The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-08-19

CLERGYMEN ENDORSE

(Bv the Religious perambulatnr. ON
ciai Reporter for the |. s. s. A.
The hot midsummer convention OF
the International Bible Students AZ
Glen Echo Park, Washington. ID, c.,
in passing their now famous resolu-
de so big noise about he'll
FIRE and birthstone that the old
ecclesiastical lineup was thoroughly
routed and put to flight. ana an en-
tireIy new formation Of forces Is now
In the making. 1t surely was q big
gun that was fred from Glen Echo
into the camp of tho standpatters, and
the noise will echo and re-echo
throughout the ecclesiastical heavens
for some time TO come.
General William f. Hall, +. S 4.
a brave Indian fighter OF the past.
in. RI Hing for the public reputation Of
the hell-fire theory. claimed that TO
DO so would create a situation in
America that would enable thousa nds
Of ministers to publicly declare what
they freely admit privately. The de-
sired reputation WAS made and the
general spontaneous response from
ministers Of all denominations yindi-
Gates the general as an excellent tao
tician.
Hard on ItinerantS.
Tho present general reputation Of
the helltire theory by the clergy or
the Evangelical Alliance will no doubt
be considered by the public as n
startling admission. and Is in striking
contrast with the opinion still held
by so per cent of the people who were
reared under and taught by theee
same clergy The impressions gained
In childhood from the ministers that
the Bible was the authority for the
fire and birthstone nell will be hard
to erase. 1t is acknowledged that 10
per cent of the people reared under
sectarian instruction, when arriving
at tho age Of discretion, discard as I'M
christian and unreasonable the hell
fire mythology OF the Middle Ages
and as they believe the Bible respon-
sible for the doctrine, they lose respect
for the Bible and for the church. and
discard both and join the big congre-
CATION composed Of detached Chris
tia MS and skeptics.
The midsummer resolution repu-
dating and RELOCATING to the ash heap
the redhot he'll fire deception, SO won
derfully described by Milton anc
Dante. and pictured by Gustave Dore
will probably be nkened unto Shakes
peare's Midsummer Nights Dream,
by BILLY Sunday. Gypsy Smith and
their kind It's tough on these gen
tlemen. toe. st this stage of their IL
iustrious career. to be deprived oil
their hell fireworks and birthstone
their only argument Their undolng
however, will he sweet morssl FOL
the Men and Religion Congress PEG
pie. who have declared agains
"HiueFant evangelista'
Ciergyinen Endorse.
From among the hundreds OF re-
Gently published expressions from
leading lergymen Of all denominations
on the Washington anti hell-rre
resolution we quote:
Canon Henson. or Westminster
Abbey in confirming reputation Of
the eternal torment doctrifte of th'
dark ages" said; Il think the Ameri'
can religious public is generations be
hind lis. although l don't say that IN
dtvidual American divines aren't the
equals Of ours"
The famous III J. Campbell. OF Lon
don, representing the Non-tonfornTis
view, said; This seems to me to b.
very belated pronouncement.
don't know any clergyman here wiz
believes In eternal punish ment. no.
% / think any educated clergyman
has done so for many years
Rev. Arthur l.. odell. "A st. Loul
pastor, said. II do not know OF any
Presbyterian minister who believes oil
breaches this idea, OF course, thi:
literal hell was an idea widely held II
earlier years, but the church is break
ing away from many Of the concep-
tons of past ages"
Archbishop Glennon. although evad
ing the direct question, leaves th'
impression that the Cathofc clergy nc
longer believe in literal hell. He said
It's too hot to talk about such sub
5ect today AS TO whether Catholic
clergymen preach hell fire, | will say
that We preach the faith, and our faith
is the faith Of the church"
Rev David s. Phel9n, editor West
ern Waterman" stated: Catholic
priests do not preach a hell OF IRE
Fhe church has not taken definite
position on the subject"
Rev. DIR. James w, Lee. of th'
Methodist Episcopal Church, south
stated. Il do not believe In a fire-and
birthstone hell. and i think / have
never heard but one sermon in which
l1lT Dsli6I HfS tA pIcSsfSL. ana ltld
was down in Georgia years ago"
Rabbi Adolph Rsosentreter is quoted
as saying with emphasis: The resolu
tion passed by the Bible Students, a
Washington ought to have been passe,
500 years ago. l do not believe II
a literal hell OF fire, or course. Ortho
dox Jews do not hold that idea
Illogical and Cntruthful.
The Christian Leader and Way
prints the following: THE. Americal
Association for Bible study ia
| solemniy stated that there Is no hell
A conference of English ministers ha.
adopted the same view few day
ago the Ministerial Association o
Marietta solemnly promulgated or in
dorsed II like doctrine. In other words
the authorities OF the Christian
churches seem 10 agree that the OILS
Biblical conception Of a he'll OF un
| ending torment, OF fire and birthstone
| is illogical and untruthful."
Pastor Russell. OF London an
I Brooklyn tabernacles, says: IF tn
| Bible does teach that eternal torture j
| the fate of all except the saints, I
should he preached. yea. Numbered
weekly, daily, hourly If 1t does no
so should he p4a "A