The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-04-21


were proved, as for example: Univer-
salism is doctrine of differences, with
out one positive text to sustain it; it
cannot get along without re-translating
the Bible; makes the Bible poor book;
its originators century ago were dis
reputable men, Kelley, Murray, Win
chester; if true, it is no profit to believe
it; its advocates do not agree; it makes
the Bible an unmeaning book; debases
the character of Jesus; makes saliva
ton joke; if true Christ died in vain;
gave a slurring reference to the Win
chester Profession; said the doctrine
has no mercy; makes God have but one
attribute, love; denies the words of the
Bible, the resurrection of the body, sub
stitution for sinner, etc. This eructa-
ton was evidently reserved to the
last so that it could not be treated at
length. Denying the slanderous &C
cusations given with no attempt at
proof, DR.. Hanson characterized the
effort as false and vile outpouring, and
said he could have added nothing more
helpful to his own cause than such
wholly irrelevant TRADE. He would
use the words of the Quaker to the pro-
fame swearer: "That's right, friend,
get all that out of thee, for thee'll
never get to heaven with any of it in
theel"
DR.. Hanson's last affirmative argu-
ment was based on Gods Universal
Fdtherhood, which was not completed
when his time had so far expired
that he was compelled to hasten to the
summing up of his affirmative. He
had, however, established this position
so far as to show that man is Gods
child by being created in his image,
and so deriving his heredity from him.
Gen. j. 26; that as late as the apostles
time men were still constituted in
Gods image, James iii. 8; that there is
straight line from any man back to
God through adam, who was the Son
of God" Matt. iii. %; that all are
Gods offspring, Acts xvii. 26; that God
is the father of all spirits. Heb. xii. 8;
and the father of mankind. Matt.
xiii. 1; and that even the vile prodigal
down among the swine and husks is
still the child of the infinite Father;
and that every human being is under
perpetual obligation to pray "Our
Father" which he would not be re-
quired to do unless God we're actually
the Father of all. When men forget
their relation to God he is always mind
full Of it, and will ever say to the sin
ner, "My son, give me thine heart, !"
until the divine call is obeyed. All
that God does Or ever will do is as a
Father. He then summed up the
affirmative argument, and closed by
wishing his opponent the unspeakable
joy for accepting the faith he now OPP
poses, thanking the moderators for
their uniform courtesy and kindness,
and specially expressing his gratitude
to the large crowd, chiefly of those who
did not accept his views, and yet who
listened with candor and courtesy. 1t
was what he had been led to expect
from the people of Tennessee, and
such generosity on their part made him
more than ever anxious that such men
and women might enjoy the precious
truth he advocated. Most of all he re-
joiced in parting that however their
paths might diverge they will at last
lead to where, when days and years are
past, we all shall meet in heaven.
Mr.. Halls last summed up the dis
cussion, alleging that he had formu-
lated al overwhelming affirmative that
had not been noticed; that he had dem
onstrated the endlessness of punish
ment by an argument that had not been
weakened, and that he had followed
his opponent step by step, and fully
exploded all his positions. He then
rung the changes on his pet words,
repeating what had been ground to
powder, and in a whirlwind of noise ex-
horted and denounced, without coher-
ency, and with no argument, those who
differed from him, informing his audi
ence, at the climax of his TRADE, that
his opponent was in the condition of
the circus parrot, which, blown up by a
keg of gunpowder on which he was
roosting, inquired: "What in the devil
is coming next?" 1t was pitiful ex-
hibition of "sound and fury signify
ing nothing" TO the question being
discussed. AT the end Pharisaic ap-
peal was made to his opponents to be-
come Gods children by embracing the
doctrine of endless hell and damna-
ton.
Through the last two days all kinds
of attempts were made to induce DR..
Hanson to go back to the first question,
and thus fail to introduce his affirma-
tive argument for lack of time, and all
sorts of attacks were made on his
books, and Universalist literature,
which, if sustained, would not have
touched the question at issue; the
teachings of the Bible, but which if
noticed at length, would have excluded
his affirmative arguments entirely.