The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-12-13
THE SUN, SUNDAY, DECRMBEts u.s. 1891.

y
Congrocat iounIIsm: We have lost ortho'
doxy." The old theology" he said further.
did not perish, under the assaults OF o riva'
system: IL expired because nm atmosphere
had been created IN which 1t could not
breathe" scarcely IL q passing ref
erence now made to the Divine SOW
ereiSrty." explained another; "tho Di'
vine decyces have been exercised; cleo.
ton has boon mc.amorphoscd." Instead
Of tho FALL OF man and total depravity. they
dwell on "tho good that lie to be found In
the worst, on hls weakness. conflicts. sor~
rows, misior.rnes. and assert either his
freedom or his blamolossnDss for the lack
thereof" ION tho question OF mans future
destiny" they arc in the main divided
between Universalism. the doctrine OF lie
In CHR1sr. che Larger Hope. and various
phases Of non-commit.al position"
OF course. such an audience found the
Calvinism Of tho opening sermon unpal.
atable. and regarded 1t as even impert-
nant. Nor was there any American Con-
gregntionalist in the Council who dared
come out in defence Of the inopportune
preacher. He was LETT to stand alone and
without support q forhdding relic OF
Q detestable system. though DR.. MUNGER
says that the greater part Of the Amor.
lean delegates are " moderate Calvinists."
Probably they were wise In holding their
peace. for CelvinIsm 10 o beautifully logical
system. II II is accepted at all. IL must be
accepted az Q whole: and II It Is rejected
In part, II must be rejected altogether
No moderate position with refer
ence to II Is possible. II Its premises
arc granted. its conclusions are inevi-
table and indisputable. a. the Presby-
terian attempt 10 tinker at 1t u proving 80
completely. Tho American Congregation
alists must stand by tho opening preacher
or they must abandon him openly and with
out reservation. and 60 over squarely to the
English position Of Univcrsalism.
As they are represented BY the 0trtsttdn
Onion. the only difference between them
and their English brethren is that they are
not candid and honest. They are trimming.
trying to face both ways, hedging on the
question. while the English have the cour-
age of their convictions. In commenting
on tho letter Of DR.. MUNGER, that Oongre-
gauonal organ comes out Ia direct oppo-
sltion to the old Calvinism. and with moro
or less circumlocutlon It agrees with the
universalism Of the English Congregation
alists for tho doctrine OF the life OF CHRIST.
the Larger Hope. and various phases Of
non-committal position" are only other ex-
pressions Of the universalistio theory.
"GoD and man." Gays the Christian Union,
"are In essence identical. What is right
eousness In COP Is righteousness in man:
what is sin In man would be sin In Con-"
According to this argument. II It would be
wicked for man to condemn people to ever
lasting torture. it would be wicked in GOD:
and hence hell Is only nightmare created
by the "old theology"
It cannot be doubted that Protestant
opinion and sentiment are tending to that
conclusion. Tho movement for the revision
Of the Westminster Confession. the reiterat-
ed declarations Of DR.. BRIGGS. and the
tone and speech Of this Congregational
Council and this Congregational paper In.
dictate that fact worry plainly. The deter
mination to get rid Of Calvinism Is due to
determination to get rid Of hell.