Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-02-15
REVISLON'S INTHE AIR
Rhat Rev, Dr.. Lyman Beecher Taught
as to Infant Salvation.
FAIRNESS ASKED OF OPPONENTS.
Ministers Should Read Daily Papers as
Well as Light Literature.
KEWST NOTES FROM TIE CHURCHES

ApropoS Of the questions that are now
sgitating the minds of those who are inter
ested in the discussion of questions of
theology. brought on by the revision of the
confession of faith and the repetition of the
statement that the final destruction Of the
infant has been taught by the Calvinistic
school of thought, is the article by Mr..
Tuckerman in the North american ReUieao,
in which he says:
Another very notable clergyman Of Bos-
ton was the Rev. Lyman Beecher, father OF
the late Rev. Henry Ward Beecker. he
was one OF the lights, technically speaking,
the blue light of Cslvinism. He was
powerful preacher to a devoted congrega-
tion, and INDUCED in sectarian denuncia-
tiOn beyond what were generally considered
the bounds of good taste. 1 recall rainy
Sunday afternoon when, Beecher's church
being near our house, I attended the SER
vices-more, I fear, from curiosity than
religious impulse, After
describing the horrors of hell that await
the impeniuent sinner, the eloquent preacher
illustrated this evil bv a case in point A
mother, who had always intended to
present her infant for baptism, post
poned the ceremony from day to day
a I'd from week to week. As a careless nurse
was one day amusing the infant by throwing Il
up and catching it in her arms, she at length
missed her aim and the child fell heavily upon
the hearthstone, fractured its skull and shortly
after died. That child, who might have been
an angel in heaven, is now, through the negll-
gence of its parents in the matter Of baptism,
a tenant of hell" said MIR. Beecher.
This is the statement of Mr.. Tuckerman.
Now for the fact Lyman Beecher never be-
lieved In salvation by baptism, and abhored the
idea of infant damnation. He was minister In
Boston from 1926 to 1892 In the year 1927 he
sent out the seventh edition of his noted ser
mon. THE Government Of God Desirable"
From that particular edition OF 1877 we make
the following extract, which seems to have
been written in anticipation Of such statements
as that made BY Mr.. Tuckerman:
Il am aware that Calvinists are represented
as believing and teaching the monstrous doc
trine that infants are damned and that hell is
doubtless paved with their bones But
having passed the age Of 80, and been con-
versant for 30 years with the most approved
Calviuistic writers and personally acquainted
with many of the most distinguished CalvInistic
divines in New England, and in the Middle.
Southern and Western States. must say that
/ have never seen nor heard of any book which
contains such sentiment. nor man, minister
or layman, who believed or taught 1t and feel
authorized to say that Calvinists. as body, are
as far from teaching the doctrine of infant
them. And would earnestly and afectiOnate-
ly recommend to all persons who have been &C
customed to propagate the slander that they
commit to memory without delay the ninth
commandment, which is, Thou shalt not bear
false witness against thy neighbor."
Lyman Beecher was not quite SO foolish as to
circulate among the people a sermon exactly
opposite to what he was preaching, or to msrep-
resent his views before watchful enemies. The
CiriStiQ4l Examiner, a Unitarian paper, while
very sharply criticising the sermon in regard TO
its reference to other writers, takes pains to |
say that M Beecher does not believe IN infant |
damnation.
Wemay not indorse all that Is taught in Cal |
vinism, Confucianism, Armenianism, or any |
other ism, but we can be honest in our declara- |
tons as to what they do say. Let Justice be |
done though the heavens falls not a bad adage |
after all
Twas in New York. eight months ago,
The General Assembly wished to know,
'Do you want Revision now?
1fso, to what extent, and howY'i
CHORUS:
Tramp, tramp, tramp, Revision's coming;
Cheer up comrades, 1t will come, it will Gomez
For ''Revision's in the air, -
And 1--WE II all get there -
In that good time coming by and by. |
The Cateehisms and Confession
Are TO US familiar things;
But to US ii gives occasion
Which agitation ever brings,
We can air peculiar views,
Hitherto in silence Kept:
Heresies with various hues,
Which for ages now have slept.
Our trouble is we're not agreed,
And so we cannot get Revision:
moving q