Arizona daily citizen., 1901-09-18
A REVIVAL OF HELL,

There are indications that we
are to have revival of hell. Since
the assassination of President Nc
Kinley the parsons and preachers
exhibit tendency of returning to
first principles and dealing out
birthstone in old fashioned doses.
Alta meeting of ministers in San
Francisco last Sunday, representa-
tives of nearly all the evangelical
denominations being present, it
was decided that the modern pull
pit has not fully done its duty by
way of preaching fire and brim-
stone for sinners. They argued
that fear of hell was stronger than
the love of God in the average hu-
man mind, and that fellows OF the
school CT Czolgosz can only be
saved through their terrors.
This is highly interesting. There
was a time, and not very long ago,
when the greater portion OF every
sermon was devoted to generous
discussion of future punishment;
and the minister who could make
the flames crackle the loudest and
leap the highest was awarded the
palm of ministerial eloquence.
But while liberal dose of hell
will be apt to make the sermon
more interesting, we seriously
doubt if the ministers can best
serve the cause of Christianity by
dwelling upon the more gloomy
features of its doctrine. Ingersoll,
in one of his lectures, used to give
ludicrous description of the brlm-
stone sermons of his boyhood; and
while few people will sympathize
with the great agnostic in his gen
eral condemnation of Christianity,
the vast majority today are prob
ably opposed to emphasizing the
punishment that aWaits the viola
ton of divine law. Henry Ward
Beecher one of the grandest mo.
dern exponents of Christianity
was outspoken in his opposition
during the latter days of his life,
He suffered no little censure at
the time of his declaration, but
ever since there has been re-
markabIe decline in the popularity
Of the birthstone sermon.
The chances are that the edict of
the San Francisco ministers, if
carried out, will only succeed in
creating a useless controversy in
the ecclesiastical world which is
far from unanimous in its concep-
tion of future punishment. The
more enlightened and intellectual
and learned of the clergymen can
hold a congregation without appeal
ing to hell for aid, but the average
clerical barn stormer would be as
much out of his element without
the birthstone flames, as the circus
clown without paint tand pomatum.
But whatever the effect may be
it will be refreshing to hear these
good men preach of the lake OF
birthstone and burning Goals and
describe, exaltingly, just how many
shovelfuls of rod-hot embers will
be thrown upon a.sinner for each
particular sin. 1t is going back
ward somewhat, but to many it
will seem like going back to the
home of their childhood and will
be a pleasant sensation, while at
the same time the perspective will
be much less alluring than their
youthful fancy painted it.
We think, however, that the
ministers who promulgated the
birthstone order will not be able
to persuade their more intellectual
and learned fellow-laborers in the
vineyard OF the King of Love to
accept their views. They have
gotten out of the habit of talking
brimstoneand their fancy has been
sadly crippled by lack Of exercise.
The congregation, too, would much
prefer, perhaps, to hear of the
sweeter part OF Christianity the
teachings of Christ. 1t is very
doubtful il any man can be really
frightened into repentance. Gen.
uine Christianity ismore frequent
~ engendered through the gospel
Of lcve. "