The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-04-19


Episcopal church are az liberty to reject
the theory Of the verbal inspiration OF
the Bible, and TO cherish the hope that
finally all men will come into the light
Of truth and righteousness. For that
is what salvation means--not escaping
from fire and worms, but from seldsh-
ness and greed and all that mars and
mains the character OF the soul.
One assertion Of Mr.. Macarthurs must
be fatty contradlcted. He says, The
churches, fathers, scholars, theologians
were practically a unit in their belief
in endless punishment. And those
churches to-day who have contrary
belief are relatively small and yearly
getting smaller" Against this state-
ment ! set the following quotations from
learned authors, "Tho doctrine OF a
general restoration Of all rational crea-
lures has been recommended by very
many Of the greatest~ thinkers Of the
ancient church and OF modern times"
(Reuss. Hist. de la theol. Apostl "Ths
school Of Antioch had no hesitation IN
hoping for an end OF the pains Of the
other world" (Munterl. "Uniyersalism
in the fourth century drove its roots
down deeply, alike ia The East and West,
and had very many defender" lDietel-
maiersl. Just as any teacher in Chris
tianity lowered aloft, so in proportion
did he bold and defend the termination
of penalties at some time in the future"
(Doederlinl.
Indeed, so far from Mr.. Macarthur's
assertion being true, It Is beyond ques-
ton that those who believed and taught
UniYersalism were among the most emf
nent and the most holy Of the Christian
fathers Such was the open teaching Of
Gregory, bishop Of Nyssa, saint and CON
lessor, one Of the greatest Of bishops; a
member of that general council which
gave us the present form Of the Nicene
creed. In my own church 1.-THE Episco-
pail the belief in the ultimate victory
Of God, in the salvation of all men from
sin and hell, Is held by many of the
most learned and sanity diyines, by
bishops and presbyters, and Is openly
taught. Thank God that an Episcopalian
may be also a Universalist, may hold
the catholic verities and believe that
God win yet be "All IN all"
/ have already mentioned a great
bishop who openly taught Universalism;
one who cannot be accused Of having
written "wavering and illogical sermons"
las Mr.. Macarthur charges against Mr..
Poolel; one 10 whom Greek was his
mother tongue, and who therefore knew
the fun meaning OF the word "aionion."
let we now quote a modern bishop. one
of the profoundest Of Greek scholars,
Bishop Lightfoot of Durham ION Col
/, 1911; "All things must find their
meeting pDint, their reconciliation at
length in Him from Whom they took
their rise The Word is the final cause
as well as the creative agent in the
universe. Sometimes Il Is represented
as the bith throe and deliyeranee OF
All creation through Christ from. viii,
1917. Sometimes it is the absolute and
final subsection Of universal nature TO
Him II. Cor. XIV, 2Sl. Sometimes it Is
the reconciliation Of all things through
him lCol. /, 20l. Sometimes Il Is the
reeapitulation the gathering up in one
head Of the universe in Him fEph. !, l0j.
The Eternal Word Is the Goal Of the
universe, as He was its starting point.
II must end in unity, as Il proceeded
from unity, and the center Of this unity
is Christ" Again ION Phil. Il, 10, l0j,
where st. Paul says that 'in the name
Of Jesus every knee should bow, and
every tongue confess that Jesus Christ
is Lord" Bishop Lightfoot comments:
IAN things whatsoever and wheresoever
they be. The whole universe, whether
animate or inanimate, bends the knee in
homage and raises It's voice in praise.n
Universalist does not make light OF
sin; II presses on al the certainty Of
punishment TO come; but it sees that all |
punishment, even though it last for
ages, is designed to work correction and
that the law Of conse- |
1uences is memorable. But finally God |
viii conquer and the cross Of Christ Be
triumphant. Jesus Christ fltlflls his
promise to draw all men unto Himself ?
and God is-not All in some-but aAll /
IN all.s
] remain, Yours sincerely,
Episcopalian.