The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1911-08-28


- &zzk1s posed of the truth.
lfa2lOk KUSStlllJ hungry from all
denominations.
Asked why such great crowds always
attend his addresses. while the church.
es of all denominations are complain
ing Of slim attendance. Pastor Russell
replied, The people are thinking. Fer.
picked by the inhdelity and Higher
Criticism taught In the principal col.
leges and pulpits, many desire to have
an Interpretation of the Bible consist
ent with itself and not at war with
the reverentlal exercise of reason. The
Scriptures foretell OF our day. saying.
There shall be a famine in the land:
not famine for bread nor thirst
for water. but for the hearing of the
Word of the Lord Amos viii. III. No
fairy tales can thoroughly satisfy in-
telligent thinkers. whose numbers are
increasing. Many of those who at
tend my services and many who read
my sermons in the public print long
since ceased to attend the church sery.
fees"
Two services were held. one for the
public. considering the great Here.
after" the other. which we report. had
for its text Gods call to Cain. after
he had slain his brother. where is
Thy BrotherT' and Gains reply. Am
i My Brothers Keeper" Genesis iv.
p The speaker said in part
No one can dispute that individual
ism. personal independence. personal
responsibility, has done much for the
development of our race. The serfdom
and paternalism of the past were un-
favorable to individual thought. re-
sponsibility and action. No wise and
good man would desire to rob his fell.
= lows 81 Independence qff ,1iiid. .
Ono Extreme, Then the Opposite.
We are IA danger. however. of going
to the opposite extreme-in danger Of
carrying the subject of personal inde-
pendence too farm danger of neglect
ing some who should have assistance
in danger of thinking of all men as
being not only free but equal. While
we all should hare proper freedom of
will. yet all are more or less handicap
ped In the exercise OF the viii. AS st.
Paul said. I'VE cannot do the things
which we would" We are slaves of
sin and death. some more and some
less The Prophet Davids eKplana-
tion applies to US all. II was shapen
in iniquity. in sin did my mother con-
ceiye me" psalm II. 81.
IL was In view of such inequalities
of the tlesh that st. Paul wrote TO the
Church. I'VE that are strong should
bear with the inirmlties of the weak.
and not please ourselves merelyl"
Romans XIV, u. This principle. ap.
piled by the Apostle to the Church.
would certainly be appropriate and
beneficial in the natural family. And
as our hearts enlarge we should all
come 70 realize more and more the
oneness. the solidarity of our race--the
entire human family. of which st. Paul
says. "Of one blood God created all
men. to dwell upon the face OF the
whole earth" (Acts xvii. 26D.
"Where Is Thy 1rother7"
Gods inquiry Of Cain implied Gains
responsibility. and teaches us q lesson
respecting our responsibility In Gods
sight for one another. We will begin
with the Church. the highest type OF
brotherhood imaginable: We should
not be content TO split into sects and
parties. Whatever was the ignorance
of the past. which led 10 the formation
of the various creeds and denomlna.
tions. there can be no excuse for these
now. because Christians OF all demon.
inntions haee come to dscredlt the old
rreeds Should there not. then. be n
movement toward heart unity and fcl-
lowshlp outade Of denominatiOunl and
creednl lines. amongst those who rec.
ognize God as Father. the Lord Jesus
Christ ns be Tledeemer, and the Bible
as the Divine Revelation?
II Is not proper TO say as did Cain.
"Am my brothers keeper?" Every
true Christian should realize that 10.
day Christianity Is being assaulted in
its own House and by It's prOfessed
friends IN the universities. colleges
and sennnries Of al denominations a
battle Is raging. which threnters the
destruction OF our Christian faith.
Possibly few are blind to the sliua-
tlon. but the insirGents--the Higher
Critics and Evolutlonlsts-r the
situation and nre crnftily saying TO the
people. I'VE are the Wntchmen upon
the walls of Zlonl Henrken to OUR
TRY; All II we'll" These Higher Crit
Us seem TO have no conscience. They
pluim that the people must be gradual
n taken by guile. They encourage
lem TO ''slecp," while they raise over
them the banner Of inGdellty called
Higher Criticism.
Many who see the killing Of this anti.
typical Abel shrk the responsibility
BY saying, Am ! ms brvthers keep
err" NOT realizing thai from the Divine
standpoint they baye a responsibility