The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1911-01-05
RUSSELL'S
WEEKLY SERMON

CHATTANOOGA, TENN Special
Pastor Russell preached an astound-
ing message 10 Christendom from the
text, Peace on earth, good will TO
men" He called attention to the fact
mat this text the message of the an
gels at tho birth of the Redeemer more
than eighteen centuries ago had not
yet been fulfilled. More than this. the
preparations for war today are on the
most gigantic scale ever known TO the
world. II ~ only a short time since
the first Immense battleship, styled
DreadnauRht, was launched by Great
Britain; yet IN the short time since
lliteen more have been completed by
Great Britain, and many more by the
United States, Germany, France. Italy.
Japan and other nations.
Besides inns, Great iRruairi has ap-
propriated three Hundred and hft,
million dollars for military expenses
for the year. The United States. isoN
lated and at one time supposed TO have
no need for armies or naVies. is ex-
pending about three hundred million
dollars TINS year on her military de-
Veiopment. Other nations are i'm
poVerlshlnF themselves in their en-
ueaVor TO keep up the pace Only
heather lands are exempt from this
martlaf spirit. He noted the fact.
however, that in proportion as Japan
/ became civilized or, as some saw
Christianized, her martial spirit and
large military and naval expenditures
increased; and finally. that China is
awakening 10 our methods of civiliza-
ton and Characterization and endeav-
orng to progress by military prepara-
ton and the proposal to build a mod
ern navy.
Why Is This Thus?
How shall we explain. he asked so
great discrepancy between our ex-
Ration OF the present? For years
Christendom has been claiming that
education and civilization would lead
the world 10 beat its spears and swords
into pruning hooks and plowshares;
but the reverse is true. The mista Ike
he declares, results from the suppo-
siton that God intended the Church
TO conquer the world and ultimately
fulfill the Lords prayer. Thy King
dom come; thy will be done on earth.
as ii is in heaven" How evidently
wrong have been our eXDectationst
With all Of our advantages and bless
ings the race is growing weaker. The
insane are multiplying. Discomfort
is increasing and thousands are falling
into unbelief respecting the Bible and
the Word Of God and acknowledging
no wisdom respecting the hereafter
except such as is OF the earth.
Pastor Russells study of the subject
convinced him that Satan himself had
misled the people of God, putting
darkness on this subject. leading them
to believe that the worlds CONVEX
sion was their Divine commission:
that ne had first Of all led them to
the extreme Of prosecuting Jews, Mo-
hammedans and GiSsentcrs-in their
endeavor TO accomplish a unity OF
faith and a conversion OF the world.
AS men outgrew this delusion Satan
brought them into another. He con-
WINGED them that civilization Is what
God desires and not q thorough con-
version and heart sanctificalion. Ac-
cordingly principle. faith. morals. the
high standards OF the fruits OF the
spirit of Christ, have all been sacrh1
feed in the thought that the
including the heather. must be
ICED and that civilization Is enoug
The Mistake We Made.
We have allowed our theorie
mislead us into mist
- wfrtrtroa God