St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-05-02
DIR, HOLMAN'S HE'LL.
Rev. w. S. Vail Discusses the
Sermon of the Minneapo-
lis Divine.
DR.. Holman Drops the ira
ditional View Of Endless
Punishment.
Did His Conclusion Develop
From an Unbiased
Mind ?
a Contrast With the views
of Prominent Free
thinkers.

Rev. W. D ' all, III his StTluon gSotCl-
day morning before the UniverSaliSt So
cietv in the Grand. followed up the ser
mon recently given by DR.. Holman, of
Minneapolis. He said: DR.. Holman
declares that he has abandoned the ac-
cepted traditional view of endless pun
ishment for more modified view of
conditional Immortality, and its logical
result, the humiliation Of the wicked.
This he holds to be the solution of the
Christian problem. He cites the SYM
bolry of the Bible-burning chatf, axe
at the root of the tree, the burning DIAL
in the valley of HinnOm-and he claims
that this means humiliation. He de-
clares that the idea of a natural immor-
tality is not indigenous to the SOIL OF
Palestine. not a product OF Blolleal
thought, but an importation from Greek
philosophy. lie claims that destruction
of the wicked will carry out the idea or
an awful penalty placed on sin; a feel
ing that has been common TO the human
mind in ayes past. He claims that 1t Is
i'll accordance with the survival OF the
titteSt. He claims that 1t Will relieve
God from anV charge of cruelty. This
is plain
Statement of the Claim.
Did the conclusion develop from an
unbiased judgment. founded Oh the
facts. studied inductiYely, and without
any theory back of them TO give them a
definite turn. Or to put the problem
differently: When man is charged
with crime and brought before Inspector
ByrneS, that celebrated official institutes
an inquiry for motive; If he finds motive
sufficient and apparent he considers the
matter well under way towards solution.
Now, is there motive for this conclu-
sion all through the statement OF the
position? Does he not plainly say that
lie is to follow the New Testament, even
his reason? Does he not say that he is
obliged by preconeeived opinion to
make the punishment of sin awful i'll
the sight OF God and in the eyes of
man? Keep it in mind then, that this
position is taken because it fultilS
PreeOneeived Idea.
Next lei US give weight to these
admissions. Suppose the doctrine OF
Immortality as inherent in the nature of
man first assumed prominence when
Greek philosophy bathed and perme-
ated the Christian religion; even sup
pose that it is of PlatOnic origin. Does
that make the truth less valuable? God
did not speak to one alone. He spoke
to all, and all nations have to an extent
at least embodied his words. Religion
as a sentiment was not founded by the
Bible. 1t existed before the Bible. 1t
existed where the Bible was never
known. Ii the Bible had never been
preserved, we should still have been
blessed with religion. 1t is the sense Of
mans obligation to the unseen and
supreme power. 1t produced the Bible.
1t lies back of experience; all promise;
all theories. He substantially claims
we do not make punishment of sin
awful enough. He would teach an
awful punishment. l will not stop
here to ask modern experience to show
us what has been proven by the devel-
opment of the study of human life.
There may be a plea fer pity. That
will not be made now. | am to thrust
the spear of question through the buck
Ter Of argument
He Here Opposes.
Is utter humiliation a terrible pun
ishment? Ask the history of man to
speak. Ask the wretched, the sick, the
suffering, the poor, the people who are
unable to cope i'll the battle of life with
the stronger than themselves. Would
that Door, crippled man, that wretched
woman who has destroyed the hope of
any return of happiness to her pillow,
that man who is fast in the clutches of
drink and knows it, that man who has
been blighted, who fought far into the
middle watch, ana just at the moment
when he saw the promise of morning
and reinforcements at hand was obliged
to see his cavalry cut down, his artillery
mired, his Infantry acknowledgements
any and all OF these find any cOnSumma-
ton more devOutly to be wished than
sleep, perfectly dreamlesS and endleSsly
happy? Ii we were sure of this which
he calls a punishment and no question
could be raised about it, thea | am in
clined to believe that majority of
unfortunate men, dragged under the
wheels from month, and women tortured
with cares and fears. would ask that it
might be said OF them: ''Thev sleep
beneath the shadows of the clouds, care
less alike of storm or sunshine, each in
tine windOwleSS
Palace OfRest."
And now ask yourselves if the main
position is true one, and if the Bible
does not teach natural immortality? 1t
is not unit OH this teaching let us ad-
nit from the very beginning, for Eecle-
slastes mOcks the idea, but Christ never
stopped to try to prove; he felt it so
strongly IN the very blood in his veins
that lie never paused with the theory at
all. st. Paul stood under the cope of
the eternal world; no storm. or driving
ship, ,or roaring seas, or heavy chains, OF
persecution could make him feel any
heavy weight; this was tent home
we were pitched beside the stream for
few days; when they were over we
would go from here; and standing I'M
der the stars he felt that there was
home" 1t comes, this belief from
natural instincts, the promises that
dwell in tire human breast; not com
mon to ole man CT one system, but