The San Francisco call., 1897-02-15
SAYS HELLf|RE IS
ALL A FICTION
Wendte's Criticism of Re-
ligion as Taught in
Oakland Churches.
SalvationiSts and Seventh. Day
Adventists Gene Within
It's Scope.
He Declare That the Union Revival
Acts Most on Weak
Intellects.
OAKLAND OFFICE SAN FRANCISCO CALL,
QNS Rrnad Nau Eeh Il


sos Broadway, Feb. ii.
DR.. c. w. Wendte's announcement shat
he would handle fearlessly the doctrine
of fear and he'll as taught in the Oakland
churches was fully justified this morning.
The Unitarian divine delivered an address
that will rank as one of the most remark
able ever heard from local pulpit.
With only few personal references, Dr..
Wendte forcibly attacked the revival now
in progress in this city, defended Pro-
lessor Jordan, answered DR.. Munhalrs re-
cent references 10 Vo.taire, and made a
casual allusion to other creeds, including
the Seventh-day Adventists and Saliva
ton Army.
DR.. Wendte opened his address with a
description of the two distinct portraits Of
Christ found in the New Testament--one
the avenging Christ of Revelations, the
other the loving Christ of the gospels
and he declared that any attempt to
reconcile the two must of necessity be
futile and farcical. After defining the
two great schools OF Christian thought as
those of fear and of love, he said:
1t curious and suggestive fact that two
Sundays ago dramatic version OF the parable
of the Foolish Virgins was rendered in the
chancel of q Protestant church in San Fran
suitably arrayed, mpersonated the unhappy
victims and rent the air with their anguish at
finding the door shut against them. This was
one OF the favorite miracle plays of the middle
ages.
In the local case the devil and his imps were
indeed wanting, but were probably supplied
in the sermon of the minister, who improved
the opportunity, the gas being turned down,
TO impress upon his hearers the awful nature
of divine judgment and the terrible danger TO
which their obduracy exposed them.
II the simniP frHfh that TODAY. as
in former times, fear is the sentiment most
appealed to in the prevailing churches.
The revival now in progress in Oakland Is
striking confirmation OF the statement. To
show the necessity OF salvation DR.. Munhall,
the revivslist, pictures he'll in the most gross
and materialistic fashion, as literal lake OF
fire and brimslone, and seeks to terrify his
hearers into an acceptance of the terms Of
grace. Verify, he has his reward Young
people, whose Imagination is more keenly de-
veloped than their reason, ana all who ieel
but do not think, are agitated and alarmed
Even If not fully convinced they respond to
his sophistical pleading 10 be on the safe side,
or are carried away by the excitement sur
rounding them. l can imagine revival based
on charity toward our neghbor and an eternal
hope for all, but a revival based on mans cow
ardly fears and selfish hopes l have little
spect for. / admit that il CORES ponds TO some
elements in human nature, especially in its
earlier stages of moral and spiritual develop
ment. The feebler in in tellect, the weaker in
will man is, the more powerful viii be the
dominion OF fear over his Imagination and
mental and moral powers is required, ere he
rise superior TO the tremors OF his flesh, the
morbid fRncies of his Imagination, and breathe
the purer atmosphere of faith, hope and love.
Unq uestionab ably, the notion of Jesus as an
angry and implacab'e judge of the world is
foreign to the real spirit of the gospel. 1t is
TO be found chiefly in the book of Revelations,
which, in tee opinion of leading critics OF the
new and rising school of biblical science, is
either q Jewish apocalyptical writing. re-
Vamped and directed against Nero and other
prosecutors OF the early Christians, or else is
q palpable imitation OF later Jewish scripture
like the books of Daniel, Erdras and others.
Yet this religion of fear is preached daily in
our midst. The Salvation Army makes IT its
main reliance in its religious work. or would,
but for the great human loving heart in its
rank and file. This overcomes even its harsh
doctrine and symbols of war and bloodshed,
symbols which, in themselves, are So foreign
to true Christianity.
The Seventh Day Adventists are most ex-
cellent people, but their doctrine of Christ
and the last judgment is not based on the
gospel of Jesus, but on q jewish Ch ristian per-
version of his character and teachings.
The prevailing spirit IN Oakland churches
should be Joy and not fear, hope and not de-
spair. No man was ever truly converted by
tear. He'll is a fiction of theologians, an in
vention of priests 'scare-head" of revival
lists. Let this ''rawhead and bloody bones of
theology, as Historian Alger calls it, be rele-
gated to deserved and odious oblivion.