East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1912-08-13
RELIGIOUS CONVENTION
REPUDIATfS DOCTRINE
OF HE'LL FIRE

. bl'H I-tuOs-lnt not Dllu- uInnel
convention of the International Bible
Students at Glen Echo Park, Wash
ington, ID. c., in passing their now IA
nous resolution, made so big a noise
about "Hell-Flre and Birthstone
that the old ecclesiastical lineup was
thoroughly routed and put to flight
and an entirely new formation OF
forces is now in the making II sure.
ly was a big gun that was fired from
Glen Echo into the camp of the stand
patters, and the noise will echo and
re-echO throughout the eccesiastlca
heavens for some time to come.
Gen. VIM. p. Hall, u. S A., brave
Indian fighter Of the past, IL calling
for the public reputation of the hell
fire theory, claimed that to do 80
would create a situation in America
that would enable thousands Of min
listers to publicly declare what they
freely admit privately. The desired
reputation was made and the gener-
al spontaneous response from min
listers of all denominations vindicates
the general as an excellent tactician,
Canon Henson of Westminster Alb
hey, in confirming Reputation of the
eternal torment doctrine of the dark
ages" said: II think the American
religious public is generations behind
us, although | don't say that indi-
vidual American divines aren't the
equals OF ours
The famous r.. j. Campbell, of Lon
don, representing the Non-Conform-
list view. said: This seems to me
to be a very belated pronouncement
! don't know any clergyman here who
believes in eternal punishment; nor
do | think any educated clergyman
has done SO for many years"
Rev Arthur l.. Odell a st. Louis
pastor said. Il do not know of any
Presbyterian minister who believes or
breaches this idea. OF course, this
literal hell was an idea widely held
in earlier years, but the church is
breaking away from many of the con-
ceptions of past ages"
Archbishop Glennon, although evad-
ing the direct questions, leaves the
impression that the Catholic clergy
no longer believes in literal hell. He
said. It's too hot to talk about such
a subject today AS to wether Cath
Ollie clergymen preach hell-fire l will
say that we preach the faith, and our
faith is the faith of the church."
Rev David S. Phelan, editor West
ern Watchman," stated: Catholic
priests do not preach a hell of fire.
The church has not taken a definite
position on the subject"
Rev. DIR. James w. Lee, of the
Methodist Episcopal church South,
stated: Il do not believe in a fire.
and birthstone hell, and l think /
have never heard but one sermon in
which that belief was expressed, and
that was down in Georgia years ago"
Rabbi Adolph Rosentretes is quot
ed as saying with emphasis: The
resolution passed by the Bible Stu
dents at Washington ought to have
been passed 1900 years ago. | do
not believe in literal hell of fire, of
course. orthodox Jews do not hold
that idea"
The christian Leader and Way
prints the following: THE American
Association of Bible Study has soem-
My stated that there is no hell. \
conference of English ministers has
adopted the same view. \ few days
ago the Ministerial Association of
Marietta solemnly promulgated or in
dorsed a like doctrine. In other
words, the authorities of the Chris
tian churches seem to agree-+hat the
old Biblical conception of a hell of
unending torment. of fire and brim-
stone, is illogical and untruthful."
Pastor Russell of London and Brook
lyn Tabernacles says: IF the Bible
does teach that eternal torture is the
fate of all except the saints. it should
be preached. yes, thundered, weely,
daily. hourly. If it does not so teach.
the fact should be made known and
the foul stain dishonoring Gods holy
name removed -"
Until the passing of the Washington
resolution few ministers could safely
publicly repudiate the hell-fire error. /
lest they be charged by other minis /
ters with seeking personal noteriety. /.
as a sort of unwritten code of ethics .
in ministerial associations forbids in /.
dividual action on this and kindred .
matters. Now that the theological at /
mosphere has been cleared of a dis /
crediting and deterring fallacy the .
by many that strained Christians. and .
by many that strained hristians. and |
possibly some skeptics, may be re-
gained to UNCONVENTIONAL activities.
The resolution as adopted in Wash /
.ington follows:
Resolved: That 1t is the sense of |
the International Bible Students del |
egates here assembled, that we do not .
find the Bible to teach the doctrine
of literal "hell-fire" or place of
fire ana birthstone" for the punish
ment Of the. wicked; but that secular .
history. ofstlr, formation of the Freeds .
OF the mflate hages reveals the, facl +
that for various reasons. either wisely .
'Sr 1rnwiselN the doctrine df tormeuts
in .-.hell- -fiSe" was added to the Cos
Us slrhN Jesns. and thS twelvs
'6ipSostles." "Nf NnfiescessitatinRg' manf'Nfidicus
lous. us.iaterppetstions.af Of s1he .LQras -paI--
'aBfess SSYe:'' 'riferefore,M ,Mpow NhTeser'-i
edly repudiate as thoroughly unscrip- |
tpral thestea ching oGa place state or !
condition of literal Take of fire and
brimstone,A for the torment ~.of the !
wicked. and. further we believe /
CATARRH CANNOT BE CURED