The Monroe journal., 1910-08-09
PASTOR RUSSELL.
Christian Globe
UfLondOn.

Beecher and DR.. Talmage, no preach
or has occupied so prominent a posi-
lion in the United States of America
as Pastor Russell of Brooklyn Tab
ernacle holds today. Now, we on
this side Of the Atlantic are to be
privileged to listen to the man, the
announcement of whose name fills TO
overlooking the largest halls in the
States, whose converts are numbered
by thousands, and whose sermons
appear regularly in six hundred
newspapers, reaching millions Of
homes. Pastor Russell will be the
principal speaker at the meetings OF
the International Bible Students As
ISOLATION, which are to be held at the
Albert Hall on the evening of Sun
day next and the two following Sun
days. He will, in addition, visit
during the next three weeks the prin-
cipal cities and towns in England,
Scotland and Ireland, delivering ad-
dresses and endeavoring to bring
about in the British Isles some such
awakening to Bible truths as has
marked his career in America. Like
Beecher and Talmage, both Of the
same "city Of churches" Pastor Rus
sell is an independent teacher, not
allied to any particular denomina-
tional organization, giving his time,
his strength, and his great powers of
oratory to the moulding Of public
thought with charity toward all and
malice toward none" Above all, the
Pastor may be described as strictly
orthodox, evidenced by his close ad-
herence to the Bible as the inspired
word of God. In reference to this,
an old American friend of his, now
visiting England, remarked to the
writer: "After all, if the Bible is to
be mans only chart and compass as
respects God and the future, it is
impossible to give too earnest heed
to its teaching Although Pastor
Russell holds to the Bible tenacious
ly, he claims to have proved that on
some points it has been misunder-
stood by friends as well as foes. He
has called attention to few faulty
translations, and has offered prefer
able interpretations of some of the
parallels, and altogether has thrown
a new light on the Scriptures. There
is nothing in the Bible that he eth
er denies or doubts, but there are
many texts on which he throws a
food Of light that seems to uncover
their meaning. AS Pastor Russell is
to play an important part in the
May meetings, a brief sketch of his
life may be Of interest to our read
ers. He is Of Seotch-lrish parentage,
born in Pittsburg, Pa, in 1852. He
was brought up and educated as a
Congregationalist, being a very de-
vout, earnest and jealous church and
Sunday school worker in his youth.
In his endeavors to persuade an in
fdel friend into a belief in the Bible
as being Gods inspired word, he
himself was driven into infdelity by
questions which he could not answer.
In his search for a basis upon which
to build his hope for future bliss, he
undertook a lengthy investigation Of
the claims Of Confucus, Mahomet,
Buddha and other founders of reli-
gion; these he found TO be unsatis-
factory to either heart or head. AL
most without hope, he took up the
claims as presented by the various
christian denominations, also the
systematic study of the question Of
the punishment of sin. His findings
upon the latter were such as to re-
store perfect confidence in the Bible
as Gods inspired word and revela-
ton of His purposes towards man.
kind. Pastor Russell in 1877 began
TO come prominently before the pub
lie eye in connection with Bible lee
lures delivered in various cities in
New England, his work centering at
that time in Boston. Intervening
years have been full of activities
along the line of biblical interpreta-
tons through religious journals,
magazines, newspapers, books, tracts,
ETC., and the public platform. As
before stated, over six hundred lead
ing American newspapers now pub
lish Pastor Russells sermons week
ly, reaching approximately ten mil
lion homes. He is also author of
works entitled, Studies in the Scrip
lures" over three million copies be-
ing in the hands Of readers. The
fourth million is now in the press.
This is remarkable testimony to
the popularity of his writings. Pas
tor Russell is now on his way to Lon
don, having just revisited the Pyra-
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