New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-09-25
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
CHRIsT's WORDS AS TO HE'LL"
MIsouorATIoN OF SCRIPTURE AFFIRMED TO BE
TIE ONLY BASIS OF BELIEF IN


Str. Last MONDAYS Tribune contained an extract
! OF discourse by the Rev. DR.. A. Nelson HoliiNeio
In which he Is reported reatiirming In the most
! certain and positive way the awful theory that
vast numbers Of the human family are doomed
| by their Creator to an eternity OF conscious woe
Believing this theory subject about which 10
! human being has real knowledge 10 be horrloie
mistake. and the effect Of It's proclamation dls-
henrtening to Christians and Obstructive 10 the
progress OF religion ] ask little space for reply
| In my Judgment neither the ministers nor the
churches believe the doctrine described. ana
that Is why 1t is not preached. And the cause
OF their unbeliet in the doctrine IS not the IN
fucnce OF sceptlcal philosophy. but souhdor
exegesis OF tho Scriptures and the incorporation
OF the spirit OF Christ into humanity.
II Jesus Christ did really preach the doctrine as
Dr. Holhed asserts there might be some Justi-
fcaton Tor the harsh expressions as well as the
dogrnatic style. used In the DISCOURSE but De-
iieve that true Interpretation OF tho saviour
words completely overhrows the assertion.
wida and thorough examination OF our LORDS say
lngs would show th!s but as that Is not possible
here I will only notice tho expressions quoted by
DR.. Hol!Held
The FIRST IS found in John v. $3.50 In the King
James version the last word Is "damnation, but
the revised version is truer TO the Greek text anu
doubt not. TO the Saviours utterance' IL feaus
thus: Marvel not at this for the hour cofhetH
IN which all that are IN the tornbs shall hear HIS
voice and shall come forth; they that have Gone
good unto the resurrection OF life; and they tnat
have done ill. unto the resurrection OF judgment.
We must believe that the host Of eminent schol-
nrs who substituted Judgment Tor uaHhai'oi'
In tho text had good reason for the chnnse' as ID
de Cd they did have. The Greek word translated
Is "kriss II has been transferred 10 our language
in the word 'crlsls" and In neither language does
Il mean damnation. and II Is remarkable that any
scholar In tho pulpit or elsewhere. should Use inc
latter word IA the text, especially since It's genera
rejection. The King James revlsers used H. ou'
whether through ignorance or a desire TO buttress
tho theory DR. Uollifed breaches I cannot say.
That theory was chiefly responsible FOR the UNI
spcakaJle crtlelties and horrors OF the 1nqusltion
Of St. BartholomeT's Day and OF the hres OF
SmithRed Mon were tortured ard killed III oodY
In order that their souls might escape the endless
agones OF hell.
II "krisis' does rot mean damnation. then Jesus
DID not IN the text quoted preach hell" and DR..
Holhelds proof to that extent falls
What "kr IS" does mean Is another question IL
and It's representative. Judgment, are very broad
and include the ideas OF trial. o. opportunity OF
testing and arriving at decisions. crisis may
issue either way. good or bad. a Judgment may
he f,vora bic or urfayorable II tho reader VIII go
bac in tho context and read verses u 10 2? he VIII
note that Il is the Saviour. lie who came 10 seek
and 10 save that which was lost. 10 call not the
righteous. but sinners 10 repentance VINO gave
III, ure for tho world" who IS TO execute judS-
mcn,"
Demonstrating that the vast ma tority OF the race
died IN IGNORANCE OF the God. Of Jesus and the
only way OF salvation. may we not peHe'e tha'
when the voice Of the chris, calls them i9ith from
death Il will be. not 10 doom them TO an ehdiesS
m. II, torment but 70 give them an enlightenment,
such as We have had. an opportunity 10 nuhe suc'
use as they will Of Fathers loving ,hVi,a'ion 70
obey and live? That will DO a crisis a trial! Win
on; such opportunity. how can they DC coHoeni"c',
Not hundred Of the race has ,s ssr b eGey
OK on lin Of whom they have not heard" In the
context referred to Jesus dwells upon his power
Mo tel,eve now and follow In His steps some
kind OF lie all the dead syre,y e Is 70
tpins 10 90 ooocoo OF human beings tack TO ne In
order pungo them into IN" endess ~, bem
what they never knew the fasfyins s"gSeneS sr 20
o one ~ Tho Fatber's many mansions? Is 4 70
damn or To bless? Which does the cnatac!sr 81
our Saviour incline us TO believe Is the meaning "a
NJ The se:ond quotation which Dr. Iol!hed Is re, re-
ba,tIs, CJoho M 3ii and modern versions wore !,
aGlte inherently from the King Jawes text which
o o n those Who believe not or obey not the Son
anal no, life. how are they TO sun, .g con
r. shall die" Dr IIo.lined himself quotes ,na rI
scripture and he adds Il 10 mo Ioseto.f p"nd
hy choice refuse obedience TO the SON anu men III
persists in the contrary theory ,h ,e spend r. in
progressive wckedness and ceasslesT dIir
misery. from which no SUICIDAL MN" "''' ~
mn" These contradictions are the result OF misusing
ana Thnr il no wrath Of Cod ahidinx
on' or awaiting those who through ignorance OF
Inr, For them. living or dead. lie ever had and
ever will have compassion ana p1''em ~ az bsre
artrr with compete opportunity. wlfuIly desplso
and reicc; His salvation there ~ ,t 'fbe land
Of The living rs the rubbish ana Rnroase ana
la. al
THE wicked shall 40 away into everlasting pun
ne"i be no question about tho duration OF either
n bn meaning Of the word when IS translated
punishment ard no man Ia, any rEnt b 10 w con
srious suffering is tho true meaning, The word IL
Iqt II the Tfr OF E 5He fr e woad hnva
g snlGrsn'n lnsead Hasmos which torment,
@r' and s' et
OFT second 20 resiran or repress: third. TO chss-
longs in the text? Clearly the first. Il seems TO me
Please note that the entire Scripture IS IN antlthet-
ill., 'o ONE class having minsiered 70 the needs Of
the Lord his c one n otmer o essS IN ant
thesis life endless FOR The accegt,ed final cutting
o from life for hH rac .vs T fr sFr e S w
Il so!erinly warn you to-day on the authority OF
Gods word that the penalty OF Sin Is eternal
uG How can ,hi, be reconced with the doctrine OF
the two IDEAS are squaroy antagonisc, but re.
ere, ~ saw that the attempt IS sometimes made by
saying that death which " declared In the Bible
,his Is n pres,imptuous and disinRen.ious effort TO
tv,ist the Holy Scriptures from their plainly In
tended meaning, and will not be INDUCED in by
anv hone Il scholar. - 49,. ,
7 should he glad TO follow DR.. Holheld through
m. rest OF his DISCOURSE and point out its nntago-
nIsm TO what believe Is the true and easily ascer-
oastinv but I refrain only hoping that what
have written may stimulate inquiry and lead some
m Greater faith I'm their Father and Saviour and
tr,er comfort In believing j. ALBERT STOWE
Arlington n. j.. Sept. .. 1877.
INsENsATE POLITICAL BOSSES.
To the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir The familiar phrase, Whom the gods woulS
destroy they first make mad" Is probably TO have