The Conditionalist Faith of Our Fathers, vol. 2

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VIII. Baker—Man Not Inherently Immortal; Wicked Will Perish

Another voice was that of Princeton-trained LEWIS CARTER BAKER (1831-1915), editor and author. Ordained in 1860, he became pastor of the Presbyterian church of Camden, New Jersey. From 1885 to 1892 he was editor of Words of Reconciliation, wherein he frequently set forth his views on the immortality question. He also authored The Mystery of Creation and of Man (2nd ed., 1884). In 1888, while still editor, he was brought to trial for his views on “the unseen spiritual world,” and was allowed to withdraw from the Presbytery. 83 Then in 1895 he entered the ministry of the Protestant Episcopal Church, serving two Philadelphia congregations. And from 1901 to 1912 he was chaplain of Christ Church Hospital, Philadelphia. (Pictured on page 520.) CFF2 535.5

1. MAN “NOT INHERENTLY IMMORTAL.”

It was while he was editor of Words of Reconciliation that Baker contributed chapter six to the Symposium in That Unknown Country. In an epitome at the head of the chapter his fuller statement is condensed into these succinct sentences:
“Man not Inherently Immortal, but a Future Life secured for all through Resurrection from the Dead.—... Endless Torment not one of the Alternative States of Future Existence Announced by Christ.—The Soul Perishable as well as the Body, and Torment Can Continue only during such Process of Destruction.” 84
CFF2 535.6

2. ETERNAL LIFE FOR SAINTS; TOTAL DESTRUCTION FOR SINNERS

Concerning the Conditionalist position, he writes:
“Man, the sinner, is a perishable creature and can receive eternal life only as the gift of God through Jesus Christ. It shows how a destruction of body and, after bodily death, of soul, awaits him, unless the soul be saved in Christ.” 85
CFF2 536.1

3. DESTRUCTION INVOLVES DISSOLUTION OF ELEMENTS

In his Mystery of Creation Baker took a positive stand against the Eternal Torment theory. Thus:
“The punishment of sin is to suffer destruction in this abyss of creation’s fire; the dissolution of the elements out of which we have been built up into this highest form of created life. It is to sink back out of this realm of life and light into utter darkness and chaos.” 86
CFF2 536.2

4. THREE CONFLICTING SCHOOLS; ONE IS RIGHT

In harmony with others, Baker lists three conflicting positions held on the fate of the wicked-only one of which can be true:
“1. Restorationism, or the doctrine that all men, after adequate punishment, will obtain eternal life and happiness.
“2. The doctrine of conditional immortality, which affirms that wicked men, failing of eternal life, will be eternally destroyed.
“3. The doctrine of eternal conscious misery, an endless torment.” 87
CFF2 536.3

Baker held to the second, or Conditionalist, position. A growing company held to the same. CFF2 536.4

