The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1926-11-17
THE NEED OF A NEW HEAVEN
BY n. ID. Cochran

When those eminent English preachers started
in to abolish hell they started something. Now we've
got to lose heaven too
Preaching the Cathedral of st. John the Divine,
New York, Dean Robbins calls for a poet to
picture heaven and hell in terms worthy Of modern
intelligence. Here's how he wipes off the map the
oldfashoned abiding places in the hereafter of saved
and lost souls
There has been a good deal in the newspapers
recently about the reputation Of the doctrine of hell
the part of certain prominent English ecclesastcs
If by hell they mean the old-fashoned doctrine of
literal fire and birthstone, few will be found to dispute
their conclusions. That doctrine is obsolete among
intelligent people the pearly gates and the golden
streets and eternal harpng harps which still bulk
too largely in our hymns about heaven. 1t is quite
time I think for modern poet to give his faith
and his imagination free rein and picture the future
of the blessed in hymn which will be attractive
to generation Jerusalem the Golden" to
the generation which flourshed the year grace
1145"
He also calls upon the poet for new and modern
hell but says that both heaven and hell must be
psychological.
Maybe Brother Robbins is right, but many of
less intelligent people have lingering affection for
the heaven and hell Of grandmothers. We don't
nina bit of modern Improvements in the scenery
bring both places up to date, but the dear old harp
shouldn't give to the radio until scientists take out
the static and gabby announcers have been abolished
The announcer who is fit to handle that job in
perfect heaven has not yet been evolved; and it
wouldn't do to have all the programs come from the
neither world even If they psychological There
may be a few announcers in purgatory, but that's
about to heaven they'll get-provided they
go where most listenersin have assigned them.
After ALL 1t isn't much what changes made
in the scenery who will be found either place
when get there. Beautiful fairways may be sub
stituted golden cobbestones riumphal arches for
the peary and the younger angels may bob their
hair but such things material while the angels
with whom have to associate take into
the spiritual side of life beyond the grave.
Anyhow, don't think material things should
be thought Of in connection with heaven. Because
thinking about Christian and not Moham-
rnedan heaven. Until missionaries convent
them needn't bother about the heathen Nor need
this poet himself with Chinese, Japs
Hindus and other unbelevers. Until establish
harmonious league of nations here earth it's just
as well not to try hand at organizing heaven
an international universal cosmio scale.
Perhaps it would simplify matters If don't
in too much territory. We may have
trouble getting together what American Christians
well let in. For in psychological heaven there
is much celestiazng to do before get Protest
ant Catholic other kinds of Christians to throw off
their earthly habiliments and live together in peace
and harmony as plain Christians.
The dig into this subject the less
inclined the solution of it to poet Perhaps
it would be safer to let each individual organize his
own personal heaven for himself Those who expect
prefer to the other place should have the
privilege of selforganization- Either that leave the
entire matter to GOD.