The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-07-03
Conversion After Death" Is
the Subject of Interest
ing Lecture.
BENJAMIN H. BARTON
GIVES STRONG ADDRESS
His Views on the Matter Are
Presented in FOrcefuI
Manner.

Conversion After Death was the sub
ject OF an exceptional address delivered
before q large congregation yesterday af-
ternoon AT knights Of Columbus hall. lSi
East First South street, by Benjamin FL.
Barton OF Philadelphia. "A travelling rep
resentatve of the International Bible Stu
dents association who IS recognized as II
student of careful reasoning and extend :
ed experience on both sides of the At
]antic Mr.. Barton holds views closely
similar To those OF Pastor Russell. who
spoke here about ten DAYS ago. The
meeting WIS held under the auspices OF
the local class OF the Bible association
over which r. r. Clark prestdes. Mr
Barton was also the speaker at evening
services held in the same hall.
In opening his remarks Mr.. Barton said
that as the subject he had chosen was
not one easily exhausted. his discourse
could only be calculated To touch upon
some OF the most important reasons Tor
believing that the opportunity Tor workihg
out a salvation OF the soul was mol limitcd
To the short span OF a human lifetime
lie declared that OF the great many de-
nominations in the world. differing IN
beliefs and precepts, none was me rea!
church OF Christ except that which IN
cluded among its members none but real
Christians.
There are many so-callcd Christians. he
said, who belong To the church Of their
choice. but who In reality have never
been converted. Aside from the millions
of unconverted Christians. he asserted,
there were over 500. 600 900 beings among
the heathens and nations of The earth
who had never heard the name OF Christ
or the plan Of salvation.
Hope in Hereafter.
knowing this" he said. land also that
there are many In our very midst who
although belonging 10 Il church, nave
never been converted In the sense that
they have truly surrendered their hearts
unto Christ's every WILL we are naturally
confronted with the questio... What hope
have these great multitudes of the 5ln-
man race for post-mortem conversion
Paul makes IT known that the true
church is of the first born whose names
are written In heaven Christ is often
compared to the head OF the body and
the church of Christ the body. We know
that every intelligent action OF the hu-
man body Is controlled by the head. the
intellect So Christ controls his church,
There is but one will, one. mind We
must. live with an eye single to his
in whose life this change has taken place
Is a member OF Chrtst's church Refor-
nation and conversion are two different
things.
THE Bible says They shall be mine in
that day when make up my jewels We
know that all obstacles absorb light In
absorb light, but 1t Is jewel that re-
fleets. diamond Is SO is Chris
tan. diamond not only absorhs light;
II reflects It, We must not only absorb
In our daily life TO become jewels.
''Christ's church will be small. In the
words OF the prophets. Many are, Are called a
IL is my fathers good pleasure to give
you the kingdom and again. Straight
and narrow is the path and few there be
that find It
God Is Merciful
"But II this Is to be So why should !
We fear that the others. those who have
not found the way, those who have never !
been given a real opportunity of sensing
the truth. should be lost forever Paul
says Even so. have these also now not
believed. that through your mercy they
also may obtain mercy? The Bible leads
us to believe that there must be some
arrangement for the saving OF these many |
souls some plan for conversion after
death. The idea that all unconverted
would be lost is false.
"Our belief in just and merciful God |
discountehances the opinion that all eX
ccpt those who are chosen by their works |
and faithfulness. by sacrifice and self
denial shall be forever lost We have
spoken of those among the heathens who
have and perhaps never will hear the
gospel We have spoken OF the millions
in our very midst who are not convert !
ed. who are the victims of environment.
hereditary conditions and circumstances
over which they have control. Think
OF the persons who have existed in insan- |
ity. Think Of the Inultitudinous ways In !
which souls could he and are prevented
from realizing or hearing the plan OF
Ire. Are We TO suppose lDal tneSe VIII
all be lost? Is salvation to be such
a gamble? No Those who have not had
an opportunity for salvation in this life
will have one some day. in the next life. |
The insane will be delivered from their
punishment and will have the chance to
accept Christ on the day of Judgment.
The Second Coming.
Some people have a thousand chances
10 another's one. But for every part of
a chance there will have 10 be an ac-
counting. The Lord will give each one
what Is coming 10 him. The Lord is 60
ing 10 come 10 earth again and reign a
thousand years. We call this the milen-
MUM Then he will gather unto him
The jewels. l do not believe that he will
reign visibly on a throne. | believe Inc
Will exert wonderful power by invis- !
ible but active omniprcscnce. The eyes
OF the understanding will realize tha
the new dispensation has come and tina
.Ieeus is the king. Satan stands invisible. |
Who has seen him? But Satan VIII be
hound for thousand years.
Tho day of Judgment will not he "A
twenty-four hour day. II viii be a thou
sand years The unconvcrtnd will .ise
from the dead and will Ec brought to
earth. The people of Sodom shall return
TO their former state The dead shall
return To earth. The blood OF Jesus will
give every living being "A full IMPARTIAL
opportunity To get eternal life III that
opportunity Is willfully thrown away.
there Will be no second opportunity ex-
copt in the pleasure of the Lord and
eternity