CORRESPONDENCE.

Press, Volume XXXVII, Issue 5127, 8 February 1882, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

THE WEBLEYAN CONFERENCE LEOTUBE. TO THB BDITOB OP THB PRESS. Sib,—As there seems to be a great deal of misunderstanding with regard to the Wesleyan Conference leoture, will you allow mc spaco for a few words of explanation. Tbe topic assigned mc by the committee war " The immortality of the human soul— is it immortal by creation or by redemption?" I was informed by the secretary of the committee that the objeot of the last Conference in arranging for an annual leoture WBS not the dogmatic exposition of any subjeot as held by our Ohuroh, but the bringing together of the leading opinions of the day on tbe questions seleoted ; that the lecturer was not to be the mouthpiece of the Conference, and was not to receive a vote of thanks, that he was to be left perfectly free toTpeak simply as a man, bringing together the best results of his reading and thinking during the year. These instructions were exaotly in harmony with my own views, and I accordingly accepted the position of leoturer for the present year. After first endeavoring to summarise the '< affirmations of Scripture and the demonstrations of science concerning the nature and destiny of man, and then criticising tbe leading theories of the day, I sketched a further hypothesis embracing tbe following conclusions :—

1. That all creature life is divine force conditioned by the form and character of the organism through which it is manifested. 2. That every plant and animal is a complex organism, having a physical and a spiritual part. 3. That, in the ease of man, the spiritual part is capable of surviving the Bhocfc of physical death, and of continuing the functions of mind.

4, That permanent immortality is secured by. redemption, understanding by redemption, not an arbitrary transaction, but the entire process by which the diseases of the soul are healed and its functions brought into harmony with law. The possibility of a hopelessly diseased or inoapable state of the spiritual organism, and the consequences that would follow, were re. ferred to but not discussed. It was simply suggested that everything abnormal tends towards extinction, and that, if human souls become hopelessly wioked, they wul at lest cease to be, unless their continuance is required by the scheme of redemption itself—a supposition which many are quite unable to accept. My theory rejeots everything arbitrary, and assumes that the principles of Divine Government are the same everywhere, and the same for ever. I claimed for this theory that it v> as in harmony with the spirit j and aim of Methodism, and I have yet to be convinced that this is not correct.

It is impossible, of course, to reconcile the action of the Conference with the instructions famished to the lecturer; but those who suppDrted the motion which gave rise to the discussion did what they thought it was their duty to do, and should not be charged with unworthy motives. The whole case shows, not that Wesleyan ministers are narrow, but tbat they are cautiously advancing towards greater liberty of thought on some ot the more difficult problems of religious philosophy. Yours, &C., J. H. SrtfKOKDS.

Eaiapci, February 7th

The Rational Dress Reform naturally it opposed to tight lacing, to high heeled shoes, to heavy and ill distributed under clothing, and to cloaks and mantles which tie down the arms of the wearer to her sides, like a trussed fowl ready for the spit. On the Czar'a recent railway journey to Moscow the line was guarded throughout its length by soldiery. At every hundred paces bayonets glistened, and at intervals tente shone white and camp fires gleamed. The Emperor was anxious that tbe Empress should remain behind with the Imperial children at Peterhoff, but she insisted on accompanying her husband, to share hit fortunes whatever they might be.