Show SECOND ADVENT AGITATION the religious theme that now per vades christian churches more than any oy other apparently is the second coming of christ not that the doctrine of his speedy advent is universally accepted but the belief is spreading in 16 literal fulfillment fulfilment of the prediction of ancient prophets Prop heta concerning it instead of a figurative interpretation as formerly the latter day saints bainte in the he midst of universal derision have given given an impetus to this as they have ave to many other ad advanced sauced doctrines of the church the denial of infant damnation the belief in different degrees defrees of glory and punishment the hope of eternal progression and the re ae of the ungodly from their wk dark imprisonment when they hall have sufficiently suffered buffered for their rina doctrines preached for fifty years by mormon elders are now the acknowledged principles undated enunciated from many pulpits but aich which were long repudiated by re gio niata of most all denominations and it is surprising that much of the pr prejudice udice which prevails against the cormons mormons Mor mons was originally created by the opposition of minh ministers hersto to these very doctrines when taught by the saints in U early day and although the doctrines have found aund their way gradually into the popular crded the people who first in the present century cent tiry aroused opposition by advocating them thea the a are still under the truce henry ward beecher used to say that it was as fatal an error to be of our time as to lae be behind it sow truel true yet how strange it seems that those who ahead of their time ln 14 thought or revelation are brave enough to present the benefits of their searches to the world should always be made martyrs for the worlds good after irreparable wrong has beon been done them their former opponents open their eyes and a most acute vision supplants supplant the nine days blindness which made them rebel then the most bet singular part of the history transpires instead or of at once acknowledging their past perversity and repairing the injury ury as far as possible these quondam critics cities of so called heresy proceed III jhb th most arro arrogant gaut way to claim the old d condemned doctrines as their own W ones and thus deprive the pioneer 14 the great field of principle of even the credit of his discovery now cornea comes the baptist con conference conferee feren ce in brooklyn klyn and the record shows that it Is t clearly the opinion of many of its hading men that the second coming of christ is at hand and we find pre millennial late among all denominations springing up like long lost heirs to a valuable estate 11 A great revival is pending among all the churches of christendom on this thrill 1139 og theme and the evangelists are likely ely to exceed the most zealous of the fc mormon advocates in locating the time me of the savior saviors Ravi ors Is appearance it Is ig well known by the best students if scripture and among them the latter day saints that certain important events are to precede the com bof of the lord such as the gather 1119 SS of the jews to rebuild their and temple the pouring out of plagues with universal war and monfus on among tho nu eions as also the preparation of a people who shall I 1 be ready to receive the savior through the preaching and practical acceptation of his chopel but the pro pre millennial of the sew new craze as aa it Is termed to use the language ot of dr cuyler con doctor tyne never goes to bed without expecting to see the bord next day and we may add some of them before morning concerning the second advent as a principle or event to be lit literally emily construed and believed there are many very sensible expressions by leading clergymen among these is rev A B pr pritchard it chard pastor of the cumberland street presbyterian church brooklyn this divine said recently 1 I consider that an unbiased study of the scriptures can result only in ones hearty approval of the pre millennial theory of interpretation how one can obey the oft repeated injunctions of scripture to look for the lords appearing 1 if a millennium of time is to intervene between abia and his advent is to me a contradiction of terms which I 1 am unable to reconcile I 1 utterly repudiate the custom of spir that which in any other literary work would be judged by the common buies of grammar to be capable only of literal interpretation the same divine declares that it is nothing but ignorance and prejudice that are the 9 chief causes of opposition to the pre millennial system I 1 doctor do da witt tal as it may seem for one so ostensibly learned according to an interviewer dis clams any knowledge in regard to the doctrine and admits that it is not in his line the sensational expounder of the scriptures expresses the belief however that christ will notre not reappear re appear onearth on earth until the tho judgment day but hedges by asserting that on this subject he doe snot speak authoritative ly the gentleman refers to th the judgment of the nations when as it is asserted in the new testament the ason son of man shall sit upon the throne of his glory or to the time when at the second resurrection cfall all th the dead both small and great shall stand before god is not made clear by bis his statement misstatement but it is altogether probable that he has like many other preachers of great price mixed doctrinal things up a little in his bis mind and having fatter financial fish to fry left the discussion of these deeper but nun productive subjects coless to aless popular divines who have less jess to do and consequently more time for study again the fact that popularity is enhanced more by a conservative acquiescence with everybody than by the radical advocacy of ones own ideas has doubtless substantially impressed the gentleman whose annual income 1419 is greater than that of the president of the united stites states 11 hence we hear him saying these are christian men who make special study of certain branches and are most competent therefore to discuss them the pre many of whom I 1 know and entertain the friendliest and highest opinion of have made the scriptures the subject of the most thorough thought aud and investigation it would not become us therefore to denounce their belief as false when for all I 1 know to the contrary they may havu have arrived at the faith I 1 havo have read the proceedings of the conference foret ioe with the groa greatest test tnt late rBt reet but yet not so BO thoroughly as to feel like expressing any decided opinion on the views presented ff the gentleman I 1 think is to be credited for courtesy it if not for candor in his expressions but why has he not manifested the same charity and conservatism in dealing with the mormon I question why should be so readily denounce what the saints proclaim as the truth of heaven and yet halt between two opinions when other preachers present the same and similar doctrines has he so thoroughly studied their views that he feels able to express ex prees himself decidedly upon them while he confesses ignorance as to one of the plainest doctrines of the new testament I 1 leave the impartial reader to draw his bis own conclusions bex BEN LOMOND washington NaToN D C feb 25 1891 |