CONDITIONAL IMMORTALITY. POLEMICAL DISCUSSION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XX, Issue 6811, 15 September 1883, Page 5

CONDITIONAL IMMORTALITY. POLEMICAL DISCUSSION.

CONCLUSION. CRITICISM ON THE CHESS TOURNAMENT. The sixth arid last night of this discussion brought a very large audience to the Theatre Royal yesterday evening. M'r. Thompson, City Councillor, occupied the chair. Mr. fltrrsoN commenced by explaining that, on the previous evening, after a journey of 100 miles, his argument was; riot so satisfactory to himself as it might have been. He proposed, in the first place, to give a synthesis of his arguments a whole. The audience would recollect that :hiT 'w as the affirmative proposition— 1 ' The 'soul is immortal." His argument? in support, of that proposition were—l. The. consensus gentium —the common conviction Of mankind. 2. The assertions of that belief by the wisest and beet men in all ages and countries. 3. The majesty of conscience appealing from a tribunal of man to that of God. 4. The impossibility of having a religion without its fundamental idea that man had a higher and nobler part than his material nature. 5. Inferenoes from the creation and. the testimony of Scripture linking men on to a Divinity, testifying that man had as a part of his nature something, more than the' beasts. 6. The recognition of the Old and New Testament of the fact that inari possesses a double nature ; that the part which is not material is spiritual, and that the spirit is immortal. 7. The work of Christ would have been rneaningles3 and nugatory if man were other than " immortal,"

Mr. Beown, in reply, cited the passage! from Genesis which forbade the first man i ating of the tree of li fe, lest he should live for ever. God did not permit that. Why ? Because if man were created immortal, then was the wholes hum in race liable to everlasting torture. Be could not refer to this matter without' profound seriousness. He believed Mr. Hntson to be a good and conscientious man, doing his best to support the doctrines of the Church to which he belonged. God be praised.. He barred the way to the tree of life. God saw what would follow man's access to it. Did not the erthodoxy of Mr. Butson's Church teach that millions of innOoent beings were plunged day after day into eternal tortures, for it must be so if man were from the beginning immortal and destined by eternal torments? He (Mr. Brown) waa more profoundly impressed with the seriousness of the subject when he considered the abject worldliness on the part of that Church, who bad not merely gone into the world to preach their doctrine, but had even now, while thousands of the race were dropping into the infernal regions,, taken to the Btago to raise money for their Church. (Applause.) [The speaker again referred to passages previously cited by him, to the effect that the man made of dust Went down into the grave, " and the dead know' not anything."] Mr. Hdtson, in reply, questioned the correctness of the interpretation put upon the passage by his opponent, and denied the inferences derived therefrom. He complained that Mr. Brown should have taunted him ! with what was going on in the other theatre, and exclaimed, "Ah, my friends, it is true, and it is a shame to the Church that it should be bo." The audience, however, should remember that what was going on there did not in the ltasfc affect the truth of the argument. (Applause.) _He proceeded I to deny categorically the claims of "conditional immortality " to be considered truth by referring back to his synthesis of argument to which tbey stood ia direct opposition. He wished the audience to understand that he came there to contend for what he believed to be truth. He did not consider what was 4>iost popular or paid best. He did battle for the truth that was in him to the best of his ability. Mr. Brown followed with a summary of the arguments upon Which he relied throughout the discussion, in support of the affirmative of "conditional immortality.He wished to inform the audience that he was even worse paid than lii.s opponent; for he hadn't made any money by the doctrine he preached during the three years he had been in Auckland.

Mr. Dixon, on behalf of the committee of management, proposed a vote of thanks to the Chairman. ,

Mr. Aldridge, a listener, seoonded the motion, which was carried by acclamation. Mr. Aldridqe proposed a vote of thanks to the committee, which was carried unanimously. Mr. MoNaught proposed a vote of thanks to Messrß. Brown and Hutsoii. When he considered the position of Mr. lint son, as compared with the way iu which his "brethren were engaged higher up the street," the vote should be heaTty and cordial. (Applause.) The vote was put and carried unanimously. The Chairman, Mr. Dixon*, and each of the disputants, returned thank* for the compliment paid to them by the audience. In this manner the debate, extending over six nights, was closed.