Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1911-07-08

In part:-
For centuries Bible Students have
observed that many Of the strong ex-
pressions Of the Old Testament re.
spectlng Babylon found their parallels
In the New Testament, used In respect
to Mystic Babylon. Many Of these
statements OF the Old Testament seem
far too vivid and too strong to be ap'
piled to Literal Babylon. Hence 1t was
surmlsed that Mystic Babylon was
more particularly referred to than the
Literal. II was noticed also that as
Israel and judah went into captivity
10 Literal Babylon. so apparently the
Book Of Revelation teaches that Spir-
itual Israel would have drastic expert
ences in captivity to Mystic or Sym
bOllc Babylon the Great, the Mother
OF HarlOts' Revelatlon xvii 81.
Within the past fifty years, under
the bllghtlng influence Of the Evolu
ton theory and the destructive Higher
Criticism Of the Bible, these parallels
have been lost sight Of Indeed, aside
from International Sunday School les
sons, Bible study has been very large
ly neglected, even In theological semi
naries. And the Sunday School les
sons, under the guidance of worldly
wisdom. have sought to avoid every
thing except the milk Of the Word
the simple doctrinesl to avoid contro
versles.
Only very recently Is true Bible study
being revived In conjunction with the
international Bible Students AssOcla-
tlOn. a branch 'of which | have the
honor to address today. We may well
congratulate each other. dear friends,
that in Gods providence we have es-
capped the falth.destroylng influence Of
Higher Criticism and Evolution. We
may well congratulate ourselves also
on the degree OF liberty we have at
tained In the study Of Gods Word
freedom from the confusing creeds
manufactured for us In a darker age
freedom from some Of the rank super
stltlons and false theories which. for II
time, fettered our reason and made
the Divine Plan to appear ignoble--un
worthy Of u Just and loving man, much
more Of an All.WIse, Just and Loving
Creator.
Great Babylon Of Old.
Briefly we remind you that ancient
Babylon was built on the river Eu.
pirates; that she had impregnable'
walls; that the river ran through the
midst of the city, and the great gates
OF brass spanned the river as a pro
tectlon against assaults Of an enemy
from that quarter The name Of the
city was attached to u large area Of
country outside Of It, for which II
served as the capital Indeed at It's
zenith Babylon was mistress OF the
then civilized wOrld-the first Uni,
versal Empire,
We remind you OF the captivity, first
OF the ten tribes OF Israel, and later
ON OF the remaining two tribes or king.
dom called Judah The method of
Babylon was TO scatter the Israelites
amongst the BNbylonlans, and through
their earthly interests to amalgamate
them as part and parcel OF Babylonlo
This condition Of things lasted until
the fall OF Babylon before its con.
queror, Cyrus.
The General gained his Victory In a
remarkable manner, while the Baby.
lonians, assured OF their security, were
reyelllng at a banquet Although the
crisis came suddenly. the preparation
had been long In progress. The SOL
dlers of Cyrus, under his direction.
had diggcd canal OF considerable
depth ready to drain on the water Of
the river as soon as the necessary con
nection was made When the canal
was In readiness the connection with
the river was speedily made aud the
water flowed rapidly into the new
channel leaving the bed Of the river
under the great braEen gates on both
sides OF the city, an open roadway
through which marched the army OF
Cyrus, suddenly, at an unexpected
moment, the boastful city, the proud
Babylon, was captured
Then It was that Cyrus, the ylcto.
rious general, gave the command which
granted liberty to every Israellte car.
rled captive thIthcr, to return to his
own land. Additionally, assistance was
rendered to all who desired to return,
and the golden vessels pertaining to
the worship Of God In the temple were
sent back, But strange 10 say. out Of
oil the millions who hid constituted
lsrael and Judah before the captlvIty,
......-.s-aa--nu..-u--uuuuu
Tho Vfr.aeT. MI