The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-03-27
IDOCTRINAL CHANGES.
NMore Careful Study of Bible
Leads to Changed Views, But
Eternal Punishment Be-
lieved Firmly AS
Ever"

To the Editor of the State Journal.
Would you be kind enough to give the
enclosed communication a place in the
Journal this evening? I am sorry to
trespass on your kindness, but I feel
that your comment on my sermon on
page 4 of last evenings Journal makes
some explanation necessary in justice
to myself presume there were fully
400 readers of the Journal in my con-
gregation Sunday evening. They heard
my sermon and have read your COM
ment. They will do one or other of US
an injustice unless some explanation is
made. 1 do not wish people to think
that I hold views which do not hold.
The Journal has been very kind to me
during the ten years l have been pas
tor in Topeka, but believe this is the
first time 1 have ever asked for any
space in your columns except for my
regular church notices. My sermon dis
cuSSing Mr.. Howe'S articles was preach
ed at the request of the young men of
my congregation. I would have much
preferred if the paper had taken no no
tice of it, But since it has been noticed,
1 should like a correct impression to be
conveyed of what 1 said.
The Communication.
To the Editor of the State Journal.
Will you kindly permit me a few
words of explanation in regard to my
comment on your editorial of March II,
to which you made reference in last
evenings Journal?
In that editorial you said: eff you are
a father you may have a bright little
girl or boy, pure minded and beautiful;
not old enough to profess the faith.
You do not believe that because she
does not, she will be burned eternally
in hell-fre and birthstone Nobody be-
1eVeS 1t. There are preachers in
this town who try to make you think
that they believe it. but they do not
When read these words, supposed
thew had definite al nd I f1sio
to find out what that meaning was
Certain preachers in this town are here
charged with teaching a certain doc
trine. But what doctrine? Not the
doctrine of future punishment for will
full sin persisted in by people of mature
years; but that innocent children not
old enough to profess faith in Christ
will for that very reason be burned
eternally in hell-fire and birthstone
If your language is clear and definite,
and [ assume that it is, ministers are
here accused of preaching the so-called
doctrine Of Infant damnation" You
certainly did not simply intend to criti-
cize the general doctrine of future pen
atty for sin; for, if you did why drag
into the discussion any reference to in
nocent children, as if they were in great
danger because too young to personally
accept salvation through Christ?
The ministers or orthodox evangelical
churches teach now, as they have ever
done, that sin persisted in here must
bIlHS- SOIIOW hereafter. DuC Oh course
this only applies to those old enough to
make deliberate choice of evil causes.
They teach this because they believe it
is in harmony with both reason and
revelation. But we rejoice that the
Scriptures teach that children dying too
young Ito profess the faith are per-
fectly safe. There was indeed a time
in the long ago. when some ministers of
orthodox churches taught that even
children under certain circumstances
would suffer eternal punishment. But
a more careful study of Gods Word has
led to the abandonment of this view
The eternal punishment of the will
fully wicked is believed now as firmly
as ever. We do not rejoice in the doc
trine but it is a solemn truth taught
by Christ himself and can not be ig-
nored. But no orthodox minister now
teaches the eternal punishment of little
children. Your editorial clearly charged
some with doing So. Many others be-
side myself understood your editorial
in the same way. In my sermon sim
ply suggested that any minister holding
such a theory in this age of enlightened
Bible study would certainly be a rare
curiosity. w. B. HUTCHINSON.
Topeka, March 81, 1900.