New-York tribune., 1891-05-03
DIR. BRIDGMAN'S VIEWS.
HE SAYS MANY HAVE misunderstood
HIM.
THE DURATION OF FUTURE PUNISHMENT. NOT


| ITS NATURE, TIE IMPORTANT QUESTION.
Many comments made on the resignation Of the Rev.
| DR.. c. De w. Bridgman. which irrevocably con-
1rmed by the letter which he sent to the committee
appointed by majority Of the congregation Of the
Madison Avenue Baptist Church to ask him to recon-
sider it. have been founded misapprehenslOn OF
the Of the step he has taken. For instance the
Rev. Dr. Strong president Of the theological Seminary
at Rochester, Of which Or. bridgman Is graduate said
| in an interview:
l should say the grounds upon which DR.. Bridgman
bases his resignation insufficient Unless he holds
TO something which has not yet been attributed to him
in the papets there does not seem 10 be sufficient cause
for his step. Bapsss do not generally regard Scripture
doctrine necessarily involving future physical tor
| future retribuon Is pucey spiritual and that the
Scripture images Of fire and birthstone are only meta
phOrica representations Of the TemOrse of conscience
| and necessary and inevitable misery Of a soul that
| hates God
DR.. Strong supplemented this interview by a letter
| which Dr. Bridgman received yesterday
DR.. Brdgman. in talking with Tribune reporter,
said that the rejection OF material, physicaltocment
hell" not the Of his resignation. 81 should
not wish' he added, to be suspected of having
| taken position on that question which is abso-
| lutely abandoned by all thoughtful men,"
"You have not withdrawn altogether from the min
| stry of the GosDel1" v--
| "Oh, no: / intend to continue my ministry else
wherc-not in the Madison Avenue Baptist Church.
The letter sent TO the committee last night rrev
ocabe."
"Iave you any idea of whece you will take up your
| ministerial work ?"
"No. have gone out like Abraham, not knowing
whittier he went | shall decide my course during
| the next three four weeks"
"Dr. BriGgman, are you Unversalstl'
| "NO, not in the general sense of the term"
"What then is your positionl"
"We it is TO be expressed by this-I entertain tho
larger hope. believe that Christ came TO destroy the
works of the devil and that in the fullness Of Gods
time in the name Of Jesus every knee shall bow and
every tongue confess that lie is Lord to the glory Of
| God the Father "
"Then You are not in sympathy with that clergyman
of the Protestant Episcopal Church who called himself
| a Christian Idealistl"
"No | am a conservative man, and thoroughly be-
| leve in the revelation of God in Jesus Christ"
"Then you agree with the beliefs set forth In the
| book savator Mundl,' which created so much com
| ment some time agoP
| "Yes That book was written by Samuel Cox, the
leading Baptist expostOr of England 1t contained the
viou of several OF the German theOOgans, which was
| very nopularIy expressed by Canon Farrar. II was
folly 70 think that rational being, one who knows
what is transpng. should have made break from the
Cburcb simply on the material theory of punishment
and il is an imputatlon on the Intelligence OF the people
| 70 think that they mold on 70 that theory"
Are YOU willing 10 make public the Kew Dr.
| strong's letter to yOul'
at was simply letter OF warm lehuship' ho
trusts that l will hesitate before pushlhg my esiena
ton NV mail has been crowded with letter'. Bu'
! somehow people don't seem to UNDERSTAND tlat ""
sensitive and the idea Of having even few make d
| no,est aoanst nv ministry simply because have
hrolen the traditions sensitive soul shrinks from
| that Now this matter of my resignation mas Deen
nm nv mind and has been consuming what physi'ai
energy and nervous force had and have to answer
! the question Of .WhitherP l have answered tie
| ouestion Of 'WhenceP
| of Iarva
| only for the individual Of the denomination, but
! theoretically for the pastor or preacher But the
ectual does not meet The IDEAL There is series OF
traditions connected with the Baptist denomination
which have The force Of an established creed. thihR
there is an endeavor the part Of men all over the
| country TO make the Christianity OF today the CHRIS
| uanity Of Christ had letter to-day from man
over seventy wears OF age, in Philadelphia have had
ettere from Central NewYOrI and from Massachusetts,
all understanding me declaring for the larger nope
| and all expressing their sympathy with my views
THIS has been foreign TO AL my purpose had no
idea Of being pushed into the notorety which thls
matter seems 10 have given me. II makes me shrink
and is very distasteful TO me 20 be represented as
emphasizing article OF my faith winch
re.lIr is a subordinate thing. l believe In
future punishment just as firmly as any man.
II is only question Of duration and OF the end oi the
| punishment and am not here TO preach punishment
| am 10 preach salvation from sin through Jesus
Christ.
9oldfashioncd UnveIsalism believed that with the
deliverance from the body there deverance from
n and entrance into Heaven. This has been modified
~ late wears and Uniyersaism has taken the form
! now of final restitution"
us not there then, rather fine distinction be-
tween your position and Universalismi"
Rather fine distinction, yes 1t Is IN my mlho'
You cannot express III
NO But there is this TO be said, II you ask
me whether Universaism, which was so repucnant
~ Orthodoxy, is now contemplated as 1t was
roars ago | will tell you this In Gods providence
soct sometimes arises TO enter protest against the
cxaeeeration of doctrine or some special doctrine IN
some other sect IL to meet an emergency, IKE
Irpiversalism which originated as protest against
hat vou may call the stern Purtanlsm by wmch the
cosnel is msreprcsented. Gradually their eject Is 10
modify the old doctrine: 70 present IL In more IA
,ional and Christian mode and spirit, ana when
that work Is done this ne" sec' very
iitev u pass away. because us work has
ls' heen accomplished. And 50 Unlversllism i' not
progress ling today but the spirit me essence OF what
Il taught regarding the future Is being absorbed INTO
The other seets modifying their views giving them
more gentle and more Christian spHI iAat Is ny