to pray that il
may be to Thy unspeakable glory that Thou
hast redeemed the soul of this Thy servant from
eternal death and hast made him a partaker of
everlasting life" Whenever he stands beside
an open grave. and commits a body to the
ground, he must say these solemn words: "Yet.
. Lord God most holy, o Lord most mighty, o
holy and most merciful Saviour deliver MS not
into the bitter pains of eternal death |" If he
fulfil his duty and diligently teaches his parish
children what they must know and believe for
their souls health" in the catechism. he must
have them learn that they desire their Lord
God to keep them from sin and wickedness-
their spiritual enemy and everlasting death"
And, that we may know Just what is meant bv
everlasting death and eternal damnaton. this
church teaches the minister, if he have the sad
need TO visit condemned criminal waiting for
death, he must warn such that, if he be impeni-
tent, after you have finished the course of n
sinful and miserable life the Judge shall saw
with terrible voice of most Just Judgment to
the wicked, Go ye accursed into the fire ever
lasting, prepared for the devil and his angels"
Nor is this all, for in the American prayer book
every master and mistress of family is hidden
to pray with their dependents daily. above
all keep in our minds lively remembrance of
that great day in which we must give strict
account of all our thoughts, words, and actions
and according to the deeds done in the BODY be
eeternally rewarded or punished by Him, whom"
&C.
Let it be observed that all this doctrine and
teaching-as well as above a score of other pas
s;ages implying the same thiDg-is the doctrine
that has been taught in this church more than
thousand years. Before ever Calvin was born or
thought Of the Athanasian creed so called in the
mother church, gave its stern and uncompromis-
ing warning concerning the faith which, un-
less man keeps whole and undefiled, he shall
without doubt perish everlastinely," most plain
ly defining that to be the doctrine that "tbe evil
60. away into everlasting fire, the good shall 90
into everlasting life"