MAJOR 19TH CENTURY WITNESSES TO CONDITIONALISM—SECTION B
No.PageNameDatePlaceReligionPositionNature of ManIntermediate StatePunishment of Wicked
1404FARRAR, F. W.1877-90EnglandAnglicanDean (Westminster)Champions condit.Ultimate extinction
2412Impey, Wm.1878Eng.—Afr.Wesleyan—Ang.Gen. Supt. (Dist.)(Conditional immort.)No eternal torment
3417Strang, M. W.1876-84ScotlandIndependentEd. (Messenger)Not inher. immortalUltimate destruction
4422Laing, William1850-51ScotlandSecessionAuthorNo immortal soulUnconscious in death
5425Ham, Jas. Panton1849-50EnglandCongregationlPastor—authorImmort. only in ChristNo consciousness
6427Kellaway, Wm.1874EnglandIndependentEd. (Bible Echo)No natural immort.Death a sleep Extinction
7438Homiletic Mthly. (Symp.)1884-85EnglandAll faiths(Stokes & White)No natural immort.Utter abolition
8437SYMPOSIUMS1878Brit. & U.S.Christian World—Contemporary Review—NA Review—Christian Union—Homiletic Magazine (Conditionalist)
9443Denniston J. M.1874Scot.—Jam.Presby.Miss.—author(Conditional immort.)Ceases to be
10447Binney, Thos.1869-74EnglandCongregationlPastor—prof.Conditional immort.Utterly destroyed
11449Rotherham, J. B.1868EnglandDisciplesBible tr.—ed. (Rainbow)Contingent & dependent
12451Morris, Wm.1878Eng —U.S.IndependentMinister—physicianLife only in ChristDeath eternal
13451COND. IM. ASSN.1878-EnglandAll faithsHeralds of Conditional ism—Annual Conferences—Bible Standard (Official Organ)
14452Brown, Geo. A.1877Eng —N.Z.BaptistEd. (Bible Standard)Conditional immort.Utter destruction
15452Warleigh, H. S.1878EnglandAnglicanRector(Mortal)Total extinction
16453Ward, Henry J.1878-90EnglandPres. Cond. Imm. Assn.Conditional immort.Complete destruction
17453Goodwyn, Henry1878-86EnglandLayman—authorConditional immort.Total destruction
18454Vasey, Tos.1868EnglandBapt.—Ind.MinisterLife only in ChristUtter destruction
19454Henn, Silas1873-78EnglandMeth.—Ind.EvangelistConditional immort.Total destructio
20454Brooks, Cyrus1876EnglandMeth.—Free Ch.Min.—Ed. (The Faith)Immort. conditionalTotal destruction
21456Cocorda, Oscar1883ItalyWaldensianEvangelistConditional immort.Complete destruction
22457Forster, E. W.1873EnglandAnglicanSolicitor—ExaminerConditional immort.Total destruction
23457Waylen, Jas.1878EnglandAnglicanHist—artistLife only in ChristTotal destruction
24459“THE FAITH” LIB.1897-1907EnglandAll faiths128 Condit.
25460Winckler G. W.EnglandLayman—authorImmort. conditionalAsleep in deathComplete destruction
26463Bonney, T. G.1885EnglandAnglicanScientist—prof.Life only in Christ
27466Clarke, Thos.EnglandAnglicanSurgeon—prof.Conditional immort.Complete unconsciousn.Total destruction
28467Madeley, FrankEng —ChinaBaptistMissionaryConditional immort.Total destruction
29467Rowe, V. F.EnglandLaymanImmort. conditionalDead not in heavenTotal destruction
30469Moncrieff, Wm. G.1852-91Scot.—Can.Scott. Presby.Minister—authorImmort. conditionalComplete unconsciousn.Ultimate non-exist.
31474Blain, Jacob1853U.S.BaptistPastorNo innate immort.Total destruction
32479HUDSON, C. F.1857-67U.S.Cong.—ind.Pastor—prof.Candidate for immort.Unconscious detentionSecond death—destr.
33489Ives, Chas. L.1877U.S.Physician—prof.Immort. conferredComplete unconsciousn.Totally destroyed
34495PETTINGELL, J. H.1878-84U.S.Cong.—Adv. Chr.Minister—authorCandidate for immort.Utter extinct. life
35505SYMPOSIUM (21)1882U.S.—Brit.—Cont.All faiths—The Life Everlasting—Presentation of Case for ConditionalismTotal destruction
36508Beecher, H. W.1875U.S.CongregationlMinister—ed.Conditional immort.Total destruction
37509Abbott, Lyman1888-90U.S.CongregationlPastor—ed.—authorMortalUtter destruction
38512Stowe, Harriet B.1858U.S.CongregationlAuthorRejects etern. torment
39516Hendrickson, C. R.1882U.S.BaptistPastorImmort. only in ChristNot conscious in deathTotal destruction
40518Butler, C. M.1865-90U.S.EpiscopalianRector—prof.Conditional immort.Total death
41520Bacon, L. W.1882-90U.S.CongregationlPastor—prof —ed.Immort. not inherentNo eternal torment
42521SYMPSIUM (52)1890U.S.That Unknown Country (52 participants)—All three views of trilemma presented
43522Wilson, Jos. D.1882U.S.Ref. Epis.Rector—prof.Immort. conditionalReturns—non-exist.
44524Hart, Wm. R.1882U.S.Layman—businessmanNo innate immort.Ultimate destruction
45528Kramer, Geo. R.1882U.S.Meth.—Ind.PastorImmort. after resurrec.2nd death—no resur.
46529Mann, Cameron1888U.S.Prot.—Epis.BishopNot inherently immort.Ultimate destruction

