The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1913-08-05

g them, from the
ElMSI0RRU5SELDl text, Elise were
your children un7
holy, but now are they holy."-1 Co
%rinthians TIA.
The Pastor declared that his text,
which differentiated between holy and
not holy infants, was probably the ba-
sis for much of the confusion which
has prevailed in all denominations on
the subject Of infant salvation and in
FAINT damnation. Before discussing his
text, he wished to call the attention
Of his hearers to the fact that about
two months ago the Presbyterian Gen
eral Assembly in the United States
had taken a very advanced theological
step on this subject. According to
telegraphic dispatches, it has altered
the Presbyterian Confession of Faith
so as to save the non-elect infants as
well as the elect ones.
The thought that God had arranged a
Plan by which some infants would go
to Heaven at death, and other infants
would so to eternal torture, has for
centuries greatly troubled the minds
Of all Christian people-Catholic and
Protestant. Some said that the elect
infants would be saved and the nom
elect infants would be tortured. 9th
ers had it that any infant by baptism
would be brought into the Church and
be saved, while infants not thus bap-
tized or sprinkled would go to eternal
torture. Others had it1that none could
be- saved without regeneration, and
these were perplexed to knowthow in
fants could be said to be regenerated.
Therefore how could they hope that
any infants would be saved2 The
hearts and the heads, of all good people
have suffered terribly for many centu-
ries because of these confused ideas.
1t is gratifying, the Pastor declared,
to see that with the Presbyterians, at
least, love and sympathy have triumph
ed; and that, SO far as they are con-
cerned, thirty thousand infants daily
go to Heaven. instead of going to He'll.
Certainly this is a missionary project
Of no mean proportions! At this rate
they no doubt believe that Heaven will
o o begin to have reasonable proper
tons, as compared with He'll. We re-
greet that the brethren did not take any
measures looking toward the relief of
the non-elect infants of the past who
now must number thousands Of mil
lions. 1t is worthy of consideration,
and we trust will have their attention.
And since the matter is so, easily ad-
justed, why would 1t not be the proper
thing for all Christian denominations
to fellow the lead and example of the
Presbyterians? We fear that not many
Of the other denominations will join
the .Presbyterians in their generous
worI1 Of helping the infants. They
might reason that If all infants dying
in infancy are saved, it might be the
safest thing that parents could do for
their children to insure their eternal
salvation by killing them in infancy.
Then baby incubators and various de-
vices-medicines, foods, etc.-intended
for the preservation Of infants lives
might come to be considered detriment-
al to the eternal interests of the chill
dren!
Bat how foolish all such theories
seem! How beautiful by contrast is
the simple teaching of the Bible, that
the salvation for all-old and young,
of heather lands as well as OF Chris
tian lands-is through the resurrection
power Of Mes&ah's Kingdom-through
Its enlightening and uplifting. OF res
urrecting Influences! Why should we
longer trouble with the errors OF the
Dark Ages when Gods Message. the
Bible, is now opening up for His peo-
pie, shining as an electric lamp. in con-
trast with the tallow-candle darkness
Of the creeds?
Unable to Agree.
Pastor Russell declared that he felt
great sympathy for the nov made by
the Presbyterian brethren, but. never
theless, he was unable to agree with
their conclusions. believing that the
Bible teaches otherwise. He realized
that the Presbyterian view of Election
made 1t dificult for thenaato deal with
the n%on-elect, both adults and infants.
He found the Scriptures declaring that
God lis selecting. or electing, the
Church from amongst the world. He
conceded that those not elected would
be properly termed non-elect. But he
found nothing III the Bible to indicate
that non-election to- joint-heirship liz
Messiah's Kingdom would mean pre-
destination to an eternity Of torture.
The Pastor realized, too, that the