The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1911-05-12

L
RECTION OF
THE DEAD SOME MOCKED" acts
xvii, 3D. Pastor Russell made some
PREDATORY remarks. explaining that al
though he had accepted the paStorate
Of the London Tabernacle congregation.
this should not be understood to imply
that he had any thought of leaving
America permanently. He greatly APP
preciates the reverential spirit of the
British, but this does not signify
greater love for the land Of his fathers
than for the land of his birth He ac-
cepted the London pastorate with the
clear understanding that he must not
be expected to serve there more than
four months in the year. More and
more he feels that his ministry is
general one. He specially thanks God
for the privilege Of addressing ten mil
lion readers through the press Of
America and Great Britain.
Resurrection Doctrine Unpopular.
Pastor Russell remarked that he was
not preaching for popularity, but to re-
establish "the faith once delivered to
the saints" which, i'm marked degree.
had been lost during the Dark Ages.
He stood on the broad platform of the
Word or God, unrestricted by any
creed fences made by men. He was
anSwerable to no sect or party. He
had already discussed the Resurrec-
ton subject for three Sundays and
assumed that his interested hearers
had kept in touch with him during his
absence. through the press reports.
As some who heard st. Paul preach
the resurrection Of the dead Knocked,
so. quite likely. many have Knocked
as they read Pastor Russelrs SER
mons. Nevertheless, the Word of the
Lord standeth sure: There shall be
resurrection of the dead. both of the
Just and the unjust" 1t was the great
Teacher Himself who said, "All who
are in their graves shall hear the voice
of the Son of Man and shall come
forth; they that have done good unto
the resurrection of INTERPRETATION
they that have done evil unto the res
direction of judgment" crisis, trial
John V, IS. %; Acts xiv. 15).
To those that believe that the dead
are more alive now than when they ,Ccrs
alive, the doctrine of the resurrection
must, of necessity. be foolishness.
And whoever logically believes in the
resurrection of the dead must. of neces-
sity, consider the popular views on
NJ -.
extreme. There is no middle ground.
Either man is dead when he is dead.
as the Bible declares. and can have no
further knowledge or hope. pleasure or
pain. until awakened from death: or
else man does not die at all when he
seems to die-a theory with which the
Bible is at war and which we claim has
no foundation in fact or reason 1t is a
mythology. The entire heather world
believe this theory today The doc
trine came into the Christian Church ,
in opposition to the resurrection" doc
trine long centuries ago-abOut the
fourth century, when hordes of hea-
then were baptized and called Chris J
uans. with but slight appreciation of
the faith once delivered to the
saints
Raising of the Dead Will Be Stu.
pendous Miracle.
Numerous objections to the resurrec-
ton are raised. 1t is claimed that It
would be impossible for God to resur-
rect the dead. if they were really dead )
II jS ella imed thot nur 4 nrJ'. ,,-o,I,
were fulfilled and all that are in their
graves should come forth. the earth
would be so densely populated that IL
stood on each others heads several
rows deep all over the earth there
would not be room for them. 1t is
claimed that it would be impossible to
provide food and raiment for so MANY.
The resurrection is denounced as con-
trary to the laws of nature. according
to all the history of the past
The latter claim we admit. The res
direction Of the dead will be some
thing out of keeping with anything in
mans experience. Only those who
have an implicit faith in the Creator
and In His promise will be able to re.
ceire this doctrine, which credits the
Almighty with Divine power exceed.
Ing anything else that could be imag.
.ned
AS to the other points. let us see:
Many wise men in public positions are
very unscientific, even when called
scientists. They sometimes jump at
conclusions in an astounding manner
For instance. we al know how some
Of these scientific gentlemen laugh at
the Bibles records and declare that
humanity has been upon the earth mil.
lions of years If we ask for the
proof they are astonished that their
omniscience should be questioned.
They knock chip from block Of