The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1882-10-21
BEECHER's NEW DEPARTURE.
The Doctrines Of Atonemcnt and of
Hell DisayoWed.
Nov York Sun, 1lth.1

Now York Sun, l1th.l
Henry Ward Beecher astonished the
meeting Of the New York and Brook
Ign Association of Consregati onal
Churches, in the Park Congregational
Church, BrrckIyn, yesterday, by with
drawing from membership. He had
been assigned to open the discussion on
the subject Of "Spiritual Barbarism."
He said that this subject had not been
selected by him. He supposed it was
intended to open the discussion on
those forms of holding spiritual truths
which might be,called barbaric, not in
an offensive sense, but as representing
the primitive and ignorant methods
of looking upon spiritual life. But it
had occurred to him that this subject
might have been selected on account of
his expression of views in the North
American Review last August, in
which he had described some theologi-
cal doctrines as barbaric. AS this ar
ticle had led to many inquiries and
comments concerning his own theolo-
gical views, he thought this good
opportunity to state those views more
fully than he had ever done before,
especially as he had determined to
close his remarks with withdrawal
from membership in the association.
liz SilSA AS ASIt, It's d SNIAStltau gen
tleman, that it was not right for him
to lay upon any one the responsibility
of his peculiar position. His views
had not materially changed in forty
years. Although they bad developed,
the development was all on the origi-
nal lines. During that period he had
often felt that his ministerial brethren
were called upon to bear an undue
share of responsibility for him, and
now he had definitely determined not
to keep this association, or its MEM
bers, in such position, and that his
defence should be no further part of
their duty. lie believed that he should
not be any less in sympathy with
them, but rather in closer bonds Of
love. He would do anything for them
OR their churches, even more freely
and heartily than before; but it was
right that he alone should be called
upon to explain his own views and
doctrines, and that no one else should
be answerablc for them. He then
stated some views of the
nature of God, as set forth in the
Westminster Confession. He said the
eternal decree of God, as set forth, to
create large part Of men and angels
for the purpose Of eternal torment was
place of loving father. Such doc
trines he rejected with an impetus that
touched the very foundation of his
soul. The doctrine Of mans total ina
bility to obey the laws of God he also
as we'll as the gross and ply
steal representations Of future punish
ment. He believed in future punish
ment thoroughly, but he believed the
and restraining influence
of that doctrine had been largely de-
stroyed by substituting the slaughter
house notion, the gross, carnal, cor
and diabolical notion of hell.
That, he said, was barbaric.
He regarded the whole doctrine of
original sin as founded on the fall Of
Adam as barbaric. That was the con-
ception of men who were ignorant and
on the subject.
lie then proceeded to state formally
what he did believe at a much greater
length than he had stated his views of
what he did not believe. He express
cd in strong language his full belief in
a personal God, and utterly repudiated
all Pautheism, and also the theory of
Matthew Arnold that God is nothing
but tendency, mere blind power
not within ourselves. He believed, al |
though he could not pretend to explain
it, in the doctrine Of the Trinity. lie
thought he saw analogies in the high
er developments of nature. In the
lowest forms of existence everything
was single. In the higher forms not
only were mind and matter united,
but each soul included multitude of
faculties. Man had a physical nature,
and also mental, moral, and spiritual
nature more or less developed. He
saw no reason why, in the highest
range Of being, there might not be a
union composed of three persons really
district yet really one. OF course, he
said, we could not understand this, but
that did not prove that it was not true.
He made no attempt to divide the
functions, offices, and work of the
All his own thought and
faith were concentrated upon Jesus
Christ. So literally did he believe
Christ to be divine that he could not
really pray to any other being. lie
tried to pray to the Father,
but always ended by addressing his
prayer to Christ. His faith, therefore,
in the divinity of Christ was stronger
than words could express. Vet he be-
lieved that Christ, in taking the ele
mentS of human nature, became sub