The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1913-08-08

rllsDlaGS I'll.
The Pastor declared that mis- text.
which differentiated between holy and
not holy infants, was probably The ba-
sis 20: much of the confusion which
has prevailed in all denominations on
the subject of infant salvation and in
text. he wished to cali the attention
Of his bearers 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
Geographic dispatches. it has altered
tie Presbyterian Confession of Faith
so as to save the non-clect infants as
we'll as the elect ones.
The thought that God had arranged
Plan ny which some infants would go
IL Heaven at death, and other infants
would GO 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 non
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-
sized or sprinkled would go TO eternal
torture. Others had it that none could
be saved without regeneration. and
these We're perrlexed to know how in
fants could be said TO be regenerated.
Therefore bow could they hope that
any iIfants would be saved? 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-
c,''ned, thirty thousapd infants daily
80 to Heaven, instead of going to He'll.
Certainly this is missionary project
cf no mean proportions! At this rate
they no doubt believe that Heaven will
soon begin to have reasonable proper
tio,ls. as compared with He'll. We re-
g.et that the brethren did not take any
measures looking toward the relief of
the non-elect infants of the past who
nov must number thousands of mil
lions. 1t is worthy of consideration.
and we trust will hive their attention.
And since the matter is so easily ad-
jnSted, why would 1t not be the proper
thing for all Christian denominations
TO follow the lead and example of the
Prcsbyterians? We fear that not many
of the other denominations will join
tie presbyterians IN their generous
wcik cf helping the infants. They
might reason that II all infants dying
H. infun1y are saved. il might be the
:. safest thing that parents could do for
their children to insure their eternal
salvation by killing them in infancy.
Then baby iDcubators and various de-
viCcs--medicines foods. etc.--intended
for TIE preservation of infants lives
might come 10 be considered detriment-
nj 20 tie eternal interests of the chill
Gren.
But how foolish all such theories
seem. How beautiful by contrast is
the simple tenchng of the Bible. that
III. salvation for ail-old and young.
OF .,eathen lands as well as of Chris
tan ;ands-is through the resurrection
power Of Messiah's Kingdom-through
its enlightening and uplifting. or res
directing 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 be felt
great sympathy for the move 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 difficult for them to deal with
5 the non-elect. both adults and infants.
He found the Scriptures declaring that
God Is selecting. or electing. the
Church from amongst the world He
conceded that those not elected would
be properly termed non-elect. But be
found. nothing In the Bible to indicate
that non-eIection to joint-helrship in
Messiah's Kingdom would mean pre-
destination to an eternity of torture.
The Pastor realized. too that thu