The evening times., 1899-12-23

erstions ago he would have found that al
most all men OF his class agreed with him,
| he will now meet with very different re-
| cepticn. By most OF his brother clergy
| men he will be ignored. and those who
notice him will behave toward him with
kindly tolerance. but noS with enthusias-
| tic sympathy.
The gentleman from Georgia prophesies
that Harvard University, with her "Unita-
rian. Universalist, and infidel propagand-
! ism" will know and realize in certain day
of wrath that there is place of everlasting
fire. He says that the majority Of schools
| and colleges in the North and West-he
kindly eyempts his own section from this
! sweeping siatement-are going to perdi-
tion at the rate of a mile a minute. He
, declares that the new teachers of relig-
ion will be at the place of burning "in
droves"
There is what enc might call suspicion
of gloatiug in the tone OF this reverend
gentleman as he pictures this remarkable
scene. There used to be circulated among
devout people a religious poem. written
one hundred and fifty years ago or
90, in which it was said that the
righteous would sit in armchairs, com
| fortably watching the agonies of the un-
righteous as they sizZled in sulphurous
iiames. The vividness with which Mr.
Brougbton depicts the fate of those whom
he eonsideres the wicked suggests that he
would rather like season ticket 10 one
of those armchairs, and that he expects
to have very good time seeing the fulfill
ment of his grewsome prophecy during the
first few aeons of his stay in the ether
world. II that is the sort OF standard OF
love and justice that he holds up to his
congregation, perhaps he would find his
happiest field OF labor somewhere near
Maysville, Ky.
Be it observed that the objection which
this interesting minister of God has 10
those whom he denources is that they ale
too merciful and dc not believe as much as
they ought in the eternal punishment of
those who 40 not agree with them. They
believe in looking at the Bible as If * Was
Intended for man to read with his BRAIN,
and understand and follow inteiligcntiy if
possible. not hiinSly. They do not think
that Mr. Broughton will be condemned -
hroil on a gridron Tor millions of years, II
lie does not accept the higher criticism,
and they are willing % admit thai people
can even 90 TO heaven without accepting
thar particular doctrine. There is saying
in tie New Testament tn the effect that
men shall he judged as they judge others.
Il this is trGe, i. looks ss if Lyman Abbott,
Dr. Briggs. and the other charitable people
would have an easier time Than the gen
tleman who is so earnestly denouncing
them. Nowhere is it written That
men shall be sent TO their pun
ishment or their reward because
one. or twelve, or a hundred, or
M jority Of their fellow-1en say either
that they deserve bliss or torture. Rut :, is
stated quite clearly that if man iadses
another man he is in some danger o. being
y,dged himself Has Mr. Br0ughJon ever
thought about this?
Less ,han a hundred years aso-even hlty
years ago-practically all orthodox clergy
men held the amazing doctrines now set
forth by Mr. Bruughton. and some OF them
gave open and lively expression TO sucn
opinion. There is no justification in either
the Old or the New Testament for suppos-
ing that man will be condemned To eter-
nal torment for refusing 10 believe that
there is any such thing. 1t is hard 10 see
how such a belief helps 20 make anyone
more kind. more charitable, more Justice
loving, or more sane ia judgment Il is
absolutely certain that many people have
been made savage and cruel b. it. We
may well rejoice that it has SO nearly dis
appeared from civilized lands.