Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1889-11-06
The Service for the Dead.

Atthe funeral ofJudge Van Vorst on Tues,
day, The Rev DR.. Hall began his Bomt what
extended remarks by saying that the state
of the dead man had been determined for
all eternity that this period Of probation
had ended and he WAS before his Judge.
Tue fuoeral service, continued DR.. Hall, ls
therefore for the living and not for the dead
who has gone beyond the reach of human
prayers.
That is the old Calvinistic and Protestant
doctrine, and the Fifth avenue Presby yterian
pastor proclaimed it squareIy. With the
cessation OF the heart beats had ceased all
occasion for human effort to piacate the Di.
vine will and intercede for forgiveness.
The Court of Last Resort had rendered its
Judgment, and il was irrevGcable. There
was no further pardouing grace to be evok.
ed. The eternal decree had been passed.
This, uuquestionably. is the logical con-
clusion from The Calvini5tic premises. But
the human nature Of many OF those brought
up uuder such teachings protests. They
recoi from the logic of their creed. They
hate to believe that the friend who at one
moment was the object of their deepest 80.
licitude and profoundest affection, at the
next moment has passed beyond the reach
of their aid and sympathy, aod that his
eternal fate is fixed beyond recall. There
fore, and the more 30 because doctriral con.
victon has greatly weakened Of late years,
the desire to believe that the living may still
render service to those who are dead, has
spread among christians who formerly re-.
sented it as OF Satanic suggestion.
at the late General Convention OF the
Episcopalians the efforts to in!oduce, in a
"a ito IL hot
really prayers for the dead, were not sue
cessful. But the closeness of the votes by
which the propositions were rejected showed
that the former detestation of the doctrine
and practice had largely passed away. Nor
were those who favored the innovation con-
fined 10 the extreme ritualistic and High
Church party. They included many OF the
other parties or schools ofthe church.
OF course belief In the efficacy of such
prayers implies belief in future probation.
But future probation does not frighten the
orthodox as it did of old. Even the Con.
gregationalists, more decided In the. oppo-
srion to it than the Episcopalians during
all their history, are beginning TO be di'
vided on the subject. This division
controversy with the Missionary Board.
~ idISc phTI vi lno SOuuEci uiiulStIJ ouo
some of the theological professors are preach
ing and teaching what amounts to future
probation. They do not come out for it in
plain terms, but it is q logical inference
from their position. When they express
doubts as to the eternal punishment of the
heather. and future probation for those
benighted felow-beings seems to them con-
sistent with Divine justice, they throw
overheard the whole orthodox creed as to
the subject If there is future probation
| for the heather, there must be the same op-
portunity of escape for all men.
So, also, we find many OF the Preebyte-
riaus entering on road which leads to the
same goal. They are troubled over the
doctrine of election. The thought that
some of mankind are foreordained to dam
nation is too painful for them to harbor.
Yet on the premises of the personality OF
God, of Immortality, and of eternal rewards
and punishments, the doctrine of election
rests as an impreguable conclusion. You
cannot get over it. To escape from it you
must give up your premises and start anew.
1t appears, therefore, that religious belief
and sentiment are undergoing very radical
transformation 10 these days Of intellectual
inquiry and weakening faith 10 doctrine
New York Sun