The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1911-10-03
Preachers Are Ia Perplexity


Preachers Are Ia Perplexity
No men in the world are to be more
sympathized with than the preachers.
The creed Idols have been richly en-
dowed by well-meaning votaries of the
past. The interests of the clergy are
all wrapped up with the interests Of
the creed idOls-nOt only their financial
interests. but their honor. dignity.
titles. The question with the clergy
today is. How can we smash the creed
idols? How can we destroy them
without ourselves perishing with them?
II we tell the common people plainly
what we believe. they will all leave
the creed idols. They will ask us. How
long is 1t since you came to this con-
clusion? If we tell them that we have
not believed in our creeds for many
years. will they not call US hypocritical
and lose their confidence in us? And,
besides. what could we offer them in
stead?
1t is no secret that the great ma
jOrity Of the educated clergy are total
unbelievers. not only in the creeds
which they profess. but also in the
Bibie-they call themselves Higher
Critics and "Evolutionists' They
have nothing that they could teach the
people. except their doubts. their mis-
understandings. Having lost faith in
the creed idols. they are seeking for
the true God. in whom the masses he
lieve little enough AZ il is They are
bound to God and religious things by
a very slim cord composed of three
strands ignorance superstition and
natural reverence. The Ignorance and
superstition will soon break. and all
that viii be left will be mans natural
reverence. New is the time for re-
placing ignorance with knowledge. and
superstition with loving obedience to
the true God.
"a Famine In the Land"
When ! was in Boston last June the
largest opera house of that great city.
seating thirty-six hundred. was crowd
ed; four hundred more were behind
me on the platform besides those who
stood. and learned afterwards that
hundreds were turned away from the
doors. The next day the editor
Of religious Journal called ON nue..
His leading question was: Pastor
Russell. how do you explain the fact
that the people Of all creeds. and of the
world. come in such crowds to yuur
meetings? was present yesterday
at the Boston Theatre and witnessed
that vast conconrse of intelligent peo-
pie. As | looked at them | asked N.Y.
self the question am now asking you,
How Is II that such crowds attend
your services. even in This sultry. sum
mer weather, when the summer re-
sorts and seashore pleasures would
call them elsewhere. and while many
of our leading and able ministers, sup
ported by talented choirs. nave small
attendance twenty. forty tifty OF so2 |
What is your explanarionT'
replied. My brother. believe we |
are witnessing a fultilment of the |
Scripture which says: There shall be
a famine in the land. Not famine
for bread, nor famine for water, but |
q famine for the hearing Of the Word |
Of the Lord tAmos viii. III. The pub
he are getting their eyes too widely
opened to ever again respect the God
whom Brother Calvin pictured Il God,
Ally Wise and AlI-Powerful. but thor
oughly unIoving. who fureordained and
sanity handful to
glory. and the insanity thousands Of
millions tOan eternity of torture. We
once believed those things, but the
new morning OF Gods grace in Christ
Jesus is gradually scattering the dark
ness.
Neither can we longer believe with
Brother Wesley that our God Is good
and loving. and would like to save ev-
srybody IL He could. but was unwise
n His creation of man, and is lacking
IN power to direct the matter now.
The people are hungering for some
hing better for something consistent
md rational and In accordance with
he Bible declaration. that Divine JUS
ice, Wisdom, Love and Power are CO.