New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-05
CATHOLIC CLUB ANNIVERSARY.
SERMON BY THE REV. DIR. MORIlMeH W
PHILADELPHIA, on "EvERLASTlNH
prrNISUMENT"

PUNISHMENT"
Tho one-hundr.d,h meeting OF the New-York
Catholic Club was marked by an imposing service
last evening in the Church Of St Mary the |lrgin
In West Forty-sixth-st., near Broan"dJ' i"'
church filled BY large congregation. ana IN
the sanctuary were about thirty-ive "e"-Hho"h
priests. representing the dioceses OF New-York.
Newark and Long Island. Elaborate music was
furnished by the choir and orchestra Of the church
under the direction OF Or. Prentice. The anthem
was Farmers "Hark, Thrilling Voice Is sound
ing" Solemn vespers sung by Father T. Nc
Kee Brown. rector Of the church, assisted D.
Father F. A. II. Brown. vicar Of St. Johns Chapel.
in Varck-st who IL president OF the cluo, ana
Father Arthur Richie. rector OF St. ignatiuss
Church. In West Forteth-st., who Is secretary OF
the club.
The preacher was the Rev. Or. Alfred @. Nor
timer rector OF st. Marks Church, Philadelphia.
and formerly rector Of ST. Marys Church. Cas-
Teton, Staten Island. and founder Of 81. Austins
School for Boys in the place. His text vas:
These shall go away into everlasting punishment;
but the righteous into life eternal'-St Matthew.
XIV. a.. DR.. Mortimer said In part;
Two lies told BY the father OF Hes ,,,,S to G our
said?'' God reveals truth to man. and the tr1ta
IL hard and unpleasant TO believe. and 80 satan
says r@ Of HIi I'M a 9a And When h fails
and he finds man convinced OF the iact 81 We
reveia9 y n n6a Ype 5oi surely do From he nrs
temptation 10 tho last Satan finds no method -
tcrnpration the consequences Of his sin. Goa has
revealed to us that the consequences OF SIN unless
rcpented of and forgiven, "iI ., et.'Ha. 10 y'ss
set Of minds Satan suggests douD, @hetner nol
this revelation. With another class Satan Is Doider
and pcTsuades them that: though II Is Gear nat
G9a mas man rsy Sa nd srdy 9G od could not be
so cruel unjust. In this way the great de-
possibility OF future retribution. or ~ ann.aila
ton. of final restitution ~ al tn.ngs' ne s!n-
my chance Of this"
1 am to speak to you tonight Of Coz reye.a.
ton In regard to eternal punishment 80 subject
,hn tcndnnc now Is 10 ass over his question alto
some human theory unknown to either tho scrip
longs 70 an age charact.rzcd by lax views Of
Of au,5Sritv The trend ~ teaching in such ~ are
Christ. to onlarge upon tho ior" and m"rcy and
long SUFFERING OF Cod the gent.enes- and kInlness
md sympathy Of our blessed lords utteranres IA
to forget that I vas part ~ HIS kindness TO ore
~, a. He IA in words q almost exceptional
!; Tnness, the punishment watch awaits the I'm.
psaitent. Who has taught u most a3out hs'P
he Stern prophets. not ire OH Testament. for
VII pass over the Eve toxts N the ola Testament
which refer to it. NcaTly al, w. know na.ogt hel
G c io, r3m Ihg p Il n, o Ie n a
And It was part Of His blindness Many saint
would not now have been in heaven T jesus had
that first I'D him 70 rcpentanoe he would never
nave been in heaven II Jesus had kept back part n,
the truth or cast veil over Z.
The preacher then went on 10 quote those texts
in the New Testament which speak of the eternity
Of hell. to show that this doctrine IA depend
only upon the exact meaning Of 'aionios." s.r'e
there are three classes of KITS. first. those IN
which "aionios" j. used: second. those passages
which speak Of the punishmonts Of he'll havin7
no erd. and, third those texts which speak -
tho state Of the lost and Of tho saved as unchaneo-
able In regard 70 the frs, he pointed out in reply
10 those who assert that "aiOnios" does not nc-es
sariy mean eternal" that this adjective occurs
IN the New Testament seventy-onc tines. arl
while two cases may perhaps b. doubtful. all Tie
others signify eternity He thon showed that 'he
doctrine Of eternal punishment the teacninG o,
tho whole Church. both East and West. quoting
from the Orthodox Confession ~ tho Greek Church
AMI from the Athanasan creed. which 4. q symbol
OF the faith in both the Latin and Ane.can COM
munions.
Tho preacher then went on to Genre,lte re ex-
aegerations OF theoiOgians as regards tho
Church's teaching on this awful subject and spoke
Of the universal belief that heathcn nj uuhaptzei
persons who had lived up TO ther ght W9uI aaye
He spoke also OF opinions of thoooGans % various
ages in regard to certain mitisations % the pains
In treating Of the moral question involved he took
the view that eternal punishment Is tho necessary
Consequence OF sin IN a benz thst has free vi;
that the choice is mans. and not Gods ~ non
modern substitutes unversalisn. probation asfe-
death and conditional immortality or ann.n''aron
and ended by quoting s. Ausasincs @Npo.i,ian .,
the relation Of f'ar % ov" m Ms comment on ne
passage. Perfect love castcth ont fear" And
% love the needle piercing the sinners hard heart.
and then tho thread % love gaining IL entrance
into that heart Ana rs the medic 5 drawn out.
wing the thread behind 20 keep the work -
cether. SO perfect love casteth out .ear arf tn4s
the work together. binds tho soul 20 God with -.
cords Of that love. Take away" he said The tear
OF future punishment and you take away orc - 80
greatest dctrrents to sin. one Of the greatest helps
to morality