Telegram-herald., 1891-05-03
WHEN DOCTORS DISAGREE.

WI SH uOCloIs ulsasGte, VINO Snail
deelde," Is question that has been
often asked, but never successfully
answered. except as 3 man decides for
himself, IN matters pertaining to his
Own interests. One after another the
time hono.ed doctrines of orthodox
CHRISTIAN theology are brought into
question, by the very men who have
made the most earnest study OF them TO
ut themselves for the ministry. After
bordering over them and preaching
them for years, they begin TO doubt and
finally give expression To those doubts,
or to beliefs quite contrary to their for
mer preachings. Then those who have
unquestionably received the teachings
and exposltions OF those doctors feel
their spiritual foundations trembling
beneath them and they know no.
where TO turn, until they seriously ask
themselves the questions, ''Why do |
believe this and SO? Is 1t because have
enquired for myself, or because the
doctors have told me SOP
The Rev. DR.. e. W. Bringeman, pas
tor Of the Madison Avenue Baptist
Church, preached on the morning of
February ID sermon in which he
avowed his d disbelief IN the old-fashion-
cd hadcs of eternal fire and birthstone.
His text was the verses IN the ninth
chapter of st. Mark, declaring it better
to cut off an offending right hand than
"haylng two hands TO 60 INTO hell; into
the fire that never shall be quenched,
where the worm dieth not and the fire
is not quenched."
His declaration OF belief, made dur
ing the course of that sermon is as fol
lows: "Now, We know, without my
staying to describe it, what the popular
opinion IS or mas been concerning the
hell of which it speaks in the text; and
| must needs begin by rejecting 1t, from
the constraint, the irresistablc constraint,
Of the conviction that II is directly Op
posed to all that Christ has shown and
told US OF God; that it is contrary to the
revelation he has made to US of the
Father. 1t is obvious that the Lord had
no reference to q state of eternal tor
ment by the use of the word. In speak
ing of Gehenns, he thought Of 1t rs q
place OF corruption, rs representing the
nF tha h n
the outcast. This is the sense III the
passage of the text. The hell agains
which the Lord had warned the people
Is just the inward depravity which sci
fishness and unbelief and unfaithful
ness are certain to breed. Such, as
understand 1t, IS the doctrine with
reference TO hell fire. This is my mes
sage this morning, message long med
itated, and which have spoken to you
with q profound sense of its solemnity
and what is due to the gospel of God
His sermon created n great commo
ton in the church at the time and wa:
followed by DR.. Bridgeman's prompt
resignation OF his pastOrship. 1t Ia.
been an earnest subject OF discussion
since. A majority of the church, how
ever, prefer giving up hades, birthstone
fire and all, to losing their pastor. anc
he has been urged to remain. In talk
irg over the matter DR.. Bridgeman &C
knowledged that he had subscribed Il
the belief when his views on the subjec
were asked At his ordination, but h,
claimed the right to acquire wisdom
with years, and did not consider him
self any the less Baptist for not be
lievlng in an amending lake of fire
The Baptists having rs q church no for
| INFLATED system of belief like the thirty
nine article. or the Westminster Con
fession of Faith, he maintained, ar;
free to believe as they please on thi
point. This is true OF the Madison
Avenue Church, which adopted n,
creed at all. The members of tha
church now are free to bend all then
energies toward living n Christian life
without troubling themselves seriousI,
over the question of what will becom
OF them If they do not. But will tn
orthodox churches let Their, alone?