SIGNIFICANCE OF EVIDENCE REVEALED BY CHART B

1. In 1877 a fresh revolt began against Eternal-Torment that made a worldwide impact, and resulted in a widespread restudy of the issue in Britain, the Continent, America, and beyond, and setting off a chain of developments.

2. Dean Farrar’s epochal Westminster Abbey sermons, in November, 1877, marked a turning point in the consideration of Conditionalism, forcing it to the fore as the center of controversy, investigation, and pulpit discussion, not only in England but out to the ends of the earth, more so than upon any single previous occasion.

3. This resulted in a succession of symposiums-newspaper, periodical, and book-both in Britain and in America, bringing the conflicting positions before multitudes for scrutiny and evaluation. The periodicals were the Homiletic Monthly, Christian World, and Contemporary Review in Britain, and the North American Review, Christian Union, and Homiletic Monthly in the United States. Two of the leading book symposiums were The Life Everlasting (twenty-one contributors), and That Unknown Country (fifty-two participants, pro and con).

4. One abiding result was the formation of a Conditional Immortality Association in Britain-an intradenominational organization, with an official organ (The Bible Standard), and having annual and then semiannual conferences, with noted participants, printed reports, and exerting a marked influence.

5. A large group of able men of all persuasions-not only theologians, but teachers, scientists, historians, physicians, editors, Bible translators, and missionaries, not to mention bishops and deans-affirmed their acceptance of Conditionalism and commanded respect because of their erudition, accomplishments, and prominence.

6. Nevertheless, the awakened interest resulted in a wave of repression and ostracism in some sections, extending out to many lands-not only in Britain and Scotland but in Belgium, South Africa, Japan, China, and the United States-bringing the issue before multitudes from yet another angle.

7. Five additional Conditionalist periodicals in Britain and America-The Messenger, Bible Echo, Rainbow, Bible Standard, and The Faith-provided the medium for contacting large groups of readers.

8. The production of a remarkable pamphlet literature (The Faith Library) with 128 separate items-comprising special contributions, addresses, reprints of choice book chapters or periodical articles, discussions, and research findings-provided choice inexpensive literature for wide distribution.

9. Various publishers arose who continued to give wings to new books, periodicals, pamphlets, and tracts in different lands, but chiefly in Britain and America.

10. Two American writers produced books of exceptional merit-Prof. Charles F. Hudson and Rev. John H. Pettingell—comparable to the writings of Constable in Britain, and lifting the level of Conditionalist scholarship and appeal in North America.

11. Noted American names likewise appear on the Conditionalist roster-like Dr. Lyman Abbott and world-known author Harriet Beecher Stowe. And famous preachers now back the Conditionalist position in a spreading revolt against the dogma of Eternal Torment.

Technical Aspects of This Period

The denominational spread in this time section (B) is more diversified-nine Anglican (or Episcopal), nine Congregational, seven Independent or Non-Conformist, four Presbyterian, two Methodist (or Wesleyan), and one each of Disciple, Waldensian, and Advent Christian.

In geographical distribution there was also a marked shift. While nineteen were in Britain, fourteen were now in America, with the rest spread over Italy, South Africa, New Zealand, Canada, Jamaica, Japan, and China.

And as to positions or vocations of these spokesmen, there were one bishop, one dean, a general superintendent, twelve university, seminary, or college professors, twelve pastors or rectors, six editors, four physicians, and four missionaries, as well as a Bible translator, an evangelist, a lawyer, a scientist, prominent laymen, and military men-and all of them authors. These take up the cudgels, producing books of merit as well as unnumbered periodical articles.