The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1897-12-30
CoNGREGATIoNALIsTs MEET.
Ministers of Milwaukee District are En-
tertained at Plymouth Church STUDY.

Ministers of Milwaukee District are En-
tertained at Plymouth Church STUDY.
The Congregational ministers of the
Milwaukee district met recently in DR.
Titsworth's study in Plymouth church,
Milwaukee. There were present DR..
George Ide, Dr. Judson Ellsworth,
Revs. I. L. Cory, N. t. Blakeslee, j. N.
Davidson, M. McLaren, S. S. Mathews,
E. 81. Smith, of Oshkosh; j. K. Ward,
Geo. S. Brett, ]. X. Kilbourn, B. c..
Preston, j. 0. Boswell, G.. G.. Weiss,
Stowe Sawyer, S. E. Harris, and r. F.
Roberts, Esq.
Outline sermons were presented by
Dr. Ellsworth and Rev. S. S. Mathews
on Romans %, and they were made
the subject of a general discussion.
Among the thoughts suggested was
that the Judgment referred to may
mean the Judgment of appreciation as
we'll as of condemnation. One speaker
said that he believed sin would event
ually disappear and that all mankind
will eventually be saved. "I know, +"
said he, that this comes pretty near
universalism, and / have never yet had
a church where could preach my full
belief on this subject. There is always
an element which will insist OF eternal
punishment for some of their fellow
beings. What shall we do in such a
case? Shall I'VE avoid these difficult
points as brother suggests, for fear OF
stirring up strife? Rather, is it not our
duty to preach as we, believe, and seek
to bring the people into accord with
the truth?"
Following the discussion r. F. Rob-
erts read a paper on the bible narrative
of the creation, andy the so-called fall
of Adam and Eve in Paradise. He
said in part, This narrative bears all
the marks of a fable, and a critical
analysis will so conclusively show it to
be a fable as to be equivelant to a
demonstration. The things and cir
cumstances stated are impossibiities;
all it's parts are in conflict; and it is
filled with discrepancies. The tree OF
the knowledge of good and evil, is an
impossibility. knowledge does not
grow on trees. Knowing is an act OF
the mind, and knowledge is result.
If the tree is fgurative, what does it
represent? Does lit represent knowl-
edge? Did God then forbid Adam and
Eve knowing anything? All there is
to be known is either good or evil.
The serpent, a subtle beast of the field,
is an impossible monstrosity. A beast
with the power of speech, and reason,
and having knowledge superior to
Adam and Eve, whom God had created
in his own image and likeness. In
conflict with the command3 not to eat
we find that the creator has made all
provision for them to eat. The tree is
placed where it is always in sight.
The command itself would arouse their
curiosity, and induce them to eat of the
fruit; the cunning beast was purposely
provided to persuade them. The ser
pent is thought to have lied. But as
soon as Adam and Eve.had eaten of
the fruit their eyes were opened, and
God himself corroborates the truth of
what the serpent told them by saving:
g Behold, the man is become as one of
us to know good and evils
Read between the lines, the fable
bears to us great truths. 1t provides
US perfect representation of the nature
and constitution of man. The early
years of childhood are of innocence
and ignorance. It's happiness is the
bliss of not knowing. Soon it comes to
consciousness of itself, and of right
and wrong. Daily and hourly we are
brought to the point of choosing be-
tween the evil and the good; between
doing right and doing wrong.
In the afternoon Rev. M. McLaren,
of Racine, read paper presenting a
comparative study of Drummond's
Ascent of Man" and Benjamin Kids
Social Evolution" Both cheese authors
are learned, their sideas involved and
their arguments approach the trans
cendental. Mr.. McLaren's paper was
able and showed a complete grasp OF
the problems of the books in consider
alton, and proved key to unlock and
explain their teachings. He received
the unanimous commentator Of the
ministers present.
The State Press.