Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1911-05-13

Sz--=Ss-==---==-=[ 1hE1 HEARD
@sAsIeR fSlsSELL9 OF THE REsUR-
RECTION OF
THE DEAD SOME MOCKED" (Acts
xvii, 32) 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 ap-
preclates 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 a
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, In marked degree,
had been lost during the Dark Ages
He stood on the broad platform of the
Word of 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 mocked,
so, quite likely, many have mocked
as they read Pastor Russells ser
mons Nevertheless, the Word of the
Lord standeth sure: There shall be a
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, 2S. 20; Acts xiv, 15l.
To those that believe that the dead
are more alive now thanwhen they toere
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
mans condition in death absurd in the
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
tians, with but slight appreciation of
"the faith once delivered to the
saints"
Raising of the Dead Will Be a Stu
pendous Miracle.
Numerous objections to the resurrec-
tion are raised 1t Is claimed that It
would be impossible for God to resur.
rect the dead. If they were really dead,
1t is claimed that, If our Lords words
were fulfilled and all that are in their
graves should come forth, the earth
would be so densely populated that If
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 win be able to re-
celve this doctrine, which credits the
Almighty with Divine power exceed
Ing anything else that could be lmag-
ined.
As to the other points. let us see:
Many wise men in public positions are
very unscientiflc, even when called
scientists. They sometimes jump at
conclusions In an astounding manner
For instance, we all 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, II we ask for the
proof they are astonlshed that their
omnlscience should be questioned.
They knock n chip from block OF