The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-10-12
nEECll ER'S nELtEr.
no Announces his Withdrawal From,
w. the CONGREGATIONAL Annexation.

| H.N. tuN SbuEEtkHsbVuN NNhUC4NklOUs
New fonE, October 1.-THE autumn
meeting Of the New York and Brooklyn
Association OF Congregational Churches
was opened yesterday morning ut Park
Congregational Church, Brooklyn. Rev.
J. G. Roberts, Of Rochester Avenue
Church, oillciated Us Moderator, and Rev.
Mr.. Stiles acted as temporary Scribe.
The following Is from the Brootlyn Ea.
gle's report Of the proceedings nsla.
Rev. Mr.. Beecher, who had been assign.
cd to open discussion Of the subject ol
Spiritual Darbarism," made It the oc.
casion forannouucing his withdrawal from,
the membership Of tho Association. He
delivered an elaborate exposition Of his
belief respecting the doctrinesoi the Bible
and Christianity. lie assigned as reason
fol withdrawing from tho Association that
as Christian gentleman he could
not afford TO lay on anybody the responsi.
bili,y OF his views. He could not afford,
especially, to put the Association 10 such a
position that they were obliged 10 defend
him. He could not make them responsible
in any way, and therefore he now, here, in
the greatest love and sympathy, laid down
his membership, and should 20 forth, not
to be separated from them, but really to be
nearer them. lie should do anything for
them. He never was in warmer, personal
sympathy with them than he now was, but
lie laid down the responsibility that they
bad borne, he took it of them and put It
on himself. wi II
Mr.. Beecher explained that he made this
exposition in order 10 meet the loose gen
cral representations and misrepresentation
in respect to what he believed and taught,
He held that the view that had been pre-
scnted by Pagan and Greek barbarians,
one Of the most barbaric (that is infantile
aud ignoranO conceptions was the impas-
sivty OF Coda conception that perfection
Of character required that being should
not be susceptible to. pain OF any kind, to
sorrow or suffering. The divine heroism
must stand in the power OF God 10 suffer,
and it is the very root and force OF the
atoning life aud death Of Jesus Christ.
Right over on the other side was
another element springing from
barbaric nation. and not from an
,rsthetic, namely, that God is clothed
with human passions. Terms Of that kind
were not wanting in the Old Testament,
but men had constructed their conception
Of God from the example of their animal
inclinations and appetites, not from the
example ofthcir reasons and their moral
sense, and so we had barbarous concep-
ton, and that w.ls spiritual barbarism.
The whole view OF God, whicl, was laid
down in the Confession Of Faith Of the
Westminster School in relation to the
DEGREES, and in relation 10 the whole pro-
cess and operation OF divine grace. l
Mr.. Beechcr held that view Of the char
ac,er Of Godto stand over against the
representation OF God as made BY the
Lord Jesus Christ, as frightful gorgon
stood over Against the head
OF an Apollo in the heather
mythology. : He held it 10 be a monster
in the place OF loving master, and a mas
ter Of love. He rejected It with an impe-
tus that touched the very foundat ion Of his
soul. Then the doctrine OF mans moral
and physical inability to obey the laws Of
God he rejected. lie also rejected the rep.
rcscntations OF future punishment, which
were gross and physical, that were made
from the sensuous Roman school. He be-
lieved in future punishment; he believed
that the wholesome aud restrain ing inHu-
ence OF that doctrine has been very largely
destroyed by substituting slaughter
house notlon-a gross, carnal, corrupting
and diabolical representation Of hell, and
the suGerings Of those who were su bjected
to them. Suffering would be not bodily,
MS lie hcld-mental, according 10 tile
laws OF moral sensibilily and all
the aGections-not a machine Of
sulphur and fire, a deluge OF devils
and all manner Of annoyance epitomizud
and represented in the art OF Angeles
"I.ast Judgment" = and represented more
abonlinably and inexcusably by Cornelius
and the German school. That was bar
baric. lie regarded also the whole doc
trine Of original sin as found in the fall of
Adam as being barbaric-that is Us con-
ceptiou Of men that were as yet ignorant
and uneducated on this subject. It was
NV useu sluslC huc ia luc W1ulc bCOpc
Of instructions Of all ages Of the Old Testa-
ment. You could not find it in the Old Test
alnent You can not look through all the
teachings Of the Four Gospels and find a
single passage that, except by wide infer
ence and DEMONSTRATION, can he applied
10 it. You can fluid it only in paulinus'
writings. He accepted without analysis
the Trinity. Any attempt to divide the
functions was inutile. lie believed in a
Providence who overrules human life by
and through natural laws. Chris! was in
finite within finite limits, and taking His
| place rs a man He became subject to the
laws Of time, space and matter. He be-
ieyea fully snth;usias;ticay ;ua without q
ton, in the divinity Of Christ. Christ was
God manifest in the flesh. fss2s
Reported Negro UpriAinr. .33