The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-03-12
ARGUMENT OF DESPERATION.
THAT OF DIR. MENDEs so CHARAC-
TERIZED BY DIR. JORDAN.

Pastor of the Baptist Church Re-
ferred TO the Hebrew Minister'S
Denominating An Eternal He'll as
Existing Only i'm the Narrow Minds
of Bigots and Religious Fanatics.
The Statement Repudiated BY DR..
JOrdnn-He Also Took Up the Mat
ter of the Conflict in Religion That
Had Been Mentioned by DIR. Mem
des, Explaining the Difference Be
tween Unitarians and other De-
nominations.
Rev. DR.. John D. Jordan in opening
his sermon last night at the Fipst Bap
list Church, dwelt for a short time upon
the criticism offered by Rev DR.. l. P.
Mendes of the Congregation Mickva Is
rael upon "a deplorable conflict" that is
carried on in the field of religion.
Dr. Mendes referred in his sermon last
Friday afternoon, which was epitomized
by the Morning News, to a recent diff
| ference of opinion among churchmen at
the North that prevented Unitarians wor-
shipping with members of other Christian
congregations. He also referred 20 an
eternal hell as existing only in the mar
row minds of bigots and religious IA
natics.
Dr.. Jordan told of the movement begun
some time ago in Brooklyn for a consoli-
dalton of various Christian congregations
for the purpose of holding a revival of
evangelical services. For some reason
Unitarians took offense and Withdrew
from the consolidation. DR.. Jordan said
that the Unitarians do not beAeve in the
divinity of Christ or that He died in
atonement for the sins of the world
The great surprise, DR.. Jordan said, was
that Unitarians should have cared to en-
ter into services with other churches with
their belief so contrary and distinct
though he was even more surprised that
| the preachers representing the other de-
nominations should have ever considered
| holding joint worship with people who de-
MED the great tenets of the faith as it Is
Upheld by Baptists, Methodists, Episco-
palians and other denominations. 1t is
difficult for DR.. Jordan 10 understand how
| services could possibly be conducted with
out the great principles of the divinity
and atonement of Christ and to him it
was no surprise that there should have
been differences and feeling created that
induced the Unitarans to Withdraw
Taking the example of Christian and
a Jew, DR.. Jordan said that he and a
devout Jew might pray together to the
| God of Abraham and of Isaac and of ia
cob, lifting their voices and laying bare
their hearts without the sensiblities of
either being shocked. This, however
would be only for such time as the
Christian avoided an appeal to Jesus
Christ whom the Jews do not recognize
as the Messiah. In a prayer Of
fered in the name of Jesus the
devout Jew would not join. The preacher
believes the chasm between other
| Christian denominations and the Unita-
r1ans is great, and that as the Jew and
the Christian could not kneel together in
suPpliauce TO Christ, so Unitarians and
those of other denominations could not
combine for the worship of God
The pastor recalled to his congregation
| that the Jewish minister had referred to
the belief of many in an eternal he'll
though without mentioning the name of
Dr. Mendes. He said: "A distinguished
/ friend Of mine in his pulpit the other ,lay
/ branded belief in an eternal hell as held
by narrow-minded bigots and religious IA
natics. This is an argument of despera-
/ ton, made only because of no concurrent
I belief 1t is NOT an argument that at
/ tracts or couvinces. God forbid that I
should use such an argument. 1t is not in
accord with the teachings of Christ and
| would never win men TO Him"
Dr. Jordan then passed on 10 the con-
| sideration of the points of his sermon,
| which was of the goodness of God, as
/ shown by His patience and long suffering
ard the temporal comforts extended TO
| those who love and honor Him.