The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-04-14

line throughout his mediatorial reign,
and until the work of publication is
completed, and that as all are sinners
the work will continue with all, he
said and "all, good and bad, will go to
perdition," as though Thayer had so
said, and then accused Thayer in so
many words of teaching universal DAM
nation. When challenged to produce
the language or sentiments, he replied
that Thayer's opinions were suscepti.
BILE of that construction, but that he
had not noticed when reading from the
books that the language he had quoted
was not DIR. Thayer's, but the language
of one of the early Fathers, Titus of
Bostra, if the reporter understood,-a
stupid blunder,-or error.
Commenting on Mr.. Halls denial
that Universalism had ever prevailed
in the church DR.. Hanson showed
(Beecher's Hist. Ret.) that about the
time of Origen there were four theolog
ical schools teaching the doctrine of
Universalism, and but one the dogma
of endless punishment. Mr.. Hall re-
piled that in the coming centuries the
doctrine was wholly abandoned, show
ing that the reading of Gods word had
banished the doctrine. To this DIR.
Hanson replied, that the word of God
was entirely unread in those centuries
of darkness; that even the priests could
not read, that the, MSS. containing the
Bible were kept from the people by the
Catholic church, and that as soon as
the light of the Reformation dawned,
the doctrine revived, and now prevails
in the ratio of light and Christian pro-
gress.
DR.. Hanson had introduced his neg
alive by expressing his happiness to
defend the character of his Heavenly
Father from false and cruel charges;
from doctrine the worst the mind of
man had ever conceived, which, if true,
should be in every line of the Bible,
and ring in every human ear from the
cradle to the grave, and compel all who
believe it to drop all other pursuits,
and devote themselves to saving souls
from the dreadful doom. His opponent
would advocate what he himself hopes
is false. His, DIR. Hanson's task would
be the delightful one of advocating
what head and heart sanction, and the
good desire and pray for. Mr.. Hall
stands for baff1ed God, a defeated
Saviour, a triumphant devil and a
populous hell, while he, DIR. Hanson,
stands for the destruction of evil, the
overthrow of sin, an all-conquering
God and a victorious Saviour. Mr..
Hall has but to shout elimination, !"
etc., when to many ears his words will
carry conviction without proof, while
he, DR.. Hanson, must argue against
pre-conceived prejudices. But he knew
that he had the prayers Of all the good,
and they in the end would prevail.
From the Prayer of Prayers, Mr.. Hall
read that Gods Providence cannot be
changed by human prayer, as if that
had any relation to the proposition
that the Bible teaches endless punish
ment. Said, in reply to the criticism,
that he had not proved the endlessness
of the duration described by the words
he had quoted, that it was not neces-
sary; all he needed to do was to quote
the words; that if God could allow one
hour of pain in this world, it is just as
consistent with his nature to torment
eternally.
Mr.. Hall had propounded a series of
questions to Dr. Hanson which he reit-
Grated again and again, challenging
his opponent to answer them. They
were not noticed till the last session of
the debate, as they not only had moth
ing to do with either proposition, but
were vigorously designed to lead off
into irrelevant matters, conceal the
real issue, and consume time that be-
longed to the real question.
Such assertions without attempt at
proof as these abounded: If everlast-
ing ever means endless, then no one can
say it may not when applied to punish
ment; it may be fatal mistake to con-
clude that it does not mean that in any
instance when it defines punishment;
if used in reference to the future state
at all it must be endless.
On Wednesday morning Mr.. Hall
made his first serious attempt at argu-
ment by quoting from Hanson's ''Aion-
Aionios," here and there an isolated
definition of the word rendered ever
lasting, in which endless duration is
given as one meaning out of many,
ignoring the other meanings, and
emitting the key-fact, that it must
always be interpreted by the subject.
1t was shown in return that the word
rendered punishment" in Matt.
XIV. 46 (KolaSir) means to prune, such
being its meaning in the lexicons, Pla-
to, ETC., and therefore that GiOniOn pun
ishment must end in reformation. The
word relates to duration as "great'