Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 202, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 August 1913 — MANY FEELING AFTER THE GOD OF LOVE [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

MANY FEELING AFTER THE GOD OF LOVE

“ Darkness Covers the Earth.” "Lead, Kindly Light, hold the Encircling Gloom.” Pastor Russell Thrills Believers and Bkeptics by His Picture of the True Bod—The Pastor’s Early Teaching of Hell—He Became a Skeptic—Hla Recovery of More Faith' In the Bible Than He Had Loot —God’s Wisdom, Justice, Love and Power—Boul Satisfaction In None Other,

London, August 24. Pastor Russell addressed the London T&bernacl e congregation today, from the text, “God so loved the world that He* gave His Only Begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him might not perish, but have everlasting life.’*—John 3:16.

The Pastor declared that the doctrine of total' depravity is totally wrong. The likeness of God, which was perfect in Adam, still persists in Adam’s children, sadly fallen thongh they be. Apparently none is so fallen as not to bave some conception of his own debasement, and to feel worthy of punishment. In every human breast there Is also a sentiment of pity, and an appreciation of pity from others, and a feeling of the need of Divine pity. Many Christians are benevolent, sympathetic, ready to help the unfortunate, to sing them songs of God’s love, and to place before them texts telling of God’s sympathy and pity. But these helps are discounted by the great central thought—supported by all creedsMhat God is angry with humanity, and busily engaged In sending nearly every member of our race to an eternity, of torture—ninety thousand per day being ifce present schedule. Creeds Drive Away From God. Then the Pastor showed that while the Christian forgets the atrocious misrepresentations given by the creeds, and remembers chiefly the loving words given by the Bible, the sinner’s thoughts revert to the teaching that eternal torment is his doom. Anxious to forget God and the future, he escapes best from all religious thought tn the bar-room, at the gaming table, and In general surrender to sin. He is Miserable in the presence of the pure, and fears the Bible. After quoting Bt Paul’s words, “The god of this world hath blinded the minds of those who believe not,” the Pastor declared that Satan had introduced atrocious misrepresentations of God’s character into the creeds of Christian pepple during the Dark. Ages, and that the blindness resulting from these “doctrines of demons” is found everywhere, even among .believers. Few see anything respecting God and the everlasting future clearly; few can give a reason for their hope. Let us not forget, said Pastor Russell, that Satan has used Christian tongues and pens to blind the world. We owe it to ourselves, our families and the world in general to destroy these blasphemous misrepresentations of the Divine character and plan. Since our eyes are opening to see the situation, how can we be otherwise than indignant, and Jealous for the honor of our God and for the Influence of His Truth amongst our fellowmen! The Pastor's Personal Experience. The Pastor then related his personal experience in learning to know God. The child of believing parents, he was Indoctrinated along Cajvlnlstic lines to believe that only the Elect would leach glory, and that the non-elect would be eternally tormented. He was accustomed to think himself as one of the Elect, and to appreciate the love of God in providing for their salvation. As a boy of seventeen, a member of the Y. M. C. A., he engaged In what was called Gospel preaching. Like the others, he pictured Hell and shook his hearers over it Finally reason asserted Itself. He stopped preaching and examined the creeds. He found the differences between them trivial; and that all taught the salvation of the few, and eternal torture for the remainder. Feeling sure that a real God could not have made such a plan, he threw away the creeds, and with them the Bible, believing it to be the basis of them all. . But having once known God as bis Heavenly Father, his soul hungered for Divine love and care. After long etudy, he became convinced that the Creator, whose Wisdom and Power are everywhere manifest must also be a God of Justice and Love. 'With the eyea of bis understanding be saw the great God of the Universe. Then he began a search for God’s Message to humanity. Having, as he supposed, sufficiently examined the Bible, he turned to heathen religions, only to find them less rational, though less fiendish, than his own. Finally he resolved to study tlm Bible afresh, with untrammeled mind. Gradually the Lord led him into clear light, until he found that the basis of all our difficulty Is our following Satan’s lie— “Ve shall not surely die.” Thenceforth' the entire Bible became grand and harmonious. Now it stands' pre-eminent before his niind aa the Word of God.

Miss Mary Robinson, of,Morocco, is visiting her sister, Mrs. Harve J. Robinson, for a short time. Mrs. Mary Parker and daughter, Miss Hazel, returned to Francesville today after a visit here with Mr. and Mrs. Will Timmons. The infant daughter born several days ago to Mr. and Mrs. Charles Hemphill, was very sick Saturday and Sunday but is now considerably improved and the outlook for'its living are very much improved. Miss Ella Welsh, after spending the summer with her brothers, Ben and Louis, and their sister, in Rensselaer, left this morning for Bakersfield, Cal., Where she will, again teach school the coming year. Mr. and Mrs. George Reed returned last Wednesday from Lheir month’s visit and auto trip in Illinois, where they attended the Chautauqua at Pana and visited relatives and friends at that place end Havana and Champaign. They were visited here over Sunday by Mr. Homer Ainsworth, of Havana. If Alf Donnelly was not a well known temperance man his conduct this morning would have looked mighty suspicious. He had a flask filled with vinegar and a little hand keg of sweet cider and with this display of samples made a trip to Lafayette to veil cider vinegar and onions. He did not take any onions along, remarking that they will speak for themselves. rMs. Kate R. Watson and daughter, Miss Myra, returned home Saturday from a seven weeks’ visit in the northwest. They went from’Chicago to Tacoma, Wash., over the Canadian Pacific and returned over the Oregon Short Line and the Denver and Rio Grande. They -had a most enjoyable visit with relatives at Tacoma and the trip proved very pleasant in every way. Mr. and Mrs. C. L. Benedict, of Slater, Mo., were guests from Saturday until this morning of Mr. and Mrs. Geo. H. their daughter, Miss Vera, remained for the week to visit Vera Healey. Mrs. Benedict and Mrs. Healey were girlhood friends and until recently had not heard from one another for almost twenty years. Their meeting took place when Mrs. Healey visited in Missouri a few weeks ago.