Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-03-10
A TALK ON CALVIN.
Rev. E. r. DonehOo breaches Apropos
to Revision Agitation.
A SHORT SERMON ON BAPTISM,
Followed by the Immersion of Six Ladies
and Two Gentlemen.
EXTRACTS OF SOME OTHER SERMONS

Rev. E. R. Donehoo, pastor of the Eighth
Presbyterian Church, yesterday preached on
sJohn Calvin" The sermon was very timely
one, in view of the discussion now going on
regarding revision. In his address, which
was lengthy one, Mr. Donehoo said:
THE one dark spot in the character OF
Calvin, which centuries will not obliterate,
was his harsh unchristian and barbarous
treatment of Servetus. The more the case is
studied the more cruel and indefensible does
his conduct appear. Servetus was man of
varied attainments, much given to contro-
versy, a man of considerable medical skill,
and sincere believer in the doctrines for
which he at last laid down his life. Perse-
cuted by both Catholic and Protestant,
Lutheran and Zwinglian. he maintained
his opinions with courage that was worthy
OF more orthodox faith.
FIXED IN HIS FAITH.
'Driven from city to city, imprisoned
and threatened with death, he at last sought
temporary sojourn at Geneva. despite the
threat openly made by Calvin that he
should never leave that town alive if he
could prevent it. August 3, 1853 he was
recognized in Geneva by Calvin and
promptly arraigned for his heretical lbeliefs.
On the 26th day of October he was prose-
cuted before the council by CALVIN and
promptly convicted and condemned to death
at the stake. and executed on the day fol-
Lowing. While pleading for that mercy
which might well have been granted and
promising to leave, on his release, for
Spain, he was bound to the stake,
utterly refusing to recant his opinions,
and diving with these words upon his
lips. Jesus, thou Son of the eternal
God, have mercy on me- The odium which
attaches to this inhuman deed of Calvin in
putting to death the defenseless person in
his hands is not to be justified by the con-
dition of the times in which he lived, and is
especially deserving of our unqualified con-
demnation coming from one who professed
such profound acquaintance with the prin-
ciples of our holy religi -. The man who
knew so much about the divine purposes
ought to have known that his duty was to do
justice and love mercy and walk humbly
before his God. With this exampls of his |
methods one is we'll justified in carefully |
examining the iron logic with which he forti- |
fed his beliefs before they accept them with |
implicit faith.
LEADS TO PROTESTS.
''The more we admire him for his pro- |
found researches into the mysteries of the |
divine government, and for his unseifish la
bors in the interests OF truth and godliness, |
the more earnestly does it become us to pro-
test against that intolerant spirit which led |
him to bring upon himself the guilt OF mur-
dering one who was answerablc alone to his
Creator for his religious beliefs.
Taking John Calviu all in all, be was a
most remarkable character and deserving of
lasting honors for his deep
researches into the mysteries of |
Gods character and purposes, but
that the oracles of God were committed 10
him exclusively 1 do not believe, nor
would not, even though the fate of Servetus |
was threatened against me if dared to pro-
test against anv of his opinions. So far as
his doctrines commend themselves to my en-
lightened judgment, as founded on the
plain word of God, assent to them but not
one inch farther can 1 go. His harsh and
intolerant spirit, so lacking in sympathy for
others weaknesses, impairs ones faith in
his doctrines, even though they NAV be
strengthened by the iron-bound logic which
he was wont to yield so adroitly, and which,
doubtless, often led him unconsciously to
harmonic Gods character to his own un-
charitable and unyielding views of right
and Justice