The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1911-08-29
REPLY TO IRA c. MOORE.

We wish to say a few words in re.
ply to an article appearing in your Is
sue Of August 18th, signed by Ira G
Moore, Barrackville, w. Va. 1t is not
our desire, nor de we wish to take up
your space in lengthy article on this
subject, but we would like to set forth
a few facts for the consideration OF
honest lnquiring minds. The subject
of eternal torment has been handed
down to us from the dark ages, when
everything pertaining to freedom OF
religious thought was stifled and held
in control by the Roman Catholic
church, and 1t was as much AS lie
was worth to contradict them, but
now thank the Lord the light is shin
Ing much brighter and we can see
those dark superstitions fading away
in the light of Gods blessed truth, and
we are realizing that our God is not
a demon who delights in the suffering
of his creatures, but on the other
hand, as the Apostle declares God Is
Love-" and that He desires THAT all
men be saved and come to knowl
edge of the truth" And when we be-
bin to realize that lie is so merCitul
and that our Savior rebuked the early
disciples for wishing to punish Their
enemies, and admonished them to
Glove their enemies and pray for those
that despitefully use you and perse
cute YOU" and never taught them In
any way that eternal torment was 70
be any ones fate, We are certainly
convinced that "the god OF this world
(satan) has blinded the eyes of those
that believe not" by his doctrine oil
devils"
And further We are convinced that
the talk Of the Master in Luke 10
which our friend says was a literal
statement of facts was not so, under
stood by the apostles, or they would
have SO taught the carly church, buI
on the contrary We find them teach
ing the church that the wages of sin
is DEATH" (not eternal torment) ant
that God will visit everlasting destruc
ton, (not everlasting preservahon) or
all who will learn to obey Him.
And we do not think that Bro. Moore
would like to abide by literal Inter
probation of this statement of Oul
Lords, because It would certainly
change the whole tenor of the preach
|lag OF today, for the reason that II
would be necessary for our ministers
to 90 out telling the people that they
must not have any Of this worlds
goods, nor wear good clothes, nor cal
good food, but must on the other hant
be clothed in rags and be covered
with sores, and lay at the gate of the
rich man begging for the crumbs thai
fell from his table, and moreover
have the dogs lick his sores. The frs
sttae described above was what the
rich man was condemned for, and The
latter was what Lazarus was rewarded
for, II SO be that II Is literal. Thus
you see that we could not tell the pco
pie that God rewarded those thai
served him; and punished those thai
disobeyed, but would have to tell then
that He rewarded and punished in the
future life in accordance as our cir
cumstances. placed us in this life. Thli
shows, lis how inconsistent we would
make this scripture by placing a lit
eral construction this parable, fol
parable It must be, when you cannot
make all parts OF 1t literal, Ind4at the
game, time not contradict other plair
statements Of the gospel.
Time and space will not permit Vi
to enter into an explanation OF thi'
subject, but we will gladly mail to any
one that Is interested full and com
plete explanation OF this scripture ant
all others that have been construed
by warping and twisting to NEAR
eternal torment, and prove every one
OF them by Gods Holy Word, on re
celpt Of a postal request for same
And we also hope that Bro. Moore
will get his spiritual eyes open to SOC
with NIL OF Gods saints the heights
and breadths, and depths, and to know
the love OF God which passeth all I'm ~
derstanding.
Yours with a deep desire To- know qlrl
the truth. a Il NJ
n, !, II Burton, Nv. Va w