The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1910-12-27

EDASIQR RUSSELL \ his audiences sat
speIlbOund for o
much longer time than the majority
have been In the habit Of listening to
discourse. Deep eagerness was also
manifested to receive from the ushers
at the close free copies of Pastor Rus
sells Booklet on what Say lthe Scrip
lures About He'll" The speaker sald;-
Eighteen centuries and aore have
passed since Israel's greatest Prophet,
Jesus. sent forth his message OF recon-
Citation to God. At the time of his
birth angel visitors. announcing him.
declared that his birth signlfled good
tiings of great Joy which shall be to
ell people" and that this would mean
''peace on earth and good will amongst
men" duke H. 10. ID. Yet after
eighteen centuries these prophecies are
still unfulflled We find the world In
more warlike condition at present than
ever before. Europe has standing
army of over million of the picked
men of its several nations. And even
our own country has deemed II neces-
sary to considerably increase Its stand
ing army. On every sea are great
battleshlps requiring thousands Of
men and millions OF dollars for their
up-keep. not to mention the millions
of dollars which they originally cost
And still more war vessels are plan
ned with greater guns, some OF which
expend thousands Of dollars for pow
der and shells for even one days tar
get practice. 1t Is safe to say. too.
that the chief interest In and chief
backing of recent experiments in
aerial navigation comesfrom the War
Departments Of clfristendom. which
warfare. And the latest information
Is that new torpedo has recently
been invented more powerful. more
destructive. more terrible, than any
previous device. NJ
what means this great battle array.
this preparation ,for great struggle
between the natlQes2 Why do not the
nations disband their ,armies and dis
mantle their navies and turn these vast
ed energies to HUMAN profit. bo making
tho earth to blossom as the rose? The
answer Is-Sln. Sin marred the orig
inal God-likeness Of love I'm the human
heart and, instead. implanted tho OPP
posite disposition OF selfshness. by
heredlty sin and sei6shness have per
meated our race. As We read. "Be.
hold. was shapen In iniquity; In sin
did my mother conceive me'' psalnl
II, ~. This ls true of the entire human
family. We gioss tho surfnce. We
make show OF giving n Attle money
for the education or the heathen. We
make little showOof religious actiy
ity In ChrIstendom 'butsthe great sur
plus OF wealth is spent I'm self.gratifica
tion--nlcohoic' beverages alone consum
ing MANIFOLD the amount doled out L
benevolent enterprises OF all kinds.
Peace. Peace; but Mo Peeee.
For centuries the world has been cry
Ing out, Peace. Peace; yet there IL M
peace" but still greater preparation 70
of civilization. the world well know
dts own sellishness, its own greed, II
own thirst for power and 1t wisel.
reasons that In others seliishness ant
greed similarly Cuie. Hence. with al
their prutestations OF friendship nll th
governments Of the world dlstrust, dis
believe one another. And now we hav
reached a place where the dlsbandln
of tile armies OF the world would be
,dangerous matter Another million o
men thrown on the labor market, a
geady glutted, would be dangerous
Aud 10 leave our cities unprotecte
would invite anarchy in every land
We are not endeavorlng to diacourag
peace conferences and foderatlons. w
are merely calling attention to facts
indisputablc facts.
The Scriptures graphically descrlb
our present condition, They give us
word-painling OF what IL now going oi
saying. Beat your plow-sharea Int
swords aud your prunlng-hooks Int
spenrs. Let the weak boast that the
are strong and endenvor to keep pac
with the strong "COme. get ye dow
10 the Valley OF Jehoshophat"--thc va
ley OF denth-the place e the gref
struggle with which thu reign of III
Prince ~ Darkncss shall terminate an
which viii prepare, the way for Me-
siah's Kingdom (Joeistii, 0-i3,.
Thank God'fcr the assurances Of h
Word that the great "tlmc OF troubl
such rs never WAS since there was
natlon." wirieii,is' about 20 burst upc
the world. .ssairose masses are beti'
educated than ever before and trnlnC
to the use Of all military equipment
VIII he but short STRUGGLED Tho INT
nation OF the Scriptures Is that
those days should not be shortcnc
no flesh would survive. But for 4
elects snke-by virtue OF the KinGdo
OF Gods elect being establishcd-,h -,ho'
days shall be shortened. Then VI
GONE the reign of me prInce Of pea