The Benton weekly record. [volume] (Benton, Mont.) 1880-1885, 1882-10-26


Christ. So literally did he believe Christ
to be divine that he could not really pray
to any other being. He sometimes trie(
to pray to the Father, but always ended
by addressing his prayer to Christ. His
faith, therefore, in The divinity of Chris
was stronger than words could express
Yet he believed that Christ, in taking the
elements Of hurAan nature, became sub.
ject to all the laws that govern man; that
lie ren0unced hot only external glory, but
also the knowledge and wisdom which He
otherwise had; that when Christ was 4
child He had only the knowledgeofa child
and grew in knowledge as literally AS De
gre" in stature. His belief in the abso-
lute divinity Of Chlisr Law at the fouulla-
tion Of all his creed
lie also believed III divine Providence.
both general and special. He believed iii
answer to prayer. He thought there were
millions Of prayers that were not answer
ed, because they ought not to be; but that
millions Of prayers were answered. not
merely by reaction upon the soul Of the
person praying, but in other Ways He
believed in miracles, because he belle vet
that they were just us possible to-day as
I they ever had been il only the same cir
cHmstances should happen. He emphatic-
ally believed in the two great miracles Of
the New Testament. the miraculous con-
ceptiou and The resurrection Of Jesus Christ
! lie thought there was nothing in all these
things that was inconsistent with science
OF philosophy. lie had always been ac-
customed to keep up with the state of
science in its Developments, and he ac-
cepted it cordially; nor did it ever disturb
his faith in these fundamental things, al
though it increased his want of faith in
some Of the old formal interpretations and
creeds. lie then passed to the inspiration
Of the Bible, concerning which, he said that
he could accept almost every word con-
tanned in the Confessions Of the American
Presbyterian Church. The inspiration
there stated WIS not that of the book, but
that q, the men who wrote the book. He
did not believe in verbal inspiration, but
he believed in the direct influence ofGod
upon the souls Of men who wrote the
different books of the Bible, although in
very different degrees.
Thus FAR 3Ir. DeecI1er proceeded without
Interruption, but when he passed TO the
subject Of the atOnementhe was interrupt
..l 1s-i+i, w K
his statement upon the whole was that he
did not believe in the theory OF suhstitu-
tion, OF in the doctrine that all punishment !.
which belonged to the human race or any
part of was concentrated upon the head
Of Christ. lie held that human souls may /
only be saved through suffering, and that
Christ, as the representative Of the divine /
nature Oh earth, suffered beyond all others
for the sake Of men, and as an exhibition |
Of The eternal love Of God and Of Gods
willingness to suffer Ill order to save men
This part of his statement appeared to
give the least satisfaction to the associa-
ton, although several members expressed
their approval. He closed with few
words on the subject Of future punishment,
repeating in substance what he had said |
before. He then formally bade the associ=
alton farewell. assuring the members Of
his continued love and Of his belief that /
they would not be separated from him in
heart or in sympathy, and that they and
he probably could work together in more
harmony without having any
special ecclesiastical relation.
Mr.. Lloyd offered a resolution request
ing Mr. Beecher to reconsider his with
drawal, which was referred by unanimous
to q committee consisting of DR.,
II. NJ. Storrs and the Rev. g. W. Stiles.
Thos. g. Shearman, one Of the lay dele
gates Of Plymouth Church to the associa-
ton, said last night when asked concern
ing the significance Of this step of his
pastor:
"Plymouth Church does not withdraw
from the association. This is only Mr.
Beecher's withdral of his personal MEM
bership. He is not delegated by the church
and is not necessarily aInember on account
Of his ministerial office. He has belonged
to this association thirty years. Several
ether ministers, members of the associa-
ton. are IN spiritual sympathy with him.
The denomination permits its minister per
feet liberty in this matter. Some minis
ters do NOT belong to any association. Some
belong to Presbyterian associations. Mr..
Beecher's chief difference Of views is with
reference to the doctrines Of the atonement
and Of future punishment. Ii il nou
agreed that minister. Is not to beeScndesl
from the pastorate Of d Congregational
church BY reason of holding these views !
of future punishment. That las been de-
eided by two Councils, one i'll Connecticut
and the other i'll Illinois representing fifty
churches. 1t was unanimously held that
such views are not 4 ground for refusing
fellowship to- church or it's pastor. Among
-he Congregational ministers whose faith
S similar to AIR. Beecher's are the Rev.
Newman 5myth, of New Haven, the sue
Of DR.. r.Leonard Bacon, and the Rev.
John nj. Wilton Of Newark. have no
,easOn to think that Mr.. Beeeher's express
sion Of lis views will create any dissension
II Plymouth Church. lie has expressed
pretty much the same views 1T various
lines iii detail, although never all lit one