Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-11-16
CALLED THEM FRAUDS.
Locke'S Caustic Remarks on Divine
Healers and Impostors.
A PLAIN DEFINITION OF PRAYER,
DR.. Holmes Shows How Satan Seeks Mems
Vulnerable Points.
WORK AMONG TIE VARIOUS CHURCHES

Rev. Charles Edward Locke spoke yes
terday in the Smithfeld Street NJ. E. Church
on the topic, "False Prophets, Ancient and
Modern The text was: Beware of false
prophets which come to you in sleeps
clothing, but invardly they are ravening
wolves" The sermon was . bold and
timely exposition of this text, and applica-
ticns were made to the present, which
caused no little sensation. The speaker
said IN substance:
SIT is only step from religion to super
stition, from zeal to fanaticism. Zeal is
power, but fanaticism is weakness. Zeal
possesses the lever that viii move the
world, but fanaticism stultifes the truth
and defeats the very purpose for which it
exists. Hence the great teacher said to be-
ware of false prophets, for they would soon
come, and, if possible, deceive the very
elect
''ln early times more than score of
men have appeared claiming. to be
Christ but none have been able to
suhstantiate their claims. Here
the speaker reviewed the history
of false teachers and said: ''Our own century
has been very prolific in their production.
There were the Millerites who sold their
property and donned their ascension robes.
S9i-itualism has piled its horrid trade of
desecratinn and falsehoods.
Attacks Teed and Mormonism.
"The loathesome and cancerous institu-
tion of Mcrmonism was founded upon q
romance which fell into the hands of Pitts
burg printer, one Sidney Rigdon. who,
associating himself with one Joseph
Smith. who was either a fool or fraud,
established the great Mormon theocracy,
which has spread itself like a green
bav tree But. thank God, it looks
now as if this awful curse which began
about the first decade of this century would
receive its death sentence before the last
decade shall have come to close. If news
paper reports are correct one of these false
prophets has imposed himself upon our in
dustrioUs and abstemious neighbors at
Economy. It is to be hoped that these
pious, frugal and honorable people will dis
cover their error and refuse to be victimized
and devoured by these ravening wolves.
Certain false teachers who call themselves
divine healers spring up from time
TO time. They come, consume
much time in telling what they have done
and what they propose 10 do, and finally
leave with possibly case of hysteria or
supposed sickness reported cured 1t is
not enough for these so called teachers to
tell of blind ewes being opened in Australia.
L they would remove suspicion and lift
themselves out of the role of fimpostors they
must open some blind ewes in America.
''But how will we recognize false
prophet? Our Great Teacher explains that
they come in sleeps clothing. That is in
Ga1 ln
prayers, expound the Scriptures and thus
ingratiate themselves in the sympathies of
good people, until some thoughtful people |
ere willing TO conclude that bad men could
not appear so devout and holy.
A Parting Shot for DR.. Dowie.
''Jesas further saws they are raveuing
wolves: rapacous, greedy, devouring; they
are malicious, not hesitating to malgn and
rllity the church, the ministry, the doc
1rines and sacred institutions of Christian
l-y. They are conceited egotists who are |
seeking 1or cheap notoriety, and who prac- |
flee their diabolical deception for the sake |
Of the almighty dollar, for which they |
make frequent appeals. Emphasis is placed |
Upon collections and, when they dare, they
have the efironterv to offer for sale their
photographs and ungrammatical pamphlets
All teachers are to be known by their
fruits They are to be judged by what
they do and not by what they profess to do.
f'St. Peter. in writing concerning these
false teachers, says that many shall follow
their perniCious ways by reason of whom
the truth shall be evil spoken Of Chris
1lans must beware lest as custodiaGs of the
truth which is 10 save the world they dis
grace the truth by identifying themselves
with false teachers and suffering themselves
TO be Influenced by the harrangues and ex-
travagant claims of these perambulating
iU1postOrS -