The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-10-22
PEOPLES
Sermon by
CHARLES T.
RUSSELL,
Pastor Brooklyn
Tabernacle.

The only proper contentment is that
which combines with godliness and
which sees from the standpoint of
Gods Word the Divine power able TO
correct the difficulties which assail US
and all mankind. The godly believer
thus instructed is able to appropriate
to himself the Divine promises of
providential care and thus to be con-
tent with conditions which are not
satisfactory.
On the other hand, those who either
do not know of the Divine power, or
have lost their faith in Divine wis
dom, chafe more and more under pres
ent conditions. And the more diScon-
tented they become, the greater is
doubt of Divine love, wisdom and
power. Self-dependence is poor sub
stitute and. as disappointments come,
the combative find anger. malice. ha
tired, envy and strife surging through
their minds. Then they become rabid
socialists and are in the way to even
tually become rabid anarchists.
Again we have those who term
themselves Christian Socialists. These
well-meaning souls perceive The stu
alton of their brethren and say. Yes.
the world should be socially trans
formed. Its riches should not flow,
as at present, into the favored chan
nels, but should be scattered every
where for the general refreshment
and comfort of mankind as a whole.
They philosophize on what God surely
would and surely would not approve
amongst men, and then declare that
all Christians should at once set about
TO secure to the world of mankind Il
just division of Gods bounties. Their
love and zeal for right principles we
should and do admire and commend.
But we cannot commend their course.
their hopes, their preaching. by which
they seek to obtain the ends desired.
Recognizing the principles of Divine
Justice they seek to apply these, for
getful of the fact that they have not
the Divine Wisdom necessary to a
proper application.
They seem to forget also that justice
has been the same for several thou
sand years past. and that Divine Wis
dom has not yet seen fit to establish
Divine Justice amongst men. If they
think that this is neglect on Gods
part which they are wise enough to
rectify. the thought is evidently an
erroneous one. If they believe. on the
contrary. that the time for the estab-
lishment of justice was not in the
past. but has now come. they should
be able to find and point us to Di-
vine revelation to this effect. practical
~ authorizing them to take their stand
now for socialism and explaining that
the due time for the prosperity of JUS
tice has now come and how they shall
proceed and what shall be the out
come. But do they offer us such evil
dences from the Bible: DO they offer
us such proofs as these? Nay. verify.
Like the other socialists they are mere
ly discontinued and become discomfort
ed seeking remedy.
From the Bible standpoint the world
is not properly ready for its own con-
troll under any form of government.
1t is a rebellious province in the Di-
vine Empire-one in which sin and
selfshness and death constitute the
ruling elements. The Bible declares
that what the world needs is a mon
archy-a strong. centralized govern
ment in which the masses must not be
allowed to have a voice at all, be-
cause, in their fallen condition. they
know not what is for their own highest
good. The Bible tells us that present in
situations. under the power of selfish
ness, driving the wealthy in one direc-
ton and the masses in the opposite
direction. is about to bring universal
crash = anarchy. This and atheijti(
socialism and Christian socialism. and
in a larger sense. general seltishness
and discomfort are urging upon the
two great combatants. both of whom
will fall in the struggle. never to rise
again. However. according to the
Scriptures they will be succeeded by
the Kingdom of Gods dear Son.
That strong Government. that theoc
racy to which every knee must bow
duu every tOuSuc NoulVSo " tuC Sioi
of God. is the Kingdom that the world
needs. Its rule of righteousness alone
will bring to mankind the joy anf
peace and blessing which all crave
but which none of us are wise enough
to know how TO bring about-not ever
our socialist friends. The part of faitl
and the part of wisdom is to look unto
the Lord from whom cOmeth our help
Nor should we look to him 10 approve
our methods. but rather to be Informed
respecting his methods and to approve
them and to cooperate to the eXteot y
our abilities.
Church Congress of Boston.
At church congress recently hell
in Boston day was given to the dis
cussion of Christian Socialism. Bot
sides of the question were permitted
to be presented. One minister. Rev
erend Eliot White. is reported in tn
christian Socialist" as having mad
the following statement
''Let us answer. Hasten the Ga.
when Labor. united. shall shake off it
chainsv Our part as Christians is t
help, men out of every bondage. w
are not perturbed that Socialism. IN IL
eagerness to rid Labor OF materla
bonds. has not vet realized the weigh