The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1900-12-07
CheRemnrrat-S Star
"wHAT HAS BECOME OF HELL?
Atlanta Constitution.

Atlanta Constitution.
we are struck with an article which
recently appeared in n Of the maya.
zines discussing the subject OF nine.
teenth century changes in theology
under the title, what has Become
of Heii?"
Many changes have taken place OF
late years in the character OF the
preaching which we are accustomed
to hear from our pulpits so that the
question. "What Has Become OF
HELP" is strictly in order. Who OF
us nowadays ever hear sermons in
which the word fire. and "brimstone'
occur? Or sermons like those which
John the Baptist preached when he
stood upon the banks OF Jordan and
wanted men to flee from the wrath to
come? In recent years so many frills
have been added to the gospel in de.
ference t0 what may be termed the
spirit Of w0rldlincsS that our simple
forefathers, II they could come back
to life, would never recognize IL as the
gospel which they used tn hear preach.
ed in early days, and which guided
them peacefully and happy through
death into glory. We never hear the
gospel preached nowadays like the
ministers OF the old school used to
preach il and we sOmtimes End our
selves wondering II the slow progress
which Christianity Is making In this
age Of the world when everything else
runs by electricity Is not due to this
fact. Popularity seems to be the ulti.
matum at which most Of our modern
preachers aim. They seem to be more
ambitious to please men than to save
men: more anxious to flatter their
vanities than to save their souls. II
the kingdoms Of this world areever to
become the Kingdoms OF Christ there
must be no abandonment Of this spirit
OF time.serving in religion. Ministers
must plant themselves squarcly upon
the cross Of Christ. They must 20
back To the methods which the ap0St.
les themSelvS used, and they must
show the magnitude of the Savior's
atoning work notonly by pointing out
the sacrctlces which He made upon
the cross. but also by pOrtraying the
horrors OF that abode Of evil spirits
from whose tnrturcs He died to rescue
men.
W. are old fashioned enough to he.
lievc that ''hades" is no substitute
for hell In 0ur system Of theology and
we lose u patience as quickly in list.
ening to preachers who talk Of ''hades'
as VIC do to preachers who try tn
preach hell out Of existence altogether.
We would like to believe that no such
place as hell existed, but We cannot
get behind what the good book says
on this subject aud we cannot silence
the voice of that inner register which
asserts that just as truly as the sun
rises aud sets just as truly must they
suffer who set at defiance the laws OF
God inscribed upon the heart. II the
doctrines Of rewards and penalties
holds good in the world Of flesh why
should it not hold equally good in the
world OF spirit? We do not undertake
To interpret scripture for others. The.
OlOgy Is rot n hobby. But we do
undertake to interpret scripture for
ourselves, and bringing our unprofes.
sional but honest powers OF scrutiny
TO bear upon the declarations of the
good book. we believe that hell exists
and we believe that preachers ought
to so inform their congregations.
One reason why our modern pulpit
lacks the force which characterize the
pulpit Of fifty years ago Is that preach.
ers DO not put enough fire and brim-
stone into the sermon which they
preach from Sabbath to Sabbath. In.
stead OF bringing the world up to the
standard Of the gospel they are bring.
Ing the gospel down to the standard
OF the world, and the outcome OF this
departure from the beaten paths OF
orthodoxy must eventually be the
overthrow Of Christianity unless d.
vine power intervcncs to prevent this
result. We are hopeful enough to be.
lieve that the pendulum will s0on
swing back and that our ministers will
soon return to the methods OF the old
school, but in the meantime as we
listen to the chimings Of the Sabbath
bells as they float out this morning
upon the tranquil air and summon us
to the discourses which await US in
the sanctuarics VIC find ourselves con.
fronted with the question, "What Has
Become Of Help"
IL Is a common fallacy that impure
water becomes sterilized at a temper.
ture Of % degrees. One OF the most
curious facts about bacteria Is that
while a single ray Of sunlight will ex.
tinguish the life Of innumerable
hordes, and while a very moderate in.
crease in the temperature around
them will have the same effect, they
are absolutely uninjured by any de.
gree Of cold.
"HannaiSm and McKinlpviam tin